Franklin Coffee Heard was born
October 3, 1911, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, the son
of Edward Heard and Sarah Coleman Heard. Heard’s
musical training began in his home. His mother, a
piano teacher, gave all five of h er children
musical training. Each child played a musical
instrument.
Frank played the corent. His early musical
instruction was supplemented by cornet lessons with
a qualified instructor in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Heard finished at Itta Bena High
School and graduated with honors from Millsaps
College, with majors in English and Latin. With
Millsaps, he played in the Millsaps College Band,
serving as Captain for several years.
Upon graduation from Millsaps
College, Heard organized and directed the Okolona
High School Band. Heard took the required
examination to obtain his license and qualify to
enter his hand in the Mississippi State Band
Contest. The Okolona High School Band received high
honors at the Mississippi State Band Contest in
Concert, Sight-reading, and Drilling.
in 1936, Heard accepted the position
of director of the Natchez High School Band. Here,
too, Heard organized the band program where he
remained until 1953. His bands were always
outstanding, making Superior ratings at the
Mississippi State Band Contest. His influence on the
lives of his students is evident today. Many of his
students entered
the music field as a profession while many
other have enriched their lives using their musical
training as an avocation. In 1938, Heard married
Beth Nichols. They had two sons, Frank Coffee Heard,
Jr. and David Nichols Heard. During his summer
vacations, Heard attended Northwestern University
School of Music in Evanston, I Illinois, and earned
his degree in 1943.
Upon his retirement as band director
from the public schools in Natchez, Heard opened and
successfully operated a retail music store in the
city, continuing to cooperate with the various music
programs in the city until his death, July 19, 1985.
