Online Source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/obits/beardrl2.txt

Extracted from The Madison Journal (Tallulah, LA)
Wednesday, September 6, 1995

Tallulah worker dies in freak roller mishap

A state employee died Tuesday after losing control of a steam roller. Madison Parish Chief Deputy Sheriff John Edward Baker said state workers were doing patch work on the road surface on Highway 602 Tuesday afternoon between Highway 80 and the railroad when Roy Beard lost control of the roller.

Beard, a Tallulah resident residing on Byson Road, jumped off the roller when it ran off into the embankment. But the roller turned over and landed on top of Beard.

“We were called around 2:10 p.m. and he was talking when we got to the scene,” Baker said. Baker said Metro Ambulance personnel transported Beard to the Madison Parish Hospital where he later died.

Roy Lynn Beard died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1995, from injuries he received on the job. He was 44.

Mr. Beard was born in Delhi and had lived most of his life in Tallulah. He was an employee with the Louisiana Department Transportation and Development. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his mother, Ruby McCarty Beard of Tallulah; his sister, Lorrie Ann Beard of Haughton, La.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services were held Friday, Sept. 1, at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home Chapel in Tallulah with the Rev. Charles Gaston officiating. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Carlton Whitaker, James Earl Whitaker, Daniel Cook, Danny Beard, Mack McCarty, Red Beard and Gayle “Red” Beard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Hill and employees of the Department of Transportation and Development.