Lord Jesus Christ , now the Restoration Church of Christ , where Wender R . Gavin , Wendy ’ s father , was pastor , and she served as director of the youth choir . They soon became friends , discovering a shared interest in ministry and education . Wendy , an FSU student , persuaded Tim to pursue FSU ’ s graduate education programs . Soon Tim was visiting Wendy at home , where they studied together and got better acquainted . Always a gentleman , Tim set his own curfew of 11 p . m . for these visits .
Wendy noticed similarities between Tim and her father , who treated her and her sisters with respect and gentleness . Her parents liked Tim , whom her mother described as an “ old soul .” Wendy thought he was “ old school ” because of his decency , decorum and good manners . Tim was a good sport , too .
Tim and Wendy at their wedding in 1986 .
One evening , he knocked on the Gavins ’ front door , dropping by to study with Wendy . She opened the door and gasped in horror at Tim ’ s shirt — clean but ugly enough to provoke a citation from the fashion police . She quickly raided her father ’ s closet and loaned Tim a more conservative shirt . Later that evening , Pastor Gavin teased his future son-in-law about wearing a shirt “ just like one in my closet .” Tim good-naturedly joined in the laughter that followed .
Tim became a member of the Restoration Church of Christ , where today , he is Associate Pastor as well as the Overseer / Pastor of Center of Love , Hope , and Restoration in St . Petersburg , FL . Attorney McKnight , Tim ’ s friend , admires that for decades now , without fanfare or compensation , Tim has routinely driven to Tallahassee to preach at the Restoration Church with his father-in-law . “ Tim has shown me the meaning of ‘ servant leader ,’” says McKnight .
Wendy Beard with daughters Briana and Sierra
On October 25 , 1986 , Tim and Wendy married , expecting that children would soon follow . After five years of marriage without a biological child of their own , the couple opened their home and hearts to foster children — two girls and three boys . Tim and Wendy embraced the foster kids with genuine parental love , guidance and discipline . The kids also benefited from “ adoption ” into the Beards ’ church family . Eventually , the foster kids returned to their biological families . The boy who stayed the longest with Tim and Wendy was reluctant to leave . A nine-year-old girl , Erica , was about to be permanently adopted by the Beards when the girl ’ s grandmother appeared on the scene , requesting custody . Erica ultimately returned to the foster care system , where she suffered abuse that brought Wendy to tears . Today , though , Wendy and Erica , an adult with her own family , have reconnected as mother and daughter .
16 PHSC
Dr . Beard with Mobile , Alabama Mayor Sam Jones , also a trustee at the University of South Alabama .
After five years of fostering , Wendy became pregnant and gave birth to a son , Samuel Gavin , who , tragically , lived for only 11 hours . Deeply saddened by the loss of their first child , Wendy and