Mary Barbara Beasley LeCroy

Mary Barbara Beasley LeCroy, 92, beloved mother and loving wife, went to be with the Lord on February 5, 2024. She lived a full and wonderful life and blessed those whose path she crossed. Barbara was born at Telfair Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, as the only child of Charles Thomas and Marian Odessa Powell Beasley. She spent her teenage summers visiting her many aunts, uncles and cousins in Millington, Tennessee. She sang in the choir at Calvary Baptist Temple and graduated from Savannah High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and Education at Georgia State College for Women (now known as Georgia College and State University). Upon graduation, she returned to Savannah and worked at the Savannah Public Library and as an elementary school teacher. While in Savannah, she married Clarence Rudolph LeCroy, Jr., at Calvary Baptist Temple on February 5, 1955. Later that year, he was transferred by his employer Hercules to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they welcomed their first child and only daughter, Jan. Soon after, his employer transferred them back to Savannah where they welcomed their two sons, David and Bobby. They enjoyed visits to Tybee Island and Thunderbolt while living in Paradise Park where it truly seemed like Paradise. But Paradise would be moving when her husband was transferred to Brunswick, Georgia. She was a substitute elementary school teacher, and they enjoyed visits to Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, and the Marshes of Glynn. Less than a year later, her husband was transferred to Franklin, Virginia. She became elementary school librarian, and they enjoyed visits to the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, along with the beaches of Nags Head, North Carolina, and the scenic fall colors along Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her husband’s final transfer was to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She earned a Master of Library Science degree at the University of Southern Mississippi and taught in the Education and Psychology Department. There she pursued her passion for Children’s Literature, arranging and attending conferences with authors, educators, and booksellers. She also developed educational curriculum for elementary school teachers, culminating in a book she co-authored (Bookwebs: A Brainstorm of Ideas for the Primary Classroom). She enjoyed participating in the missions and ministry of First Baptist Church and, later, Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg. She loved to reach out to those in need and traveled to Honduras to minister to children. She also sang in the choir at Parkway Heights. She faithfully cared for Clarence for 40 years through his health issues and up until his passing. She relocated to Spring, Texas, to be near her daughter in 2018. She was surrounded by the love of her daughter’s family. She found a wonderful fellowship at The Village at Gleannloch Farms and Lakewood Methodist Church, where she enjoyed participating in activities and mission work. She is survived by her daughter Jan Marian LeCroy Meehan (Dr. D. Nathan Meehan) of Spring, Texas, her son David Paul LeCroy (Regina Miller LeCroy) of Belle Mead, New Jersey, her son Robert (Bobby) Thomas LeCroy (Roxanne Frost LeCroy) of Allen, Texas, her sister-in-law Judy LeCroy of Morganton, North Carolina, her nine grandchildren, her ten great-grandchildren, and her cousins, nieces, and nephews. Barbara kept up with many friends and family throughout her life and was interested in their well-being. She is now reunited with her husband in Paradise and has joined the angel’s choir. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 16, 2024 in the Chapel at The Village of Gleannloch Farms in Spring, Texas. A private graveside service will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Parkway Heights United Methodist Church, Edwards Street Fellowship Center, USM Foundation scholarship Endowment Fund # 0688 (all in Hattiesburg, Mississippi), or Lakewood Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.

Mary Barbara Beasley LeCroy

November 24, 1931 - February 5, 2024