James Bradley Beard

James Bradley Beard DO, 89, of Wilmington, North Carolina passed away July 22, 2024 at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center in Wilmington, North Carolina. His wife of 67 years, Joyce Martin Beard, survived him at the time of his death.  Mrs. Beard passed away April 10, 2026.  They were married June 8, 1957 at Kumler Chapel in Oxford Ohio.

Dr. Beard was born October 25, 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of the late Thomas Augustus Beard and Lottie Mae Gordon Beard.  He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1957 and his Master of Education in 1961; both from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  He received his Doctor of Osteopathy medical degree in 1976 from the University of North Texas – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM).  Dr. Beard served his residency at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

As a freshman on the Miami University track team, he went undefeated in both the long jump and high jump.  He met his future wife, Joyce Martin, on the Miami University library steps on Easter Sunday in 1955.

A physician with a specialty in interventional radiology, Dr. Beard also taught chemistry and physics at the high school level in Ohio and the college level at Wright State University. 

Dr. Beard held life memberships in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Osteopathic College of Radiology (AOCR), the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA), the Missouri Osteopathic Medical Association (MOMA), the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA), and the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

He is survived by his daughters, Lois Beard Martin, D.O. and Lisa Marie Beard Ballantine, J.D. and her husband, Patrick James Ballantine, J.D. and North Carolina State Senator, retired.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amanda Monique Martin Brown and her husband, Austin Brown, Alaina Surret Martin, Wilker Marie Ballantine Yeargan and her husband, Fisher Yeargan, and Augustus James Ballantine; nephew, Daniel Charles Martin, his wife Kim, and their children, Ryan Martin and Amanda Martin.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Beard was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Gordon Beard; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles Russell Martin and Marie Martin.

Dr. Beard donated his body to UNT Health TCOM for scientific research. A memorial service was held April 26, 2025 at the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center and he was honored with a marker in the Navy section of their military garden.

A graveside service with Pastor Virgil Hawkins officiating will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Clarksville Cemetery, Clarksville, Ohio where Dr. Beard’s cremated remains will be interred with his wife.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Beard’s memory may be made to UNT Health Fort Worth Texas – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, EAD 802, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401.

Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington, Ohio is serving the family.  For more information or to leave a note of condolence visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com

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