Jerry D. Heard

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Home for Jerry D. Heard, Colonel Retired, US Army, 75, Hokes Bluff, who passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016. Dr. Ryan Morris will officiate. Burial will follow at Young's Chapel Cemetery. Glencoe-Hokes Bluff Funeral Home & Cemetery is in charge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George Hollie and Annie Sue Hodnett Heard.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Maddix Heard, Hokes Bluff; son, Jerry D. Heard Jr., Hokes Bluff; daughter, Tracy Heard Brown (Jim), Mableton, Georgia; grandchildren, R.J. and Stella; brother, George Allen Heard (Carol), Reading, Massachusetts; sisters, Brenda Heard Boyd (Jerry), Southside, and Rita Heard Wilson (Bob), Prattville; many special aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jerry was born in Oneonta and raised in Gadsden, where he attended Disque Junior High and Gadsden High School, class of 1958. He graduated from Jacksonville State University and received his MBA from the University of Alabama. Jerry was always busy even as a young man. He had a paper route, worked for Tro-fe Dairy on a milk delivery truck, was an usher at the Pitman Theater, a life guard at the municipal pool, and worked at the Boys Club. Plus he played sports in school.
Jerry responded to his nation's call and proudly served for 30 years. He was in the Naval Reserve and later was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army artillery after graduation from JSU. Jerry's 30 years in the US Army was 5 years in artillery and 25 years in finance and accounting. Locations served included: Vietnam, Korea, Germany (three tours over seven years), Washington, D.C., (Pentagon), Fort Knox, Atlanta (two tours), Indianapolis, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Norfolk, Virginia.
His military schools were, Artillery Basic, Finance Basic, Finance Advance, Armed Forces Staff College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and German Language School.
Jerry retired in 1992 at the rank of Colonel. His final assignment was as Commandant of the Army Finance School and Chief of the Finance Corps. He received the following military awards: Legion of Merit - 2 awards, Bronze Star - 1 award, Defense Meritorious Service medal - 1 award, Meritorious Service medal - 2 awards, Joint Service Commendation Medal - 1 award, Army Commendation Medal - 3 awards, NCO Professional Development Ribbon - 2 awards, National Defense Service Medal - 2 awards, Vietnam Service Medal - 2 awards, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - 1 award, Army Services Ribbon/Overseas Service Ribbon - 4 awards, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge.
Since retiring, Jerry was very active. He worked one year in commercial banking, taught accounting for six years at Gadsden Business College, and served as Chairman of the Zoning Board and Planning Commissions in Hokes Bluff. He was elected to the Hokes Bluff City Council, where he served two terms. He served as Mayor Pro Tem for eight years. He served as President of the Hokes Bluff Lions Club, Military Officers Association Antique Auto Club and as acting chairman of the Gadsden Patriots Association. He was Patriot of the Year in 1994, and was appointed treasurer of Alabama Silver Haired Legislature. Jerry was a member of Hokes Bluff Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, chairman of the finance committee and taught the BYKOTA Men's Sunday school class. Jerry was a board member of the Etowah Baptist Association.
Pallbearers will be Military Honor Guard with full Military Honors. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the various clubs and organization of which he was a member.
Flowers will be accepted or give a donation to Hokes Bluff Lions Club.
Family will receive friends from noon until service time at the funeral home Sunday.
Jerry was a kind, loving, and very generous man. No matter what you needed, he was the "go to" man.