Tribute to Jerry Cole Beaver

January 6, 2009

Brenda attended the memorial service for Jerry Cole Beaver, January 15, 1930 - January 3, 2009. Though I did not know Jerry well personally, I pay tribute to her for the great contribution she made to Brenda's life before I ever knew her. Brenda has told me many times about how Jerry would pick her up to take her to church and bring her home afterward. Brenda remembers her when Brenda was only about nine years old. She led Brenda and the girls her age at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Sword Drill and Training Union. Brenda also knew her as teacher and girls basketball coach at South Cobb High School.

Brenda knew her before she married Marion Beaver and watched that relationship develop. Brenda was a student nurse when they had a bad automobile accident in about 1960 and were both patients at Georgia Baptist Hospital. Brenda got to participate in their nursing care and remembers going back and forth to their separate rooms at the hospital. Then Rev. Marion Beaver married us in 1962, so we treasure many connections to Jerry and Marion over the years although we have not seen them often.

Geraldine Cole Beaver, 78,
Marietta Journal, Published: 01/05/2009
Beaver, Mrs. Geraldine "Jerry" Cole Beaver of Powder Springs passed away Saturday morning, January 3, 2009. She was born January 15. 1930. Jerry was a graduate of Tift College and Georgia State. She taught High School for 28 1/2 years mostly at South Cobb High School. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Marion Beaver; sons and daughters - in- law, Marc and Janice of Snellville, GA; Monte and Kathy of Douglasville; Todd and Jimmy of Powder Springs; daughter, Elizabeth Thomas of Powder Springs; brothers, Eddie Cole and Clarence Cole of Barnesville, GA; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 6th , 11am at the First Baptist Church of Lithia Springs. Interment will be at Mozley Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday 2-4 and 6-8pm at the Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory, Austell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jerry's memory to First Baptist Church of Lithia Springs Special Fund, 3566 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Lithia Springs, GA 30122. Memories and condolences may be made at www.davisstruempf.com

Below are Brenda's thoughts, modified from a letter of tribute that she sent to Rev. Marion Beaver.

What a beautiful Celebration for Jerry Cole Beaver on Tuesday. All the words spoken by son, Monte and husband, Marion Beaver, were on my heart and what a tribute to her that they all said them so well. I had begun on the news of her death to do some great reminiscing since I have known Jerry since I was 9 years old. She was my life-long mentor and I have said it so many times that it got back to her and she called me and we talked about it years ago. Mike Sinyard talked about his Sword Drill Bibles from 1964. I had one of those Sword Drill Bibles with words of encouragement written by Jerry in 1957. And, I can still say the books of the Bible just as I learned them then. Jerry taught me in SS, VBS, YWA, Training Union, and high school. I had the privilege of spending some extra time with Jerry as a young girl growing up in that rural area down by ColeÕs Dairy and to know her Mom and Brother Bob and Eddie and Creamy and Aunt Clarabelle. Jerry was my transporter to the Mt. Pisgah Church for many occasions and every Sunday night for years as a growing girl. And she made it possible for me to be able to go on those trips to Mercer for Training Union week. She introduced me to people like Chester Swor. I remember the year we went to Mercer for Training Union Week and Marion traveled with us-- I think he drove the car. Us girls starting praying then that God would bring the two together. And I remember the joy and celebration we all experienced as teenage girls with others on their wedding day over 48 yrs ago. I wish I could remember that hairdo that Marion described when you first ever saw her at that Associational Training Union Meeting because I was probably there with her.

I was a junior student nurse that summer of 1960 when Jerry and Marion had an automobile accident and I remember the privilege of providing some nursing care and running back and forth between your rooms to deliver messages. I remember how Marion could not understand why they could not be in the same room as patients. Then in the fall of 1961, Rod and I had an automobile accident and Jerry came to visit me weekly during my month long stay in the hospital.

And then came that joyous day June 22, 1962 when you agreed to perform the marriage service for Rod and me.

With schooling, living in the big city and out of the country and the birth of my own boys, I did not see Jerry for years but loved and remembered her just the same. I rejoiced when the three other children came to them. I heard from others the impact Jerry was having on their lives. Jerry came when my mother was sick and died. She came when my sister, Bonnie was sick and died.

Then she and I and others started having lunch together, visiting, sharing and praying together. Jerry and I shared concerns and prayers for our children, concerns and prayers for those we knew in prison, sick and aged. She would be so burdened for those who did not know the Lord. She would tell me about writing letters and cards to many of them.

And then there was the day that Jerry came to my house on Moody Lane and asked about Bonnie and my other siblings. I had to tell her twice that Bonnie had died 10 years earlier. I was concerned but dismissed it. Then the news came about the incident that caused her keys to be taken. I visited her later to know that she did not know who I was but thanked me sweetly with her beautiful smile for coming. I began to pray for her and for you and for the family, as I knew it was going to be difficult. IsnÕt it amazing that God leaves that ability to sing and remember the words to be able to praise him when all else has failed our memory? What Amazing Grace He has apparently provided for the family during this difficult time. I will continue to pray for the family during these days ahead but I Praise God for giving me the honor and privilege to have known one of his dearest Saints.

O what a day that will be when Jesus we see and will see Jerry again too!