Richard Earl Heard was born August 7, 1958 in Dallas County, TX to the late Anderson Heard and Rhoda Mae Heard. He was healed and called home May 8, 2016. Richard graduated from Rockwall High School in Rockwall, TX. After high school, Richard received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Master of Arts at University of California Santa Barbara.

Richard accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Zion Baptist Church where he started playing the piano. He served as the choir director for various churches for over 30 years. Professor Heard dedicated his career to educating hundreds of students in the music department of multiple universities. Richard was a classically trained tenor whose beautiful voice won awards all over the country. He made his operatic debut at the Aspen Music Festival and continued to bless people with his talents all over the world. Richard and his family moved to Winston Salem in 1996 where he became a professor of music for Wake Forest University until his health failed him.

He was preceded in death by his father, Anderson Heard; and sisters, Mary Brannon and Willie Mae Sims.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Brazell Fuqua Heard; daughters, Toya Fuqua (Jeffrey)Earley and Brandi Delores Heard both of VA; his grandchildren, Taylor, Jasmine, and Jaden Earley, and Richard J. Heard; his mother, Rhoda Mae Heard of TX; sisters, Ollie Heard, Joanne Mathis (Allen), Bettie Jackson (Calvin), Susie Tolbert, and Pamela Heard of TX; brothers, Andrew Heard (Georgia) and Willie Eugene Heard of TX; sisters-in-law, Lavern Harrell, Ruby Fuqua, Imogene Favors, and Mary Whitaker of TX; special daughters, Melissa Morton (Benterah) of AL and Catie Davis (Scott) of VA; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Monday, May 16, 2016 at Hope Community Church with Bishop Paul Lanier officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 7:00pm Sunday evening, May 15, 2016 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.