Wilma Grace (James) Beard

Wilma Grace (James) Beard, 87, of Beebe, Arkansas, died Sunday, March 11, 2012. She was born April 8, 1924, in Carlisle, Arkansas to Earnest and Grace James. Wilma was a lifelong member of the Beebe First United Methodist Church where she held many titles including Certified Lay Speaker, District Council on Ministries, Board of Trustees member, and the last being Sunday school teacher. Wilma was a longtime educator, having taught at Beebe Public Schools and ASU Beebe where she retired as the Chairman of the English and Fine Arts Division. Wilma was a member of Business and Professional Women and Delta Kappa Gamma. Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, James C. Beard, one son, Hal Beard, and grandson, Brent. She is survived by one son, Kelly Dale (Janice) Beard of Beebe; four grandchildren, Jeremy (Tina) Beard, Brook (Erica) Estes-Beard; Russell (Jena) Moore, Landon Beard; three great-grandchildren, Bailey, Kele and Siddha; three sisters, Doris Blair of California, Frances Brown of North Little Rock and Pat Hunnicutt of Little Rock. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Beebe First United Methodist Church, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 247, Beebe, Ark. 72012. www.westbrookfuneralhome.com.