Rev. Elton Beasley

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at Gadsden First United Methodist Church, for Rev. James Elton Beasley, age 85, of Gadsden, who passed away Sunday, October 24, 2010. The Rev. Ken Casey, Rev. Roger K. Thompson, Rev. Bert Goodwin and Rev. Tammy Jackson will officiate with burial to follow at Forrest Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing. Rev. Beasley was a Minister with the United Methodist Church. He became a probationary member in 1958. He graduated from Florence State University in Florence, AL in 1958 and attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Beasley became an ordained deacon of the UMC in 1961 and an ordained elder in 1963. Her served as a minister at Rogers Chapel UMC, Florence, AL in 1956, Oakland UMC, Florence, AL in 1958, Graysville 1st UMC, Graysville, AL, 1963, Northport 1st UMC, Northport, AL, 1966, Wilson Chapel UMC, Birmingham, AL, 1971, Trussville UMC, Trussville, AL, 1973 and East Gadsden UMC, Gadsden, AL, 1987. He retired from active ministry in 1990. On January 2, 1991 he was appointed to the staff of Gadsden 1st UMC as the Minister of Older Adults and had services on Sunday P.M. in the church chapel. He formed the Retired and Ready Group at Gadsden 1st UMC. Elton will be remembered for his love, care and concern for everyone he came in contact with. He was known for the many hospital, nursing home and home visits to parishioners. Rev. Beasley would often sing hymns to the shut-ins and ministered at his camping resort in Unicoa Springs, Helen, GA for 19 years. He was loved by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. James Eddie and Susan Jones Beasley. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Winnie Clark Beasley, Gadsden; son, Wayne Beasley, Sevierville, TN; daughter, Patricia Beasley Powers, Gadsden; grandchildren, Serrah L. Burton, Gadsden; Mary Burton (Thomas) Diffee, Gadsden; Scott A. Beasley, Sevierville, TN; Blair E. Beasley, Tallahassee, FL and Beth Powers, Gadsden; brother, Freddie Beasley, Phil Campbell, AL; sister, Willodean Beasley Motes, Tuscumbia, AL; and 7 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Greg Motes, Laland Motes, Rickey Beasley, Bob Wilbanks, Brad Burke and Eugene Sisson. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Beasley, Terry Motes and Marshall Motes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gadsden 1st United Methodist Church. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff, pastors and members of Gadsden 1st United Methodist Church, Dr. James Robinson, Dr. James Franklin, Dr. Charles Sirna, Dr. Kaleem, Dr. Kwan, Dr. Sengar and Dr. Bridges, all nurses in SICU at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, especially Cristin Leslie, RN and Charlotte Rutland, RN. The family will receive friends on Thursday at the church from 11:00 a.m. until hour of service. Condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.