Beverly Hale Johnson Funke

Beverly Hale Johnson Funke was born on November 16, 1950, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She and her twin sister, Deborah Johnson Brown, were adopted by Selma and Troy Johnson and raised in a warm, loving home that shaped the values Beverly carried throughout her life.

Beverly spent many years helping at her father’s business, Johnson Pharmacy, a beloved Raleigh institution and gathering place for the community. She attended Broughton High School and Saint Mary’s School and was a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Raleigh was always home to Beverly. She lived there for more than 39 years, from 1954 to 1993, and returned in the final twelve years of her life, remaining surrounded by family, memories, and the community she cherished.

Beverly devoted her professional life to education and was a beloved schoolteacher at Benson Memorial and Ravenscroft. She was especially known for teaching kindergarten, where her warmth, patience, and joy left a lasting impression on countless children and families.

In her first marriage, Beverly welcomed two daughters, Karen Edmundson Dann of Charlotte and Kristin Wells Edmundson of Raleigh. She was a devoted, fun-loving mother and later a proud grandmother to three grandchildren: Sterling Edward Dann (10), Bowman Hale Blevins (9), and Huntley Henry Dann (8), who brought her immense joy.

Beverly later married Uwe Funke, with whom she shared more than thirty years of marriage marked by deep love, companionship, and mutual devotion. Together, they built a beautiful life grounded in unwavering support for one another. Their years in Morehead City, North Carolina, were especially meaningful, filled with cherished friendships and a strong sense of community.

Beverly will be remembered for her dedication to teaching, her love of family, and animals, her youthful spirit, and the profound impact she made on the many lives she touched. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Beverly’s caregivers, family members, friends, and especially her lifelong best friend, Pattie Moore, who knew and loved Beverly since kindergarten and remained a steadfast presence throughout her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to be made in Beverly’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association: Online at alz.org or by mail to 320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460. Tribute page: https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/beverlyjohnsonfunke/a-tribute-to-beverly or to the Wake County SPCA https://donate.spcawake.org/give/403088/#!/donation/checkout

A Celebration of Beverly’s Life will be announced in the upcoming weeks and will be held in Raleigh.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Funke family.