Obituary of Harold Heard

Funeral services for Harold Heard, age 62, of Roanoke, will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 1:00 PM from Trinity Baptist Church with Bro. Tim Whaley, Bro. Gary Clark, and Bro. Jeff Burns officiating. Burial will follow at Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Friday, September 8th.  Mr. Heard will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning at 12:00 pm on Saturday.

Mr. Heard passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at Bethany House in Auburn.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Gail Heard of Roanoke; mother, Mary Jean Birdsong Heard of Roanoke; one sister, Ann Marie Pruitt of Roanoke; four brothers, James Elliott Heard of Huntsville, Dennis W. Heard of Wetumpka, Paul Heard and David Heard both of Roanoke; three grandchildren, Olivia Mitchell, Hunter Mitchell, and Breanna Mitchell.

Pallbearers will be Tim Whaley, Gary Clark, Randy Hudson, Tim Frye, Ricky Sledge, and Ken Morrison.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Trinity’s Truth and Grace Sunday school class, employees of Small Town Bank, and members of The Gideons International.

Mr. Heard was born on November 4, 1954, the son of Elliott and Mary Jean Birdsong Heard. Mr. Heard graduated from Randolph County High School in 1973 and went on to receive his associate’s degree from Southern Union State Community College, bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University, and master’s degree from Brenau University. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church where he was a trustee and usher and formerly served on the building and finance committees.  He previously taught the senior youth Sunday school class and played church league basketball and softball.  Mr. Heard served as the treasurer for the Gideons, was chairman of the Randolph County Leadership Steering Committee, and was also a member of the Farm City Committee.   He worked as a loan officer and the executive vice president of Small Town Bank and also served on their board of directors.  He previously served as the Rotary President and he received the Paul Harris Fellowship award.  He was a member of the Standing Rock Volunteer Fire Department, Randolph County Baptist Executive Committee, and Randolph County Industrial Development Board where he was involved in industry recruitment.  He formerly served as the Jaycee’s treasurer.  Mr. Heard won Young Banker of the Year in 1991 and 1992.  He previously served as the branch manager, compliance officer, board member, and executive vice president at SouthTrust Bank.  He was preceded in death by his father and one son, Michael Mitchell.

The family will accept flowers or contributions to The Gideons International (Randolph Co. Gideons, PO Box 2, Wedowee, AL 36278).