Obituary of Jathen Heard

Funeral services for Jathen Heard, age 77, of Woodland will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 2:00 PM from Big Springs Baptist Church with Rev. Scott Whaley and Rev. Keith Benefield officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Mr. Heard will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Thursday. Mr. Heard passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at Wedowee Hospital. Survivors include: one daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Chris Burk of Woodland; one son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Janice Heard of Madison; two grandchildren, C.J. and Justin Burk; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Tenna and Dewey Noles and Carolyn and Larry Smith. Pallbearers will be C.J. Burk, Tim Noles, Michael Heard, Jamie Heard, Keith Smith, Jack Johnson, Bobby Crenshaw, and Randy Gosdin. A Randolph County native, Mr. Heard was born on October 13, 1938, the son of Frank and Lois Prestridge Heard. He was a member of Big Springs Baptist Church and was a self-employed truck driver. Mr. Heard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Perley Crenshaw Heard; two brothers, Tommy and Bobby Heard; and one sister, Marilyn Bailey.