Beulah Rozella Whitson

Born on Wednesday, March 31, 1943, Beulah Rozella Whitson went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, July 2, 2020. After having surgery to remove a brain mass on August 18th, 2019, which was later diagnosed as stage 4 glioblastoma (brain cancer), Beulah decided to live life to the fullest with lots of love and laughter with family, old and new friends, church family, and her medical team, sharing the Good News of Jesus along the way!

Her life was evident that God’s grace is truly sufficient in all circumstances and that His strength is very real when we are weak, per 2 Cor. 12:9-10. She joyfully shared with anyone who visited or gave her care, beginning with the words, “Have I introduced you to Grace?” using a stuffed lamb that friend Mary Ann Stout initially gave her. Lives were changed through seeing God in and through her life – not just in the end, but in the many years she served and loved others. She also regularly memorized Scripture and encouraged all Christians to “hide God’s Word” in their hearts, as she understood the benefit of this memorization because “His Word is a lamp unto our feet “and the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind in order to direct our life paths. She often quoted Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” She lived her life well and sought to glorify God through all the peaks and valleys on the journey. We know she heard, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Mt. 25:21. Psalm 91 and Joshua 1:9 were favorites.

Beulah loved her family and friends, and expressed how greatly she would miss them; but she had great hope and expectation that she would see each one again in their Heavenly home that Christ has prepared for anyone who personally knows Him. She suffered here on earth; but by faith, she joyfully anticipated her new life with Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:1,7-8.

The youngest of eleven children, Beulah was physically born at home in Buladean, NC. She graduated from Tipton Hill High School and attended both ETSU and Northeast State. She was spiritually born into the Kingdom of God and baptized in 1957, while a member at Beans Creek Freewill Baptist Church in NC. For the last several years, she was an active member of Boones Creek Baptist Church. She loved her church family, where she served in the prayer ministry and the Missions Mobilization Ministry. She also served with many non-profit organizations, such as the food pantry of University Parkway Baptist Church, Salvation Army, and Flowers of Hope ministries. While her parents were living, she faithfully served as their primary caregiver for 14 years, assisted by sisters Gladys, Martha, and Edna, with other family members helping them. She also periodically served family members when ill or had other needs. God faithfully met her needs over the years, as each need arose, per Phil. 4:19. One way He provided was through her previous employers: AGC of Kingsport, Sunnyside Baptist Church, the State of Tennessee Department of Safety, Dixie Glass Company, and the Cracker Barrel Gift Shop. She was a faithful servant in all she did.

Beulah leaves behind a large family who are descendants of her parents, Taylor and Mary Garland Whitson, now deceased. She was also predeceased by siblings Myrtle (Dave) Forbes, Gladys (Frank) Garland, Pearl (W. G.) Honeycutt, Nathan (Doris) Whitson, Ed Whitson, Bonnie (Kyle) Harrison, and brothers-in-law Ralph Barger and Claude Crawford, several nieces and nephews, great-nephews, and a great-niece.

She is survived by siblings Ora Barger, Martha (David) Gschwind, Edna Crawford, Bill (Louise) Whitson, and sister-in-law Mrs. Ed (Doris) Whitson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, great-great nieces and -nephews, and even great-great-great nieces and -nephews! She was greatly loved and prayed for them all, and they loved “Aunt Boodoe!”

Family will receive friends at Morris-Baker Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Jason Royston and family friend/Pastor Clint Andrews. A graveside service will immediately follow at Roselawn Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Social distancing and masks are requested, due to the age and health of some family members and friends. Some of her beloved nephews will serve as pallbearers: Norris Barger, Roderick Crawford, Tony McFaddin, Rick Parker, Dale Whitson, Eddie Whitson, and Jeff Whitson. Honorary pallbearers will include all other nephews and nephews-in-law, many who are not able to serve.

Beulah wanted to say “thank you” to her dear family and friends who prayed, visited, and provided for her, as well as those who laughed and enjoyed life with her as she made her transition from this life to Heaven! Special thanks to her loving niece Tammy McFaddin, who loved, provided, and managed her care until her homegoing and after, as well as her dear nieces Shirley Butler and Angela Gschwind. Other family members and friends who sat and transported before quarantine, helped meet financial or physical needs, encouraged and gave of themselves during this life journey will be forever in this family’s debt! Also special thanks to the administrator Tyler Williams, and all of the Station 1 staff at NHC-JC for all your loving care and support. So many became close friends, especially CNA Carol and NP Laura. May God bless you!

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution that will keep on giving to the Boones Creek Baptist Church “Mission Mobilization Ministry” or the “Church Revitalization program,” 304 S. Pickens Bridge Road, Johnson City, TN 37615; or to the University Parkway Baptist Church Food Pantry, 219 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604.