Former City of Vicksburg South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, who was the city’s parks and recreation director for eight years before being elected to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for three terms, died Friday morning at Merit Health River Region Hospital. He was 66.

“He loved Vicksburg,” said City Attorney Nancy Thomas who served as city attorney in the Laurence Leyens administration during Beauman’s first two terms. “He was a man of integrity and he was a very principled man. When he made up his mind, he was hard to bend. He was pleasant to work with and we will miss him.”

In a statement written after learning of Beauman’s death, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. released a statement on the city’s behalf: “I am deeply saddened by his loss. I know he fought the good fight, and on behalf of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Vicksburg, my prayers and condolences go out to his family. The city of Vicksburg has lost a true public servant and our entire Vicksburg family shares in the loss of this great individual.”

A native of Vicksburg, Beauman was a 1966 graduate of Warren Central High School and attended the University of Mississippi. Before going to work for the city, he was a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America from 1972-87 and worked as a golf professional in Vicksburg, Monroe, La., Bay St. Louis, Mo., Burneyville, Okla., and Oklahoma City. He also worked as a sales supervisor for Vicksburg Coca-Cola.

He was hired in as the city’s director of parks and recreation in 1993.

“He was responsible for making Vicksburg’s recreation department and its associated programs among the top in the Southeast,” Don Miller, a former South Ward aldermen, said. During Beauman’s tenure as director, Miller said, Halls Ferry Park, its tennis courts, youth and adult ball fields and a baseball field meeting college and minor league baseball regulations was built.

“The Governor’s Cup Baseball Tournament started coming here after the field was completed,” he said. “In fact, a Governor’s Cup team from Oxford coached by John Grisham came here for several years.”

Besides Halls Ferry Park, Miller said Beauman worked with the Vicksburg Swim Association and school coaches and parents to build the city’s Olympic class swimming pool at City Park.

“He worked with (former North Ward Alderwoman) Mrs. (Gertrude) Young to develop recreational facilities in Kings and other areas of the North Ward,” Miller said.

Beauman, Young said, “was a good man and a good friend. He represented his district well when he was in office. He loved the city and he was devoted to it and he showed it by the amount of time he spent at the city. We ask that everyone keep the family listed up in prayer.”

Beauman was elected to his first term on the board in 2001. He was re-elected in 2005 and again in 2009.

“He was one of the most personable aldermen I ever worked with,” Sue Roberts, his secretary, said. “He was always trying to do things to help youth. He was very easy to work for; you wanted to do things for him.”

“I was with him yesterday,” Leyens said. “I’m just very sad. He was really, really a good guy. He really was honest. He wasn’t a very verbal guy, but he was an incredibly warm-hearted man. Probably the best years of my life were with him. He will be missed”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, who was elected to his first term on the board in 2005 after serving as a Warren County Supervisor, said Beauman helped him learn about city government operations.

“I had known Sid long before he became an alderman through working with him as a county supervisor,” Mayfield said. “He was very pleasant to work with, especially when it came to recreation. He was very astute and he spent a lot of effort and time as (recreation) director.”

When he was elected to the board, he said, Beauman took him in and showed him the difference between how city and county government works.

“When I came in, I thought I knew everything about city and county government, coming from the county,” he said. “Sid sat me down and explained how different they were. Sid was very laid back; it took a lot to get him riled up. I was the complete opposite. He told me, ‘Sooner or later, getting really upset is not going to help you.’

“We got along well. I truly enjoyed the time I was with him.”

“When Sid was here, he truly believed in Vicksburg,” City Clerk Walter Osborne said. “He wanted to see things happen and wanted to make an difference. He took pride in his performance. He will be greatly missed.”

Beauman is survived by his wife Laura E. Beauman; and children, Michael R. Beauman, Megan Bell, and Mitchell Beauman. A memorial service will be held at a later date.