Mary Beard Obituary, Death – I’m sorry to be the one to break the news to each and every one of you, but unfortunately, we suffered the loss of another one of our Vassar-Lakeview alumni not too long ago. I must deliver this information to each and every one of you with a heavy heart because I know it will upset you. Mary Elizabeth Hopton Beard, who had been married to Jimmy Beard and had been living in Lakeview, North Carolina, passed away on December 16, 2022 at the age of 74 at the First Health Hospice House in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Mary Elizabeth Hopton Beard had been a resident of Lakeview. Since the 16th of December 2022, Mary Elizabeth Hopton Beard had been a patient at the facility in question. Mary attended Union Pines High School and graduated in the class of 1966. As a result, she is a member of that year’s graduating class. She completed her secondary education at Vass-Lakeview High School, from which she went on to earn her diploma. She was a remarkable student throughout the entirety of her time spent in high school, where she excelled not only in her academics but also in a wide variety of extracurricular activities as well. During her time in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society.
During this time period, she was an active participant in a wide variety of clubs and organizations. During her time at the school, she was an active participant in both the Beta Club and the French Club. In addition, she was on the school’s debate team. During her time at Vass-Lakeview, she participated on multiple teams, including the Cheerleading Squad and the 1963 Girls Basketball Team, which was coached by Mr. David Page. During her time at Vass-Lakeview, she was a member of both of these teams. If the girls’ basketball team from Vass-Lakeview High School in 1963 were successful in winning the Moore County Girl’s Championship, their accomplishments would be recorded in the annals of school history for generations to come.
After a championship game losing streak that lasted for thirty-three years, the Vass-Lakeview high school was finally able to break through and emerge victorious. Her sister Dianna Hopton Griffin, her brother David Hopton, and both of her other sisters, Donna Hopton Toland and Dianna Hopton Griffin, all passed away before Mary. Mary was the last member of her family to pass away before she did. Not only had Mary’s parents already passed away when she did, but so had her three older siblings. Mary was the last of her family to pass away.
The only surviving member of her family is her husband Jimmy Beard, who has been by her side for the past 56 years and currently resides in Lakeview, North Carolina. The Beard family has two children: Kim Beard, who resides in Lakeview, North Carolina; and Brad (Kerri) Beard, who resides in Leland, North Carolina. Each of these children currently resides in the state of North Carolina. Savannah Lyons, Chandler Schneider, and Dillon Sawin are the names of the three grandchildren who have been given these names.
The city of Indianapolis, Indiana is where Savannah Lyons calls home, while Chandler Schneider and Dillon Sawin both call Lakeview, North Carolina, their home. Leland is the city that Dillon Sawin calls home in North Carolina. Both Larry Hopton (who is married to Diane) and John Hopton (who is married to Patty) are members of the same family and currently make their homes in Carthage and West End, both of which are located in the state of North Carolina. A gathering to honor the life of the person who has passed away will take place at some point in the not too distant future.