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The Following From the Atlanta Area Newsletter, January 2018, Myra Medlin & Gus Harter, Editors:
Willie Beal Sr. led his brethren and sisters in the Primitive Baptist Church (PBC) for more than seven decades before being called home to eternal glory with his Lord and Savior on December 4, 2017. Throughout his 94 years Elder Beal’s commitment to fulfilling his duty to lead -- in his church, his family and his community -- was unwavering. He was baptized into Mount Zion PBC on March 31, 1945, and began to preach the very same day. In 1965 he relocated from Waycross, GA to fulfill his dream of organizing a church in Atlanta. This dream was realized in 1974 with the constitution of Silver Springs PBC. Until his passing, he served as pastor of this church (43 years) and other churches, mostly in the Little Lotts Creek Primitive Baptist Association, including Mt. Zion PBC, Irwinton (57 yrs) and Bethel PBC, Statesboro (57 yrs).
Elder Beal served the Lord with absolute conviction. To hear his voice in the pulpit was to be converted anew. He travelled extensively, preaching the gospel and was inspired to write his signature song of praise, "I Thank You, Jesus."
Willie Beal, Sr. was born on November 4, 1923, in Wilkinson County, Georgia, the fourth of six children of the late Andrew Beal and Viola Knight Beal. At eight years old he was compelled to leave school to help support his family. At 13, he led logging crews supplying major saw mills in middle Georgia, even though he was the youngest member of the crews.
In 1940 he married his childhood sweetheart, Elma Lou Payne, who faithfully supported him in his ministry during the 66 years of marriage that ended only with her death in 2007. Their union was blessed to produce 10 children, 24 grandchildren, more than 40 great grand children and several great-greatgrandchildren. Although he was not able to complete his schooling until later in life, Elder Beal worked tirelessly to ensure that his family had access to higher education.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elma Payne Beal; two daughters, Sharai Dunbar and Sandra Beal; and two sons, Vernon Beal and Edward Beal. He is survived by four daughters, Bessie Mae (Johnny) Ligon (the primary caregiver with whom Elder Beal resided from 2006 to 2017), Patricia (Henry) Lemon, Ann (Edward) Allen, and Barbara (Stanley) Morse; two sons, Willie Jr. (Vera) Beal and Elder Royce (Delois) Beal; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren & great-greatgrandchildren; two sisters, Corene Smith and Sara Lee; a host of other relatives and friends, and a special caretaker, Mr. Romel Gibbs. |
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