Beatrice Bernita Beckley

Beatrice B. Beckley

Sunrise

Sunset

December 16, 1923

October 28, 2017

Celebration of Life Saturday, November 4, 2017 Viewing: 12:00 p.m. * Service: 1:00 p.m.

D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home 3933 Washington Avenue * New Orleans, LA 70125

Beatrice (Bea) Bernita Osborne Beckley was born December 16, 1923 in Miller City, IL to Doc Hefron Osborne and Eliza Friarson Osborne. Her childhood was spent in Cairo, IL where she graduated from high school. Bea attended Alabama State Teachers College where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1945.

While attending Alabama State she met Preston Beckley Jr. whom she married after her graduation and moved to Milwaukee, WI. This union produced two children, Antoinette B. Beckley and Preston Beckley III. Even though Bea’s degree was in secondary education, “Negroes” were not allowed to teach high school in Wisconsin. She subsequently went back to school and in January of 1957 received her first assignment teaching first grade at Twelfth Street School. The summer of 1966 presented Beatrice with a unique opportunity to be on the staff of an NDEA Institute for teachers and supervisors of disadvantaged children. She spent that summer, at the University of Illinois, modeling a non-graded open primary classroom for participants at the Institute.

Bea received her Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1970.

That summer she taught a graduate course at the University entitled “Individualization of Instruction”. In September of 1971, she assumed the position of Reading Resource Teacher at Twenty-first Street School. Her great interest in mentoring continued in the summer of 1972, when she taught a course at Racine’s Dominican College on “The Improvement of Reading Instruction.”

The first administrative position Bea was granted the Assistant Principal appointment at Wisconsin Avenue School in the fall of 1973. During the second semester of 1976, she assumed the role of Acting Principal at Eighty-second Street School. This experience led to her subsequent appointment as the Principal of Ninety-fifth Street School in September of 1976. Bea remained there until January 1978, when she began the plans for the new Twenty-first Street School. She opened the Twenty-first Street School – TPLC as the Principal in September of 1978. Bea was a designer, nurturer, educational leader and great supporter of specialty programs from their genesis and throughout their evolution.

A devoted mother, Bea prided herself on supporting her family and especially her two children.

She always believed that “where there was a will there was a way.” She enjoyed cooking, playing bridge, the opera, and spoiling her grandchildren. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America Inc. Bea was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers; Robert Lee, Mac, Daniel, and Oscar, and three sisters; Charity, Allie, and Octavia.

She leaves to mourn her passing two children, Antoinette B. Talbott, Preston Beckley III; four grandchildren, Grant G. Talbott IV, Shaun L. Talbott (Christa Rayford Talbott), Preston Beckley IV (Tiffany Harris Beckley), Allysen D. Beckley; and five great grandchildren, Nia A. Talbott, Imani J. Talbott, Preston A. Beckley, Devyn E. Beckley, Miles Q. Beckley

Celebration of Life

Order of Service Rev. Dr. George T. Moore, Officiating Opening Hymn

“Falling In Love With Jesus”

Scripture Readings: Old Testament

Psalms 23

New Testament

John 14: 1-7

Prayer of Comfort Musical Selection

“My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord”

Reflections

Obituary Musical Selection Eulogy Recessional

Read Silently “Because You Loved Me” Rev. Dr. George T. Moore “Going Up Yonder”

MRS. BEATRICE B. BECKLEY’S LEGACY as expressed in

My Last Will and Testament

By Mary McLeod Bethune

I leave you Love.

I leave you Hope.

I leave you a thirst for Education.

I leave you Faith.

I leave you Racial Dignity.

I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your Fellowmen.

I leave you finally a Responsibility to our Young People.

Grant G. Talbott, IV Shaun L. Talbott Preston Beckley, IV James D. Talbott

Our family would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation for the many kind expressions of sympathy, words of comfort and prayers extended during our time of bereavement.

May God continue to bless and keep each of you.

D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home 3933 Washington Avenue New Orleans, LA 70125

Mount Olivet Cemetery 4000 Norman Mayer Ave. New Orleans, LA 70122

Immediately Following Interment Rhodes Funeral Home Design & Printing by “Our Celebrations of Life” (504) 453-2186 * ourcelebrationsoflife@gmail.com