Beverly Laird

Dr. Beverly Lee Laird, age 64, died on November 27, 2014 following a long battle with cancer. Beverly was born on December 2, 1949 in Aberdeen, Mississippi to Joyce and Harry Lee, Sr. Beverly grew up in Paris, Tennessee and married her high school sweetheart, Chae E. Laird, Sr., in 1969. Beverly received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the College of William & Mary and graduated with a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She was a founding member of the North Central Alabama Susan G. Komen affiliate, co-founder of the American Cancer Society’s Young Survivors’ Group, and served on boards and committees with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Livestrong Foundation, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a patient advocate and an advocate trainer all over the country. She served on the NCI Director’s Consumer Liaison Group and also served on the NCI Early Detection Research Network and the Uterine Task Force. Beverly was appointed to Komen Advocates in Science Steering Committee, an advisory group that works with Komen Scholars. She was also appointed as an FDA Patient Representative. She played an instrumental role in getting millions of dollars in cancer research funding to UAB, as well as shaping the standard of patient care. Beverly was also a founding member of 3D Medical Concepts, LLC, located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Beverly is survived by her husband, Chae Laird, Sr.; daughters, Jane Calamusa (Joe) and Ann Reardon (Josh); son, Chae Laird, Jr. (Mary Grace); mother, Joyce Lee; brother, Harry E. Lee, Jr. (Sue); and granddaughters Lillie Reardon and Neva Jane Reardon.
Memorial contributions can be made to North Central Alabama Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, Attn: Donor Services, 1909 27th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35209.