Jean Lence Beard's Obituary
JEAN LENCE BEARD was born to Hardy Graves and Lillian Grisham Lence on November 28, 1924 in Memphis, TN, and passed away peacefully, also in Memphis, on October 21, 2018. Between those two dates, she lived a beautiful life filled with her favorite things: family, friends, laughter, church and faith, flowers, entertaining, antiquing, music, travel, charities, theater, books, interior design, and of course, silk jackets and blouses! She was a talented soprano, winning her first competition, “The Auditions of the Air”, on the stage of the Orpheum Theatre, and starring in her first operetta, “Hansel and Gretel”, in high school. She met the love of her life, Hal Beard, soon after he returned from World War II, and they were married on January 19, 1946. She taught voice in Starkville, MS while he finished his electrical engineering degree before beginning his professional career in Schenectady, NY, where he was a vice president of General Electric. A desire to return to Memphis with their young family prompted the founding of Hal Beard and Associates, which eventually grew to include J and H Sales, and Hal Beard, Inc. Jean worked beside him until they closed the businesses in 2004 when Hal’s health began to fail. After his death she moved to Trezevant Manor, where she enjoyed being with so many longtime friends as well as new ones that she met there. She was a member of local arts and charitable organizations – some for over 60 years, and a former member of Lindenwood Christian Church, where she sang in The Chancel Choir. She is survived by her son, Gary, also of Memphis, as well as several cousins, and countless friends. Burial will be private, and A Celebration of Her Life will take place in the Performing Arts Center at Trezevant Manor on Tuesday, November 27 at 4:00, the day prior to her 94th birthday.Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.
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