As I think of your strong faith that was passed down through your family line. It began with your grandmother Lois, who passed it on to your dear mother, Eunice. And it’s clear that you too are following in the footsteps of their godly example.

2 Timothy 1:5 TPT

I could hear her praying, “Lord, save my grandbaby”, as I lay in the Emergency room bed. I had been taken to the E.R. My family and I were en-route to visit my uncle Andrew. I was taking a nap in the back seat of the car, and the fumes from the exhaust pipe seeped into the car. When I awoke, I looked as though I wasn’t feeling well. My eyes were red, and my body was limp.

I was rushed to the E.R. where I was seen and put in a room.  My grandma stayed with me as my parents met with the doctors. This was the kind of grandmother I had, a strong Godly, praying woman.

Growing up, I was raised by a strong community of women.  We lived with my grandma, Bessie. Her full name was Ida Bessie Durham McKinney; she was born in Greenville, South Carolina. I loved my grandmother and remembered that she loved baking Hams, Coconut Cakes, and Pies.

She was quiet and gentle and was on the Mother’s Board at church. She also sang in the Senior choir, of which my father was the choir director.I never saw her drive a car or go to many places except across the street to her girlfriend’s home.Mrs. Elizabeth Smith lived across the street; she was my grandmother’s best friend.Mrs. Smith was a part of the fabric of my life.She gave me my first job, which was making corsages.I helped Mrs. Smith make boutonnieres and corsages for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

My mother, Vera, turned out the way that she did because of the influence of her mother.

My mother, Vera Marie McKinney Beard, was a quiet soul who didn’t say much, but when it came to protecting her children, she became Momma Bear.

As a high school student, one of my teachers spoke badly about me in front of the entire class, embarrassing me for no apparent reason.As soon as school was over, I rushed home and told my mother what had happened.She and I immediately went to the school, straight to his classroom.She pounded her fist on the desk and told the teacher that he’d better not ever do what he did to me again.He never did that to me again.

Often, mothers are our first line of defense.As quiet as she was, when it came to her children, my mother didn’t play.When I was a child, my mother stayed home to care for us, so naturally, she was the first to hear about our day.

My mom, in her Wendy Williams voice, would say, “Howyou doing?” Then she burst out into laughter. My mom is funny, witty, and conversational. She was full of life!

She was an avid sports fan Vera was born September 5th, 1934, in Michigan. Herparents, Bessie and Fred McKinney, were thrilled withher birth. As the only girl with five brothers, she had no choice but to watch and learn sports. When she was alive, you

may have found her watching the Detroit Pistons, the Tigers, or the Lions. She knew the names and positions of every player. She loved her sports! Baseball, basketball, football—my mother Vera loved them all!

My mother Vera modeled, for my sister and me, how to be a good mother, a loving wife, and a great daughter. Living with my grandmother, Bessie, gave me theopportunity to see the love that my mother had for her mother. Today, with people able to live wherever they choose—anywhere in the world—far away from their families, I was truly blessed to grow up near my grandmother.

There is so much that I've learned from my mother. No book could contain the life lessons that she taught me. She was a soft-spoken, quiet woman, but her life speaks volumes.

Proverbs 31 is a very popular and familiar passage of the scripture that talks about women and mothers. Allow me to talk about my mom by using a couple of thescriptures.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

I never heard my mom curse, and I never saw my mom drink an alcoholic beverage.She was always composed and classy.This spoke volumes to me.She was modeling the importance of presenting your best self at all times.Being a lady is what she was teaching me as well.You never know who’s watching!

My father, Rev. Lessley Beard, had several health challenges, including diabetes, which required him to have Hemodialysis treatments three times each week. Never once did I hear my mother complain about having to drive my dad to his dialysis appointments.

My father was a double amputee; she was right there to encourage him to keep fighting and not to give up.

My father was also a pastor, which required him to be mobile. He was always traveling somewhere—to the hospital, to visit the members of his church, to preaching engagements, and his church. My mother would drive him anywhere he needed or wanted to go.

She is indeed worth more than rubies. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Ministry was a big part of my mom’s life, especially as the First Lady of Pine Grove Baptist Church, where my dad was the pastor for 25 years.

My parents were always helping someone—loaning them money, praying for and counseling them. I often joked with my mother, calling her “Missionary Vera

Beard.” She would laugh and say, “Lynn, I'm not a minister. I’m just a Bible teacher.” Quite the contrary, my mom exhibited a Christ-like spirit and attitude in whatever she did.

My mother also taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. She participated in the Mission Department and was in the Matrons group.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

As beautiful and charming as my mother, she never focused on her outward appearance as much as shedid on her “inner man.” She always studied her

Bible—always trying to better herself—always teaching her four children how to honor God!

My mother was seventy-seven years old when she died, and I praise God for

allowing her to live that long. She always exhibited a positive attitude! She was a fighter! A winner.

Today, I salute and honor my mother, Vera Marie Beard. I honor your memory.

You were a woman of courage, kindness, and love—a great mother, wife, and friend!

I love you, mom! Your eldest child,

Lynn

A funny story about my mom

Once day I called my mother to check on her, as I do every day—or almost every day. She says, “Lynn, the news says that they've caught Al-Qaida.” I said, “Mom, they caught the entire group?” “No”, my mom said, “They caught him—Al-Qaida. They said they caught Al-Qaida. It’s just one man.” Well, I tried to explain to my mom that Al-Qaida is a group of people. We laughed and laughed at that story. It was so funny.