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March 8, 1921 – Aug. 6, 2015

NATCHEZ — Services for Ruby Christian Beard, 94, of Vidalia, who died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at her residence, will be 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia with the Rev. Joe Xavier and the Rev. Paul Kunnumpuram officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

A Rosary service will be 9 a.m. today followed by visitation from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church.

Mrs. Beard was born March 8, 1921, in Magnolia, the daughter of Thomas Marlow Christian and Laura Goss Christian.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Rosary group. She was also a member of a card club, retired Nurses Association and the Altar Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles F. “Dutch” Beard Sr.; her parents; and an infant son, Charles Peter Beard.

Survivors include two daughters, Rose Mary Simmons of Natchez and Rita Martin and husband, Michael, of Vidalia; one son, Buddy Beard and wife, Judy Spence Beard, of Baton Rouge; two grandsons, Jason Simmons of Mobile, Ala., and Brian Cerniglia of Vidalia; two granddaughters, Sarah Beard of Tallahassee, Fla., and Emily Beard Barfield and husband, Travis, of Ruston, La.; four great-grandchildren, Conner Simmons, Abbie Simmons, Trey Weeks and unborn baby Barfield; and one sister, Velma Estes.

Pallbearers will be Tony Beard, Jason Simmons, George Murray, Travis Barfield, Derrell Reid and Brian Cerniglia.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bill McDonough, Leroy Goss, Michael Martin and Floyd Gardner.

The family extends a special thank you to her caregivers, Melissa Williams, Twana Sewell, Diane Meeks, Carolyn Anderson, JoAnn Short, Irene Wiley and Camellia Hospice in Vidalia.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes, Natchez-Adams County Humane Society or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.