Beulah Mae Thompson

Beulah Mae Means was brought into this world on June 4, 1930, in Fairfield County; Blair, South Carolina, to the late Henry “Buddy” Means, Sr. & Magnolia Peoples Means. She was the oldest of nine children, and attended Chapel School in Blair, SC and Mather Academy in Camden, SC – beginning in the 1930s. Beulah helped her mother at an early age, to care for her younger brothers and sisters, and she watched and learned from her mother. She soon picked up the “gift of cooking.” She accepted Christ at an early age, and joined Gethsemane Baptist Church in Blair, SC where she sang on the choir. Beulah later met and married John D. Thompson (Pete), as he was known affectionately. In the late 1950’s Beulah & Pete wed in Baltimore, MD and began their family. To this union, they had four children: Kim, Joan Terry & Keith. Because of Beulah’s love and skills in cooking, it was easy for her to get the certifications needed to work as a dietician in the State of Maryland. She began her career around 1958 at University Hospital. After more than 15 years, she was asked to work for the Mayor’s Office, where she was the head dietician to Mayor William Donald Schaefer. There, she built lasting relationships for years to come. But her desire was to cook for youth, as she was unhappy with the meal programs throughout Baltimore. She began working with Homestead Montebello Day Care in 1975. At Montebello, she built many friendships she spoke about. Her dearest friends and co-workers, Viola Bennett and Yulanda (Bunny) Tucker – she loved – and made sure they got their meals daily! She also loved, and looked out for three special ladies; Anna Fields-Greene, Ida Lyons, and Annie Ruth Wells. Those days at Montebello meant so much to her. Once Beulah retired in 1995, she continued in-home Private Care for seniors. Beulah truly loved the Lord, and was a member of Fountain Baptist Church. She later was proud to become a founding Charter Member of Ray of Hope Baptist Church, and she was among the 130 members who walked through its doors in 1978. Beulah was a loving person. She was so happy to help her pastor & 1st lady, Rev. Dr. Charles Franklin, Sr. & Daisy Franklin, as they worked tirelessly to establish the church – she worked to take care of little Charles Franklin, Jr. from the early age of 5, where she thought he could do no wrong. She loved Charles & did her best to fatten him up, as though he was her own. Those years spent with Charles Jr. & Karen were memories she cherished, as she was truly their “Aunt Beulah.” At the Ray of Hope Baptist Church, Beulah found her love in music, and singing with the Chancel Choir. She especially loved the songs of Zion, and she could he heard belting out notes whenever at church or at home. Her girlfriends from back in the day, could always be caught shopping, eating or laughing with her! There was her lifelong neighbor and friend, Virginia Newby, who checked on “her girl” every day. Her choir riding buddy was Tina (Teeny) Giles. There were others, but you could bet Eva Pittman & Sonja Mays Butler; were never far behind the food & the jokes. Beulah could always be found with at least one of them, eating, laughing, and having a good time! She also loved the musical direction at church of Calvin & Malvilyn Statham. She would brag on the two of them to everybody. She’d say, “Chile, you know Malvilyn sang with the Clara Ward Singers back in the day. Girl she was something else – and still is!” Beulah had a friendly disposition and a beautiful smile. You never caught her angry. She was always the same. She was a wonderful friend and a great mom! She did her best to teach life lessons, and care for her children into their adult years. Even when her children graduated as seniors, they had never had a cold breakfast – their entire life. She got up early every morning to always prepare them a hot meal. Her kids weren’t introduced to cereal & milk until they were in high school – and even then – they could only eat it as a nighttime snack. Beulah was such a great cook & mother, that her children never even knew what it was to go without something. She always made a way out of no way! She was a faithful & dedicated wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She entered any room smiling, with her head held high. She also loved the attention and company of men around her, and was so appreciative each time Mark came to help Kim out or to sit and talk with her. Whenever Allan entered a room she’d smile & quickly fix her hair before he got close enough to hug her. Beulah was always glad to see another day, and would say all day long, “God is good all the time,” because she could “feel life!” Beulah has finally joined her husband, Pete, in heaven. Her legacy leaves her four children: Kim Morgan, Joan Thompson-Hill (Allan), Terry Thompson and Keith Thompson, all of MD.; four grandchildren: Melanie Cragway, Brittanie Morgan, William Morgan, Jr. and Terry Thompson, Jr., all of MD. She also leaves behind three great-granddaughters who loved her dearly: MaKayla Morgan, Gabrielle & Madison Cragway of MD; a stepdaughter, Martha Rollins and two step-grandsons, John & Floyd Strothers, all of NC. Beulah also leaves to cherish, two brothers and a sister-in-law, Lawrence Means (Pearl) and Freddie Means, all of Warrenville Heights, OH.; and two sisters and a brother-in-law, Gladys Hardy of Blair, SC; and Shirley Greene (James) of Ridgeway, SC. They loved their big sister, and called to check on her every day or every chance they could. Beulah also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, family & friends. Beulah now joins her family in eternity; as she asked for them often: Her father & mother; brothers; John (Sonnie), Henry Jr. (Geech), and Charlie; and sister, Mary (Gray) Griffin.

Tributes

Beulah Mae Thompson

June 4, 1930 - January 22, 2023