Johnny Lee (Popcorn) Beard

Brother Johnny Lee Beard, affectionately known as “Popcorn” or “John Lee” departed this life on August 6, 2020 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia. Born to the late Gurley Beard, Sr. and Margaret Anderson Beard in Baker County, Georgia, John Lee was the second oldest of seven children. At a young age, John Lee joined the Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Usher Board.  He later moved his membership to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, under the Pastoral Leadership of Reverend Cleveland Sanders, where he was a member until God called him home. John Lee attended West Bainbridge Elementary School prior to starting to work on the farm. He later worked at Columbia Peanut Company and Dollar Farm Products, where he retired after many years of service. John Lee will be sadly missed but forever remembered by his family and friends.  He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially his children and grandchildren.  Some mornings, you may find him having breakfast with his daughters, Renee and Deena or you may find him on a Saturday morning out on the fishing boat with his son, Daniel.  He loved to be with family and was always up for a picnic, family reunion or gathering of family and friends. He was preceded in death by two children, Katherine Denise Beard and Reginald Tolbert, one brother, Lewis Beard and two sisters, Gertrude Williams and Verdell Cull. John Lee was a good father, a loving grandfather and great-grandfather.  He is survived by eight children, Daniel Beard (Josette) of Attapulgus, GA; Renee Worthy (Eric),  Shmyracy ‘Deena’ Hodge (Walter) of Bainbridge, GA; Kelvin Beard (Lolita) of Columbus, OH; Mark Beard of Cairo, GA; Felicia Beard-Tyler of Jacksonville, FL;  Melissa Beard of Cairo, GA; Quanda Johnson (Anthony) of Bainbridge, GA; thirty grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, six step-children, Tasha Malone (Chris), Teresa Tyler (Master),  Willie ‘Bill’ Thomas, LaClaude Seymore, Claude Seymore, Akeem Seymore, Michael Lee, seven siblings, David Beard (Brenda), Linda Roberts (Jerry) of Brinson, GA, Marvin Beard, Rochester, NY, Tony Jones (Joyce) of Bainbridge, GA; April Backey, Yolanda Backey of South Carolina; Gurley Beard, Jr. of Pelham, GA; two brothers-in-law, Jesse Williams, Sr. and Isaac Cull, Sr. of Bainbridge, GA. He also leaves a loving partner, Secedel Thompson, a cherished great nephew, Zion Seymore, who could always be found with his Uncle John Lee, and admired nephew, Christopher Williams and cousin, Willie “Spulley” Beard and dear friends, Bessie Thomas and Chubby “Mr. Fixit” Christian.

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