Brandon Lamar Beard

DOVER - Brandon Lamar Beard, of Dover, departed this life Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008. He was born June 19, 1983, in Wilmington. He attended various schools in the Wilmington area until 1992, when his mother moved to Dover. Brandon attended various schools in the Dover area. He attended Dover High and was a member of the boys varsity team. He graduated from Dover High School in June of 2001. Brandon is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Ethel Bryant; paternal grandfather, Ronald Robertson; maternal uncle, Philip A. Martin; paternal grandfather, Joseph Beard and paternal sister, Monique Beard. Brandon leaves to cherish his memory his mother, Serena E. Kennedy of Dover with whom he lived; his father, Steven Beard of Wilmington; brother, Istavan (Ice) Norwood Jr.; two sisters, Monet Beard and Alyssa Beard both of Wilmington; two devoted and loving aunts (as he was to them), Kim J. Tate and Denise Bridges; his fiancé, Melissa Smith; their daughter, Brianna Lanae Beard and her sister, Alexis Hannah and mother-in-law to be, Patricia "Mom Pat" Curry. Brandon is also survived by his niece, Coreia Benson; a nephew, Istavan Norwood III; first cousins, Terron Bass, Rodney Tate and Tiffany Tate, whom Brandon affectionately looked after as a little sister; Jermaine Moore, whom he looked after as his little brother; maternal uncle, Gavin D. Martin; paternal grandmother, Lillian Beard; and god-daughter. Niakajiiae Deputy. He also leaves many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends along with his dog "Izzie." Services will be 5 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Baptist Church on Route 8, Dover, where a viewing will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Burial will be noon Monday in Sharon Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.