Thomas Melvin Heard, Jr.

Graveside services for Mr. Thomas Melvin Heard, Jr. will be held at 1:00PM, on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens with Dr. Wade Phillips officiating.

Thomas Melvin "T.M." Heard, Jr., age 72, was born on August 27th, 1952, and passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2025.

T.M. was a retired educator, completing 33 years of teaching, most of those at Meridian High School. He was a champion for his students, providing opportunities beyond the classroom. This was shown through examples like Camp High Hopes, a summer camp for students with exceptional needs that he was very involved in during his younger teaching career.

T.M.'s former hobbies included being outdoors, whether hunting or fishing. As a survivor of polio, challenges didn't seem to phase him. He loved all sports, but his favorite of all was baseball.

Survivors include daughter, Haley Alexander (Richmond); grandchildren, Millie, Mary Hixson, and Miles; sister, Kathleen McNeil; brother, Michael Heard (Karyn); brother-in-law, Jamie Rawson (Sheila); sister-in-law, Lea Ann Branning; nieces, Meagan McCoy (Justin) and Ashlie Dial (James); nephews, Blake and Brandon Branning; as well as great-nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Camie Rawson Heard, and parents, Mel and Helen Heard.

T.M.'s family would like to thank the staff at Home Instead, the ladies of The Beehive, Queen City Nursing Center, and Ochsner Rush ICU, and Specialty Hospital healthcare workers.

T.M. and family were ministered to with every encounter. In his final years/months, he was surrounded by those truly called to the positions they served.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Lauderdale County Animal Control Shelter or Northcrest Baptist Church Student Building Fund.