John Howell “Jack” Heard

John Howell “Jack” Heard passed away peacefully at home the early morning of Friday, June 26, 2026.

Born October 1, 1948, he was the son of Howell Crane “Duck” Heard and Mary Catherine Shipp Heard of Moultrie, Georgia. He attended Colquitt County schools and was a graduate of the Moultrie High School Class of 1966. In his teenaged years, Jack became interested in funeral service after having worked a summer job at Henderson Funeral Home in Moultrie. He continued to spend summers and after-school hours learning at Henderson and upon completion of high school, he enrolled in the Texas College of Mortuary Science at Baylor University in Dallas. Jack graduated with his mortuary science degree in 1969, and returned to Georgia to gain his state certification and begin work as a licensed funeral director. He worked in Moultrie and at Ward’s Funeral Home in Gainesville, Georgia before the opportunity to take over at Oxley Mortuary in Fernandina presented itself. Jack then completed all requirements to be a licensed funeral director in the State of Florida and in 1974, became the owner of what would become Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors, serving the Nassau County and Fernandina Beach community until his death.

Jack was a member of the Amelia Lodge No. 47 F.&A.M, and had recently received his 55-year plaque. He had been a member of both the Hasan Shrine Temple in Albany, Georgia and the Morocco Temple in Jacksonville for over 50 years, was a long-time member and past-president of the Fernandina Beach Shrine Club, a long-time member of the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club and recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship, an over 40-year member and Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court No. 90 in Jacksonville, and held membership in the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners for over 40 years, serving on the board, as president, and as vice-president and organizational liaison with Amtrak for over 25 years.

In the 1980s and 90s, Jack traveled the southeast as the leader of the Jack Heard Orchestra big band, playing in many resort venues and for events such as the Gasparilla Ball in Tampa, the Gator Bowl Ball in Jacksonville, and the Potentate’s Ball at Morocco Temple. In 2016, he gathered the band and began work on a collaboration of studio recordings which became known as “Happy Sessions”. Over ten years, the Jack Heard Orchestra released 12 CDs with more than 240 tunes.

In addition to his parents, Jack is pre-deceased by his nephews, Bailey Howell Heard and James Carroll Whittle, III, and father-in-law, Luther Eugene Feagin. He leaves behind his loving wife, LeAnne Feagin Heard; brother and sister-in-law, Franklin Shipp “Buck” and Lynn Heard; son, Benjamin Feagin Goodrich; daughter and son-in-law, Dia Jacquelyn and Matt Sayre; niece and nephew-in-law, Katherine “Katie” and Landin Marzolf; nephew and niece-in-law, William “Will” and Taylor Whittle; granddaughter, Jacquelyn “Jackie” Sue Sayre; mother-in-law, Jacquelyn Feagin; sister-in-law, Lisa Feagin; niece-in-law, Erica Corbett; great-nephew, Logan Marzolf; great-nieces, Celia and Ila Whittle; many beloved cousins, and “special daughter”, Ashley Marie Smith.

Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, July 3, 2026 in the Burgess Chapel of the Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, with Mr.John Drew officiating, and Masonic rites will be conducted by Amelia Lodge No 47. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 PM and from 5 to 7 PM Thursday, July 2nd in the chapel.

Jack will be laid to rest beside his parents with graveside services to be held at 2 PM Sunday, July 5, 2026 at Westview Cemetery in Moultrie, with dear friend and high school classmate, Mr. Edward “Bubba” Acuff officiating and Baker Funeral Home assisting.

Those wishing may donate in Jack’s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 North Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 (shrinerschildrens.org).