Beulah Louise (Staten) Bethea

Beulah Louise Bethea, age 81 of 972 County Line Rd., Broadway, NC passed on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill.

THE MEMORIAL REFLECTIONS

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

Proverbs 31:25 - 26

MOTHER BEULAH LOUISE STATEN BETHEA, born September 10, 1937, was the last surviving descendent of the late James Leonard Staten and the late Almeta Steward Staten. She matriculated through the Osgood School and was baptized at the family’s church – New Endland AME Zion Church, Osgood community, Lee County, NC – at an early age.

BEULAH was employed at Coty, Inc., Sanford NC, for many years. After her retirement from Coty, she became employee at Zurn Industries, Sanford, NC until her second retirement. She spent her years in retirement “enjoying Jesus.”

On November 27, 1954, BEULAH united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. William Roscoe Bethea of Broadway NC. She then transferred her church membership to Cameron Grove AME Zion Church, Broadway NC, where he was a member. As a disciple of Cameron Grove Church, she was fully involved in every ministry. Her duties and responsibilities of ministry included: a member of the Original Gospel Choir; former Treasurer for the J.A. McIver Church School class; a former Class Leader; and former Chaplain for Stewardess Board #2. Upon her transition, she was a Life Member of the Woman’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society; a member of the Connectional Lay Council; a Class Leader and the Assistant Class Leader of the Steppers Small Group/Class Leaders Ministry; served on the Pastor’s Appreciation Committee; a Bible Scholar and a Prayer Warrior Team Member. Under the pastoral leadership of Reverend C.L. McDougald, she was consecrated as Deaconess of the church – a calling she admired and cherished and loved.

BEULAH was preceded in death by her parents, James and Almeta Staten; her husband of 53 years, William “Roscoe” Bethea; her three sons: Kenneth, Michael, and Johnny Bethea; her brothers, James Robert Staten and King Lynnwood Staten; and her sisters, Elizabeth Staten, Betty May Staten Taylor, Clemmae Staten, Francis Staten Wilcox and Mary Staten Williams.

On Tuesday morning, July 16, 2019, our beloved BEULAH transferred her church membership one last time. She now reigns a member of the “church triumphant.” This was her daily testimony, her daily conversation, and her daily walk – “to see Jesus.”

The extraordinary life and the rich legacy of BEULAH will be forever etched in the hearts of her five grandchildren: Kenneth Bethea Jr. (Ashley), Adrinne Hooker, Torri Pearson (Jamie), Yolanda Penn (James, Jr.), and Kendra Stepney (Daniel); nine great-grandchildren: Cameron Williams, Vanessa Pearson, Mikale Veal, Kayla Penn, James Thomas Penn, III, Zuri Penn, Zaria Penn, Khalia Cox, and Cairo Bethea; her step-son, Roscoe W. Bethea; her adopted “son and daughter”, Robert and Victoria Locust, special friends, Reverend Shirley Williams, Ollie McIver, Minnie Headen, Sonya Murphy, Gwen Marks and Mrs. Willie T. Thompson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other friends.

Arrangements By: Knotts Funeral Home, Sanford