Notes for Essie Lavis Jackson:
General Notes:
Mrs. Lavis Jackson Allred Beamer November 22, 2008
Mrs. Lavis Jackson Allred Beamer age 92 of 108 West Oakdale Street, Mt. Airy, North Carolina passed away Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Northern Hospital of Surry County. She was born July 3, 1916 in Surry County to the late Caleb and Alice East Jackson. She was retired from Quality Mills, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was of the Methodist faith. Surviving is a daughter and son-in-law, Willodene and David Hatcher, Mt. Airy, a son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Bonnie Allred Mt. Airy, 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Beamer was preceded in death by her first husband, A.S. Allred, her second husband, Curtis Roscoe Beamer, a daughter, Mary Baldwin, 3 step daughters, Wanda Baker, Anne Palmer, Betty Jo Cook, and a step son, Albert Allred, 7 sisters, Virgie Martin, Bertie Taylor, Nellie Gardner, June Smith, Madelene Jessup, Viola Jackson, and Myrtle Jackson and 5 brothers, Joe Jackson, Woodrow Jackson, Moir Jackson, Dallas Jackson and Quinten Jackson. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at Moody Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Rev. Richard Loman. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-8 PM Monday night at Moody Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, North Carolina 27030 or to the donors choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
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To: Heirs and friends of Lavis Jackson Allred Beamer.
“Grandma” gave me, David B. Hatcher, the responsibility of executing her last will and testament, upon her death. In addition to leaving some money for individuals, she left her home and household goods to others. A copy of her will has been probated and is on file at the Surry County Clerk’s Office, Dobson, NC 27017. If anyone desires any personnel items such as pictures, “what not’s” etc., then please let me know and I will try to accommodate your request.
The balance of this letter will give information about GrandmaÂ’s last few years of her life and a history or her family, which will be incomplete as I know only bits and pieces. (Maybe some of the grandchildren would like to get together and compile a more complete history and remembrance of her life and history.)
Grandma was born to Caleb and Alice Jackson of Westfield, NC, on July 3, 1916. She passed away November 22, 2008, being over 92 years old. Her seven sisters: Virgie Martin, Bertie Taylor, Nellie Gardner, June Smith, Madeleine Jessup, Viola Jackson, Myrtle Jackson; and five brothers: Joe, Woodrow, Moir, Dallas and Quentin all preceded her in death.
Grandma had been in reasonably good health, and with the help of family care-givers, she was able to live alone, and could get about her home with the use of a walker. Two days before she passed away, she suffered a severe stroke, from which she was unable to recover.
Grandma grew up with her large family on a small farm in Westfield. She would tell stories of her growing up years with her siblings and the fun they had on the farm working, playing and looking of ways to take short cuts with their working chores. As I remember some of the tales when they got together, they were always filled with practical jokes and gut wrenching laughter. Their family was animated with fun and laughter.
When Grandma was in her late teens, she was courted heavily by some of the local bachelors, among whom was a handsome widower, seventeen years her senior and with four young children. His name was Albert Sparger Allred, but most people called him “Bud”. The children; Wanda, Albert, Ann and Betty ranged in age from about 11 down to 5. Well Bud asked the question and Grandma said yes! This was in the middle of the great depression, 1934. In about a year Grandma had a baby of her own, Alice Willodene. Two years later there was Mary and then about 9 years after that Jerry came along. Times were hard.
Bud was a “Miller”. He ground corn and wheat to make meal and etc. However this was not sufficient to support his family. He took a job in Radford, VA., and therefore he was away from home a lot. Lavis raised the family. Family gardens, hogs, a milk cow, and chickens for eggs and food kept the family going. In the early forties, Wanda went to Baltimore to work and soon got married. Albert joined the Navy, Ann and Betty Jo entered nursing training. Lavis started working in the mill and Bud looked after Spargers’ Orchard and then started raising tobacco on a small farm in Flat Rock. Willodene says she remembers her Dad loading the pickup with apples and with Lavis and the children and then taking off for Florida. They traded apples along the way for gas, meals and a place to sleep. It was a thrilling and enjoyable trip.
Grandma was always up-beat, laughing and enjoying a good joke. Of course some of her brothers were always around to help out and play a practical joke. Life was hard, but it was simple and good.
In the mid fifties, Wanda, Ann, Betty Jo, Willodene and Mary were all married and starting families. Lavis and Bud and Jerry were the only ones at home. Bud had built a new house, which he built himself. It is said that in the planning stages, Lavis would slip around and move the stakes, because she wanted it bigger. Wanda and family (3 boys) were in Keizer, W. Virginia, Albert joined the Army. Ann, with two boys and two girls, was in South Carolina. Betty Jo, with a boy and a girl, lived in Winston Salem. Willodene was following David around the USA where ever the Air Force took them. Mary was in Nebraska and then Maryland, with a daughter and a son. Finally, Jerry was in New Port News with a daughter.
Grandma continued to work in the mill and more and more became the major bread winner. By the early sixties, Bud was being bothered by sugar diabetes and started a slow decline in health. Leading up to the mid sixties the Nation was preparing for war; first by Kennedy and then by President Johnson. David and Willodene were on the move; Germany, Turkey, Japan, Korea, and then to Thailand from whence David was flying missions into North Vietnam.
The year of 1966 was eventful. David was shot down over North Vietnam, some 300 miles behind friendly lines. He was taken captive and held in North Vietnam for more than six years. Willodene with her two daughters soon moved back to Mount Airy, where she and Grandma became invaluable support for each other. Wanda passed away in 1966.
The seventies started with a New President, but the war continued. Willodene built a new house, David and over 500 other captives were released from North Vietnam in early 1973. Bud had passed away in 1971 (after an extended illness) as well as DavidÂ’s Dad. Grandma had moved to Mount Airy on Oakdale Street. It was a time of readjustment. Many family changes were taking place; job changes, more grandchildren, un-timely deaths, and divorces. In the midst of all these changes, Grandma was a main stay of encouragement, love, and stability. She really loved her children and grandchildren, and later on, her great grandchildren.
In mid 73 she met a new comer to Mount Airy who had lost his wife. Curtis Beamer, who was originally from the Elkin area, had spent some 50 years in Flint, Michigan as an employee of General Motors. They were married in 1973 and lived in GrandmaÂ’s house on Oakdale Street. They would buy merchandise from local hosiery mills and peddle these items in country stores throughout Northwestern North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia. They had a very happy life together, traveling and visiting family in Florida and Eastern United States and the Midwest.
Curtis died in 1987 and Grandma lived alone again. Albert died in 1981, Betty Jo in 1987, and Mary died in 1991. Grandma went back to work. She worked at the new Derby Cafeteria, then as a greeter at K-Mart. She really enjoyed her job at K-mart because she could talk to so many people. She enjoyed playing rook with Curtis and later with other friends. These were times of more laughter and parties, enjoying life and having a good time. She had a “ton” of nieces, nephews, cousins and old friends. (By the way, Bud came from a family of seventeen children!)
As a son-in-law, I must say that Grandma was a challenge. She always wanted to be in charge and have the last word. The last few months or her life gave me the opportunity to learn a little patience. Looking back, I needed her input and am now thankful that she gave me the opportunity to practice with her. Grandma, you lived life to the fullest and you made your mark in history. We love you! Rest in Peace!
David Hatcher.