Tiny Loved to Hunt

Turkey Season 1982

Whether it was on the home place, Shot Bag, Green Camp, or the Pic-n-Cut Tiny loved hunt. Tiny hunted deer, turkey, duck, squirrel, dove, and even wild hogs. Duck hunting and dove hunting were two of his favorites, but squirrel hunting was his all time favorite. I think he liked those three the best because each of them were a social occasion as well as hunting. He love taking groups out with his squirrel dog. He especially loved hunting with Lou. Tiny of course also loved preparing meals with the game killed.

MSU 2nd in The College World Series

We went to Omaha and I forgot to blog about this important occasion in MSU history! Oh my!  We won Super Regionals so the Bulldogs were Omaha bound. MSU went on to the College World Series and not only did the Diamond Dawgs go; MSU made it to 2nd Place!! It was awesome. Stephen and Nathan went with a group of friends pictured here.  It was a fun trip and Nathan came home without a voice from yelling so much. I took these pictures of the boys on our TV! Our entire family was glued to the television set watching for days while the Dawgs kept advancing. That is the family that wasn't  there in person. Stephen and Nathan were of course there. Pierce went with the Governor of MS, and four generations of the Johnny Heard family was there. The huge stadium was covered in maroon and our team and fans put on a great show. Tiny and Lou cheered from home. We all had fun calling one another discussing the "Bench Mob", the beards, the pitchers antics in the bullpen, the looseness of the players, and the MSU baseball stars. Tiny wanted to take Daddy too, but instead they enjoyed watching the series from the comfort of home. Go Dawgs! It is fun watching history in the making!

Linda, Leah, Garner, Uncle Johnny and Caleb

Wrap it up in Maroon and White!

My Brother - My Hero

Sam Richard Heard, Jr 
(March 27, 1951 - July 5, 2013)

Mr. Sam R. “Tiny” Heard, Jr., 62, passed away suddenly at Noxubee General Hospital in Macon, MS on Friday, July 5, 2013. His funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 9 from Brooksville Baptist Church at 3:00 P.M. Interment will follow at Brooksville Cemetery. A period of visitation will be held at the church on Sunday, July 7 from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Any memorials may be made to the Brooksville Baptist Church % Mrs. Judy Bolin P.O. Box 52, Brooksville, MS 39739 Cockrell Funeral Home Inc. of Macon is entrusted with the arrangements. Sam Heard, Jr., known to one and all as “Tiny”, was born on March 27, 1951 in Suffern, New York to Sam Richard and Annie Brown Heard. He was reared in Brooksville, MS and was a graduate of Noxubee County High School. He was an athletic young man who attended Mississippi College on a football scholarship. He also attended East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi State University. He spent most of his life in farming and trucking, but he was probably best known for his wonderful cooking abilities. Tiny was a life-long member and Deacon of Brooksville Baptist Church and was an avid hunter. He was a very outgoing person who loved people and it showed in his life. He was always looking for opportunities to be a blessing to his friends, family, or to those in need. He helped many children and young people over the years and was involved in the Little Britches Rodeo for children. He also mentored many children in learning to hunt ethically and safely. He was truly “a Big man with a Big heart!” who never met a stranger. He is survived by his wife: Lou Heard and by his parents: Sam, Sr and Annie B. Heard, all of Brooksville, MS. as well as by his daughter: Libby and Neel Abrams, also of Brooksville and by his son: Dr. Richard and Katie Heard of Memphis TN. Also left to grieve his passing are his beloved grandchildren: Neely Abrams and Kirksey and Sam Heard and his Sister: Mary Ann and Matt Murphy of Brandon, MS and his Brother: Keith and Chrissy Heard of Columbus, MS.

- Cockrell Funeral Home Obituary

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Little Tiny - A Big Man With a Big Heart

Little Tiny was indeed "a BIG man with a BIG heart" and I was so blessed to be loved by him. I loved every minute of being his little sister. Keith and I were so blessed to have him as a big brother. Keith and I had a hero, friend, confidant, and Tiny would never let us stand alone against anything. He has always been there for us. Now because of Tiny's Christian faith we know Tiny is in Heaven waiting for us and we also know because of his service to others that he has many crowns. Tiny is loved by so many people and that was evident by the hundreds and hundreds of people who came to the visitation and funeral. Everyone related how special Tiny was to them. Many of them said, "He was my best friend." He was my best friend too and I relied on him many times and he was my hero. He was there for me for all my victories and defeats. I was not defeated for long because of my family and especially Tiny to tell me "Little sister you are going to be just fine." He was always there for me in any way I needed. My children are blessed to have him as an uncle because he treated them like they were his own sons. He helped them in so many ways and taught them so much about life at "Tiny's Boot Camp" as Sam Cockburn called it. Michael and Tiny had many fun road trips. Tiny's nieces and nephews were a source of great joy to him. My husband Matt dearly loved Tiny and they bonded as brothers. I am so thankful for Tiny choosing Lou as a wife to be my sister. She is so dear to me and Tiny loved her whole heartedly. It was fun to be around them and my life is richer because they have been in my life. Tiny loved his children so much and he was the best father and Big Daddy. He was so proud of Richard, Libby, Neely, Kirksey, and Sam. He often bragged on Neel and Katie. Tiny and I talked almost daily and each one of them were often the subject of our conversations. He loved our parents and was devoted to them. He truly honored his father and mother.  Tiny got his positive attitude from Daddy and inherited the "gift of helps" from our Mama's example. Tiny was so caring and dedicated his life to helping others.  I am so proud of the man my brother Sam Richard Heard was and always will be. I will cherish each of my memories of him and all of the stories we can tell about him.  My memories are so strong that I can hear his laughter, his voice, and I can visualize his walk, and that mischievous smile. Tiny is larger than life to me.

I have so many wonderful memories.  One memory that I have of Tiny that is special to me was our time on Land of Lakes with all of our friends. He taught almost all of my friends how to water ski. One of my friends, Judy Jackson reminded me of a story. Judy said she tried all day one day to get up and couldn't and Tiny came out of the field and was watching Daddy teaching her from the shore. He yelled to our Daddy to come pick him up and let him drive the boat. Tiny took over the lesson. He explained to Judy his standard speech, "arms straight, knees bent, let the boat pull you up" and then he asked if she was ready. She popped up immediately. He did the same for Paula Perkins and Sandy Coleman. Madelyn Gray and I had access to a boat at all times because of Tiny. Tiny would never complain (at least not where we heard it) about our many days skiing double usually twelve rounds around the lake. I remember oh so well Tiny sitting on top of that seat, swinging the boat around to get the rope to me and me bobbing up and down like a cork over that enormous wake from the giant gray VIP boat. My friends loved to be on the water with Tiny. Tiny was all about teaching us water safety, how to load and unload the boat, and how to safely pull a skier.  All of my childhood friends have great memories of Tiny and they "borrowed" my big brother many times as their own.

-Mary Ann Heard Murphy

"For those of you who knew Tiny, you know what a loss this is for me, my family and the entire community. For those of you who didn't get to know him, trust me when I tell you that you would love him. He was the best big Brother a person could have. He protected me, he trusted me, he got me into trouble and then got me out of it. I was lucky to have him for my 57 years. Heck he even named me! And he was the best friend someone could have. Tiny would do all he could to help someone, anytime, any place and any circumstance no matter how bad it was. He would just be there if you needed him. There is so many things I can say about Tiny but I really can't go on...I do have to add that he was fun. All I can say is that the folks up in Heaven got a treat when Sam R. Tiny Heard, Jr. showed up!"

- Keith Heard

"He was the best brother-in-law and such a great friend...It's gonna take some doin' to quit missing him. The grief will leave eventually but thankfully, the memories linger on...."

-Chrissy Heard

"He was a brother to me." -Matt

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A Life Mate - True Love

Tiny and Lou's marriage is an example to us all. They were married over 40 years and Tiny loved Lou so very much. He enjoyed nothing better than going to church with her, eating lunch with her, cooking supper for her, and just spending time with her. Dancing with Lou was a joy to him and he could be a very smooth dancer. He loved Lou with a passion. When Tiny asked Lou's dad,  Judge Robert Hugh Kirksey why he let them marry so young, the Judge said, "Because you two were so passionate."  Tiny told me the last time that I talked to him in person that he would not go back to change anything in his life, but he would love to go back again and be 18 and on a date with Lou just one more time. 

Tiny and Lou at their 40th Wedding Anniversary party.

"PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!! And the greatest blessing He has given me was a lifemate who had a heart bigger than life itself! For 43 years I have lived a life full of being loved and everyday was a different adventure – never a dull moment! Tiny Heard, the love of my life, was a precious gift from God that I will always treasure.

The second blessing was the gift of our two children, Libby Abrams and Richard Heard and the lifemates they have chosen, Neel Abrams and Katie Ketchum Heard. Tiny and I have thanked God so many times for the children they were and the adults they have become. We’ve have enjoyed a life FULL of love and take pleasure in seeing our grandchildren come into this world and the joys they have given us – Neely Abrams, Kirksey & Sam Heard. And thirdly, all of you – our family and friends. What an outpouring of love you have shown us these past three days! Saturday and Sunday night I went to bed reading all of your posts on FB – the tears flowed freely but what a comfort and peace I received from your writings. THANK YOU! And last night I went to bed with the vision of the many FRIENDS who came to be with us to share their stories and our grieving as we suffer the loss of precious, BIG HEARTED Tiny. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – Continue to pray for us – There will be a big void in our lives. But if the Lord chose to bring him home, then the Lord will give us the strength to bear this burden – His will being done and I put my trust in HIM. Thank you my friends."

-Lou Heard. 
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A Celebration of Tiny's Life

The funeral service was a lovely tribute to Tiny. Brother Jay Spiller presided, Alice Gill sang I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy, Judy Bolin lead the hymn Because He Lives,  Deborah Heard played the music and his pall bearers were young men that are sons of Tiny's dear friends or friends of Tiny's two children, Libby and Richard. These young men had also become Tiny's cherished friends. Alice Gill's song was so moving and we were blessed by it. Brother Jay's message was about Tiny as a person and his service to others. He related personal stories and there were many smiles and chuckles through the tears. The Brooksville Baptist Church family was a priority in Tiny's life and Brother Jay express beautifully appreciation for Tiny's dedication. Brother Jay reassured the group of men that love him from Pic-N- Cut that "What happens at the river stays at the river". Brother Jay asked for a show of hands of how many people had eaten Tiny's cooking and it looked like every person in the church raised their hand. There were many people standing outside the church because the church was completely filled with friends and family. I am sure the ones that were outside had also had Tiny's barbecue. Brother Jay explained the plan of Salvation and read from Matthew 25 and he replaced Tiny's name for you in the following scripture. I appreciate how this scripture selected perfectly explained Tiny. 

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25: 34-36

We will meet again Big Brother. I love you. 

My Brother, Sam Richard Heard Jr, Little Tiny

I love you Big Brother. Thank you for the love and laughter!