Clara Mae BEARD

RICHMOND - Clara Mae Martin Beard, 81, of Richmond, died at home surrounded by her family on Oct. 16, 2010.
Born in Cook County, Ill., on June 26, 1929, and raised in Shelby, Mich., Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Emma Goodenrath Gallicchio and Nelson Ernest Martin.
She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 62 years, Robert Franklin Beard Jr., NNAS Class of 1949.
Also celebrating her life are her four children and their spouses, Robert F. Beard III and Deane Collie Beard of Culpeper, Va.; John K. Beard and Rebecca Norris Beard of Pennsylvania; Keri Beard Todd and the Rev. Gerald E. Todd of Towson, Md.; and Kimberly Beard Kacani and Patrick J. Kacani of Henrico. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Martin; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Clara moved to Hampton, Va., in 1948 to teach kindergarten at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Pastor George McRee, with whom she lived. After her marriage there in 1949, she and her husband, Bob, together attended Virginia Tech where Clara received her Phi Kappa Phi key and a B.S. in Rural Sociology in June of 1954. She later attended the University of Richmond, where she received her M. Ed. in August of 1977. She served 17 years as an elementary school librarian for Goochland County, Va. She was fiercely dedicated to her children, and every child she met was hers.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 W. Broad St, Richmond. Friends are invited to join the family at a service to celebrate Clara's life in prayer, song and Holy Communion on Monday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Richmond. Children of ALL ages are welcome. Interment to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Luther Memorial School, 1301 Robin Hood Road, Richmond, VA 23227-4742 or Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1100 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23220-3613. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.