Harmon Drexil “Joe” Beeland, 91, died Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest. Beeland was born to John Burns Beeland and Elma Cora Leach Beeland on January 21, 1933 and was reared in the Sulphur Springs community of Scott County. He was a graduate of Sebastopol High School and attended East Central Junior College.
Beeland married the love of his life, Ora Rachel Hudson on September 10, 1954 and they were married 65 years before her death in September 2019.
He retired from the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better know as A&P, in Newton after more than 40 years of dedicated service beginning as a bag boy and finishing as manager of the store. After retirement he continued to work at the store that was then a Sunflower.
Joe was a member of First Baptist Church in Newton, where served as an usher until he could no longer stand long enough to shake hands and greet everyone that passed through those doors.
Beeland was named Newton’s Outstanding Man of the Year for being a dedicated volunteer around town with the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, his wife, and two brothers Charles Beeland and Newlon Beeland. He is survived by three sons, Gary Drexil Beeland, and wife Jane, of Madison; Timothy Harmon Beeland and wife Danny, of Sebastopol/Ross Barnett Reservoir; Richard Joe Beeland, and wife Holley, of Chattanooga — all named after their father. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Heather Massaro; Ashley Hardcastle, Rachel-Johanna Beeland; Harper Beeland and Lang Beeland, as well as six great grandchildren.
The visitation will be Saturday, December 28, from 10:00 until Noon with the funeral service immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials can be made to the Animal Rescue Fund of MS, 395 West Mayes Street, Jackson, MS 39213, who helped place his beloved dogs Peppi and Dollie after he was no longer able to remain at home.
