Maurice L. (Williams) Heard

  Mrs. Maurice Leora Williams Heard passed away at her home in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 24, 2022. She was born to Professor Nathan F. Williams and Arsula Williams on June 2, 1928, in Swainsboro, Georgia.

    Mrs. Heard graduated in 1944 from Swainsboro Industrial High School. She attended Tuskegee Institute where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1947. After graduating, she taught for the Georgia Public School System for two years and was inspired to further her education. Mrs. Heard returned to the Tuskegee Institute in 1949. In 1952, she earned a Masters in Education. She taught at Fort Valley State College, Savannah State College, and State College Faculty of Savannah. She attended the University of Michigan to earn a PhD. Mrs. Heard also taught in Cartersville, Georgia. In 1965, she married Mr. Charles Heard and they moved to Atlanta, Georgia. She was employed as a Guidance Counselor for the Atlanta Board of Education. She retired in 1994 after being an Educator for more than 40 years.

   Mrs. Heard joined the Church of God at an early age and attended Martin St. Church of God, where she worked in many departments as the church membership grew. She was very active on the church board, which expanded into a new building that seated nearly one thousand people. The one thing she missed the most was her church family.

   Mrs. Heard was preceded in death by: her father, Professor Nathan F. Williams; mother, Arsula Williams; husband, Charles Heard; and brothers, Pleasant Williams and Newell F. Williams.

   She is survived by: sister, Ella Norma Williams Mays of Riverdale, Georgia; nephew, Robert Nathan Mays; nieces and nephews, Jody Jenkins, Daniel McFadden, Brenda McFadden, Linda Cobb, Lizzie Leverson, Diane Harley, and Ronnie Brown; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

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