Barbara Ann Pearn Beckwith

Barbara Ann Pearn Beckwith of Rocky Mount, aged 81, left this life on October 5, 2017 at her home. Born September 2, 1936, in Roanoke, she was predeceased by her parents Arthur and Bula Ray Stump Pearn. She is survived by her husband, Charles Edrington Beckwith, Jr. Other survivors include son Steven Beckwith and his wife Kim Orr, of Osprey, Florida; son Andrew Beckwith and his wife Carol Beckwith, of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter Lauren Grimes, of Johnson City, Tennessee; daughter Susan Ghabra and her husband John Ghabra, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; sister Carol Pearn Dent and her husband Lynwood M. Dent, Jr., of Lexington; brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Betty Beckwith, of Montvale; granddaughter Sara Beckwith-Bachand, her husband Chris Bachand, and Sara's mother Mary Cunningham; grandchildren Hannah Beckwith, Rachel Beckwith, Leah Beckwith, Amanda Grimes, Austin Grimes, Connor Ghabra, Ethan Ghabra, and Samantha Ghabra; and great grandson Ian Bachand. In their 61 years of marriage, Barbara's "travels with Charlie" took them many places, and she supported him in all aspects of his life. She delighted in her grandchildren at all ages, and especially enjoyed planning food, activities, and experiences for their visits to Buzzard Rock. After moving to Franklin County, Barbara was pleased to discover many new cousins, especially among the Webbs, Clingenpeels, and Stumps. Barbara was baptized at age 12 into the Christian Church. Recently, she has been a faithful member of Mt. Pleasant Christian Church, where over the years she assisted with Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and many other ministries, especially those involved in providing food and other comforts to the sick and distressed. She volunteered in the community with the Carilon Franklin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, made stuffed animals for the ED and caps for newborns, and assisted with Ruritan projects. Barbara graduated from William Fleming High School in 1954 and attended Madison College. She was a needle-worker and artist, over the years creating clothing, art, crafts, and gifts. She was a keen gardener and cook, growing, preserving, and combining produce to wonderful effect. At the age of 65 she learned to play the fiddle and afterward went on to try the mandolin and guitar. She enjoyed listening to Old Time and Blue Grass music and had a collection of hymnbooks. She was an avid reader and enjoyed learning about new things from books and also from the Internet. She will be remembered for her down-to-earth genuine interest in other people, her love of God and family, her caring spirit, and her sense of humor. Charles and his family would like to thank the wonderful individuals from Hospice (Kitty Ruby, Emily Harding and Theresa Reynolds) and Team Nurse (Sarah Lester and Brittany Poindexter) for their loving care. Barbara’s family request in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to your favorite charity.

Memorial Service will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at the Flora Funeral Chapel with Mickey Witcher officiating. Inurnment will follow in Evergreen Burial Park Roanoke. Her family will receive friends 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center Rocky Mount.