BEARDEN Joseph Edward Bearden Jr., 65, passed away Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at Slidell Memorial Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Jo Carol Bearden for the past 44 years; father of Wendy Ray and husband Tommy of Walker and Joseph Edward Bearden III and wife Shannon of Mandeville; son of Nancy Bearden and the late Joseph Edward Bearden; brother of Ronald Bearden and wife Carol of Memphis, Tenn., and Mary Coltrain and husband Rick of Williamston, N.C. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren; Trevor Wade Ray, Joseph “Josh” Edward Bearden, IV, Nathan Jesse Ray and Ethan Christopher Bearden. Bearden was a native of Maplesville, Ala., and a resident of Slidell for the past 38 years. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1966 and served his country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After retiring from Provident Insurance Co., Bearden started his own employee benefits consulting company; Bearden Brokerage & Consulting, Inc. A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday at the First Southern Baptist Church of Pearlington, 5437 Hwy. 604, Pearlington, Miss. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Donations to: First Southern Baptist Church of Pearlington are preferred, in lieu of flowers. |