Amelia Beard

After winter turned to spring, Bro. Henry Ward and Sis Rhoda Ward’s first child was born on April 5, 1936, in Sumter County, Alabama.  They named her Amelia Louise Ward, after her maternal grandmother, and affectionately called her Louise or Lou.  In later years, the Ward family moved to Bessemer, Ala., where she attended Carver Jr. High and graduated from Dunbar High School in 1953.  Amelia Louise graduated from Lawson State and later migrated to New York where she became a registered nurse.  She had one son, Gerald Dewayne Ward and she married the late Benjamin Beard.  While in New York, she worked for several hospitals and healthcare facilities, with her last job being with the State of New York in the mental health field.   After she retired, she moved back to home to Bessemer, Ala., where she could spend time with her sister Viola, her son Gerald and her other nieces and nephews.  Amelia also rejoined Beulah Missionary Baptist Church.   Amelia Louise liked to be busy and had an amazing amount of energy.  She could move with the best of them and often had more energy than those who were several years younger than her.  She would say, “I might be hoppin’ but I’m not stoppin’.” She became the National President of the Dunbar-Abrams Alumni, which has a chapter in Bessemer, Ala.  She loved helping young people such as Rasheeda Brown, Clintonia Patterson and DaShelah Patterson.  Amelia loved to shop and was a great bargain hunter.  She could negotiate with the best of them and the store keepers never knew what hit them.  Amelia had exquisite taste and loved glitz and glamour.  If it wasn’t shining or sparkling, she had no use for it.  She was very creative and could decorate and coordinate anything, from outfits to dining room tables to gardens.  She had an eye for style and flair and was nicknamed “Lady Louise”  by her friends in New York.  When Amelia retired to Bessemer, her son Gerald teased her and said that everybody was saying that his mother was a superstar who drove a red Cadillac. Gerald said, “I don’t know if she is a superstar, but she is definitely a star.” Amelia was preceded by her parents and three siblings, Albert, Bessie and Washington.  She leaves behind to cherish beautiful memories:  Her son Gerald (Bessemer), a sister Viola Ward (Bessemer) and her brothers Henry (Janice) and Felix Feagins. Her nieces and nephews:  Curtrise (Keith) Garner-King of Detroit, Curtis  (Shonda) Garner of Louisville, Ky.; Albert Malik Ward (Bronx, N.Y.); Rhotunja and Stacey Ward and Monica Yarbrough (Bessemer); Ahmad Ward (Bronx, N.Y.); Omari Ward (Atlanta); Darius (Nzinga) Ward (Bowie, MD);Christie Lee (Greensborough, N.C.); seven great nieces and four great nephews, one aunt, a host of cousins and friends and the Beulah family. Amelia could always find an encouraging word from the Bible.  One of her favorite sayings was that God always had a ram in the bush in the time of need.  Amelia was often that ram in the bush for her family, friends, patients and even strangers that she would meet while shopping and negotiating.  Amelia Louise Beard has her wings and her crown has jewels.  Her family is sure that she asked for a white robe with plenty of sequins.   She will be missed by all that loved her.   The Ward family thanks each of you for the love shown during the passing of their beloved Amelia Louise Beard.