Funeral services for Jerry Ard are Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Topeka Baptist Church with burial in Roberts Memorial Cemetery. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation was Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m at Wilson Funeral Home, and will continue Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Topeka Baptist Church

Mr. Ard, 71, died on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He was born Nov. 12, 1944 in Lawrence County to Carlos and Bertile Smith Ard.

Mr. Ard served his country in the US Army. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a mentor to and had a special bond with Dustin Reid, loved teaching him to drive and to mechanic. He took pride in all the mechanical things Dustin could drive. They enjoyed making their daily block with Dustin driving. He loved to spend time with his family and enjoyed working in his different businesses. He also liked to travel and to spend time at his camp. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Preceding her in death were his parents Carlos and Bertile Smith Ard; son, Bobby Ard; and brother, Jimmy Ard.

Survivors are his wife (the love of his life) of 27 years, LaGwen Powell Ard; sons, Billy Ard and wife, Katrina of Monticello, Carlos Ard of Monticello, Daniel Reid of Jayess, Levi Reid and Sheryl of Tyler, Texas; step-daughter, Shirley Holmes Stringer and husband, Joe, of Sumrall; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Judy Ard Belk and husband, Steve, June Ard Cothern and husband, Danny, and Jackie Ard Barclay and husband Glenn; and a host of family and friends.

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