Charles Bernard Heard

Mr. Charles Bernard Heard, 87, of Elberton, husband of 63 years to Marilyn Berryman Heard, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, after battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.

The oldest of four children, Charles was born in Tignall, Ga., on July 9, 1938, to the late Barney Heard and Lucile Bailey Heard. He graduated from Tignall High School in 1956 after being chosen as “Most Intellectual” by classmates.

When his family's home burned down his senior year, Charles set aside his college plans to help support them, selling shoes at Belk department store before joining the Georgia Department of Transportation at age 19 in 1958. He enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard in 1959.

His life changed course in August 1960, when he drove to Franklin County for a dance at the VFW in Lavonia. That same night, Marilyn Berryman, then 20, drove from Madison County with her best friend, Frankie, to the same dance. By night’s end, Charles asked for Marilyn’s phone number. When he realized he didn’t have a pen, he wrote her number in the dust of his car.

Because Marilyn had to work late for several days the week after the dance, she kept missing Charles’s calls. She finally asked her mother — who sounded just like her on the phone — to answer if Charles called, and to say “yes” if he asked her on a date. Two years later on March 24, 1963, Charles and Marilyn tied the knot at Carlton Baptist Church after the Sunday worship service.

The newlyweds settled in Elberton in a small apartment on Cactus Hill and soon became active members at First Baptist Church. While continuing with the DOT in its Athens office, Charles served nine years in the National Guard (achieving the rank of second lieutenant), and advanced his education through courses in civil/highway engineering and surveying and two years of evening classes at the University of Georgia.

After 32 years with the DOT — most of it with a 140-mile daily roundtrip commute — he retired in 1990 at age 52 as an engineering auditor based in the DOT’s District Office in Gainesville. Even with his long commutes, he always made time to be with his family and to serve his church and community.

First Baptist has always remained a cornerstone of Charles’s and Marilyn’s life together. As a lifelong active member, Charles expressed a quiet faith and love for God and others through acts of service. He was a longtime Sunday School teacher, first for the junior high boys’ class and then for the fifth-grade children’s class. He also served as a deacon and as chair of the baptismal committee.

After his retirement, Charles co-founded Savannah Lakes Land Surveying Co. in Elberton in 1993 and was licensed in Georgia as a professional surveyor. He also was appointed to the Elbert County Board of Tax Assessors for six years and served on the board of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association in Wilkes County.

Above all, Charles’s greatest love was his wife, Marilyn, and their children: his son, Emery Heard of Comer, and his daughter, Natalie (Wayne) Shelton of LaGrange. As the couple’s children married and started their families, Charles’s three granddaughters became the three brightest lights in their “Pop’s” life: Emma Kate (Drew) Puckett of Laguna Beach, California, Caroline Shelton of LaGrange, and Jaiden Heard of Clemson, S.C., and her fiancé, Jacob Byerts. Charles was looking forward to the birth of his great-granddaughter in September.

He also is survived by his brother Joe (Audrey) Heard of Anderson, S.C.; brother Danny (Gail) Heard of Rayle; sister, Sylvia (Clyde) Davis of Tignall; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Charles’s family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 28, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. As weather permits, burial will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park, 1642 Washington Hwy., Elberton.

Flowers are welcome, and contributions honoring Charles’s memory may be made to the Ramp Ministry and/or Missions Fund at First Baptist Church, 132 Heard St., Elberton, GA 30635, or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 6211, Elberton, GA 30635.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mr. Charles Bernard Heard.