January 21, 1933-December 22, 2024
Harmon Drexil “Joe” Beeland, 91, of Newton, MS, died Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest. Visitation was held from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Newton, 307 E Church Street, Newton, MS, with the funeral service at noon followed by graveside services at Newton County Memorial Gardens. Dr. Brian Rushing officiated.
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 moved to Newton the following year. 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 retiring as manager of the store. After retirement he continued to work at the store, that was by then a Sunflower Food Store, where he managed the Produce Department — his pride and joy.
One the greatest pleasuress in Joe’s life was visiting with the people of Newton and the surrounding area in the aisles of the store, he considered every customer a personal friend. He was also well know by many of them as quite the prankster..
Beeland was a member of First Baptist Church in Newton, where he 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 in retirement for being a dedicated volunteer around town, and his work with the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, his wife Rachel, 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, TN — all named after their father. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Heather Massaro (Michael); Ashley Hardcastle (J.T.), Rachel-Johanna Beeland; Harper Beeland, and Lang Beeland, as well as six great grandchildren, and his long time partner in crime, Debbie Goodwin.
Pallbearers will be Harper Beeland, Tony Beeland, Danny Beeland, Michael Campbell, Brian Mann, and Michael Massaro.
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.
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