Obituary of Beulah Harper, 88

OBITUARY The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. Psalms 23 THE LEGACY OF Sister Beulah Mae Williams Harper Sister Beulah W. Harper was born to the parentage of the late Reverend Peter Blanchard and Alma Lenora Briggs Williams in Tyrawley, Louisiana on June 25, 1931. She departed this earthly life on Saturday, April 4, 2020 in her residence. In 1945 due to the high water, at the age of fourteen she along with her parents and siblings moved from Sam Hayes Place on the river to the Camp Stafford community; now known as the Rigolette Community. Sister Beulah Harper graduated from Peabody High School, Class of 1952 aka the "Pacesetters". Shortly thereafter she met the love of her life, the late Richard D. Harper they were married for 62 years at his passing on November 11, 2012. To this union God blessed them with two daughters, two son-in-laws, four grand children, three granddaughter in-laws, and five great grandchildren. She lived in a green house on the right side of the road in the Rigolette Community. She and her home has always been a friend to her family, friends and community. Living directly in front of the church and next door to her pastor and first lady, Mrs. Beulah Harper could not help but be a virtuous and God fearing woman. All jokes aside she was humble, bold, fearless, devoted, courageous, stern, "Tell it like it is" person, but all with a nurturing spirit. Mrs. Harper's working experience first began with domestic housework, later she decided to further her education by entering the Alexandria Trade School in the field of Nursing. She along with others were the first blacks to graduate as License Practical Nurses (L.P.N.) in 1967 from the Alexandria Trade School of Nursing. Upon graduation, she was employed with Heritage Manor #2 and was later hired at Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Pineville, Louisiana. She retired from VAMC after twenty-three and half years of employment. During the struggle for Civil Rights, Mrs. Beulah Harper was instrumental in the Birth of Integration in Rapides Parish. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King on "Bloody Sunday", in Selma, Alabama supporting the Voting Rights Act on March 7, 1965. She with other women were turned around at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge to avoid being attacked by the local Police and their dogs. Mrs. Beulah Harper along with others met with Mr. C.R. Sanders, Superintendent of Rapides Parish Schools, to discuss the black schools receiving updated instead of outdated books for school. They also discussed the integration schools and opposing the building of Crepe Myrtle School in a dump site other than its present location. Crepe Myrtle School is now known as J. S. Slocum Learning Center. Mrs. Beulah Harper was a member of the Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church where she participated in Sunday School, former B.T.U. teacher, former senior choir member, served as Secretary of Deaconess, Secretary of Beacon Light Chapter # 82 O.E.S. and President of Senior Women Mission of L.S.M.B.C. She served fifteen years as President of the Senior Women Auxiliary of the Educational Missionary Baptist Association. Mrs. Harper was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. & Mrs. Peter Blanchard Williams; brother, Blanchard Williams; five sister in-laws and two brother in-laws. Those left to cherish her memory include: one brother, Dr. Wardell Williams of Pineville, LA; one sister, Vivian Ducre (AI) of Gary Indiana; three aunts, Rosanna Earthly of Alexandria, LA, Madeline Ward of Compton, CA, and Cora Lemott of Riverside, CA; one sister in- law, Corrine Williams of Pineville, LA; two daughters; Belinda Blue (Richard) of Alexandria, LA, Stephanie Tademy (John Sr.) of Deville, LA; four grandchildren, Dr. Demelius Harper(Chandra) of Frisco, Tx; Dr. ShaMarick Blue (La'Shandra) of Tyler, Tx; Sheena Collins (Saundra) of Pordenone, Italy; Corey Blue of Alexandria, LA; five great grandchildren, Hailee, Sydnee, Lathan, Harper, Khyrie and J'Ven (Brooke) Wilson of Longview, TX; two god children, Russ Clayton, of Houston, Texas and Michaunda Roberson, of Atlanta, Georgia. Her special friends include: Andrew K. Johnson of Macon, Georgia; Harold Riggs of Keithville, LA, Linda Dotson of Alexandria, LA; Janice Bridges of Pineville, LA, Bishop & Mrs. Leon Figgins, of Alexandria, LA and Darius Lewis of Pineville, LA. A host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A private service for the immediate family will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at Lone Star Baptist Church followed by a private burial in the church cemetery. Please keep the Williams and Harper Family in prayer. Miller & Hill