Dorothy Mae Beckham

Dorothy made her entrance into this world on August 27, 1928 born to her proud parents Emma Jean Cooper and Odeal McNeeley in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dorothy was the 7th of ten children born to the McNeeley family.

Dorothy United in Marriage with Harold Henderson in 1945. From this union, five children were born. Harold and Dorothy and two children moved to California in 1948 following some of her siblings and her mom who were already here. Harold decided California was not for him and moved back to New Orleans in 1958 leaving Dorothy a single mother of five children. In 1961, Dorothy united in Marriage to Alvin Beckham, a widower with three children. Dorothy became a mother of these children as well. And if that were not enough children, in 1977, Dorothy became a Foster Parent of 5 more children. In between all of these children, Dorothy also took an active role in raising several of her nieces and nephews and grandchildren. This woman truly had a heart of gold and loved all these children and more.

Dorothy attended schools in New Orleans, and although she only attained a 10th grade education, she was one of the smartest people you would meet. She accepted Christ at an early age and was an avid Bible student. She was baptized in the Catholic faith at an early age and even after her marriage, she raised all her children in the Catholic Church. She instilled a Christian base in all her children. In 1969, Dorothy United with Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland California and was a member there until she moved to Stockton in 1982. Her first priority when she arrived in Stockton with five children in tow was to find a Church to unite with. She soon met Pastor Bob Hailey and become a member of Ephesians Baptist Church which later changed to Unity Southern Baptist Church and remained a member there until 2006 when she united with Love Fellowship Baptist Church under the ministry of Rev. Robert Hills. Although she often professed she could not sing, Dorothy was a member of the choir in both Unity and Love Fellowship.

Dorothy had several jobs in her lifetime. She was a clerk and fabric expert in a department store, she was a cannery worker, she was a cashier in one of the first “Super Stores” (Gemco), she was a cashier at a grocery store, she worked in the Food Service Department at San Joaquin Delta College, and she was a Restaurant Owner. (Sammy Lee’s Soul Food Smorgy)

Dorothy was known in the neighborhood as Big Mama, a name coined to her by her first grandchild, Annette. On 68th Avenue in Oakland, she truly had the house with the Kool Aide porch. All the neighborhood kids in all her generations of children hung out on the large porch and loved and respected “Big Mama”. And of course she served them Kool Aide.

Dorothy was a fabulous cook. She loved to cook and entertain family and friends. The dinner parties she gave were always well attended. This love of cooking prompted her to open her own restaurant, Sammy Lee’s Soul Food Smorgy in Oakland California in 1973. Sammy Lee’s was a well known dining spot with customers from as far away as Atlanta. Some of her regular customer’s included members of the Golden State Warriors Basketball team, members of the Oakland Raider’s Football team, a motorcycle club from Los Angeles, as well as a few vocal artists and many AC Transit Bus Drivers. Her last dinner party was a 4th of July bash this year where she prepared a variety of foods including one of her favorites – crawfish.

With Dorothy, family was always first. Being very family oriented, there were two traditions Dorothy did not let go of. She had an annual St. Patrick’s Day family dinner with the traditional meal of Corned Beef and cabbage, and for Thanksgiving the entire family had to gather each year for a feast.

Dorothy loved to travel. She and her sisters and some friends had an annual trip to the Monterey Jazz Festival in the 60’s and 70’s. She also traveled on several Cruises’. After her retirement from SJDC, Dorothy found a tour company for Senior Citizens and she and her friend Ruth traveled to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, to Branson Missouri, and to the Oregon Tournament of Roses as well as a few local trips. She also had an opportunity to Travel with the Lincoln High School Band with her grandson Joshua to Victoria Canada and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Dorothy was an avid sports fan. She loved the Oakland A’s and was a season ticket holder for the Oakland Raiders.

Dorothy had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke. She always had a word of encouragement for her children. Her most famous words to them are “Whatever you are going to be, be the best you can be. Even if it is a dang fool, be the best dang fool.”

Dorothy’s favorite Bible verse is God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble – Psalm 46:1. Her favorite song is “Give me my Flowers”

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, Odeal McNeeley and Emma Jean Cooper McNeeley, 5 sisters – Mary, Beulah, Florence, Odile and Mal, and her brother Eugene.

She leaves to cherish her memories 8 children, Sheila Henderson of Oakland, Harold Henderson III (Carol), and Corliss “Sassa” Henderson of Hayward, Lewis Henderson, Rebecca Carey (John), of Stockton, Stephen Beckham (Equilla), of Arizona, Alva Harrell (Andrew), and Alan Beckham of Stockton; 2 sisters, Annette Hill of Hayward and Louvinia Thomas of San Leandro, and one Brother, Leon McNeeley of El Cerrito, 22 Grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Dorothy drew her last breath on Sunday 9/11/11 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Stockton surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Rest in Peace Big Mama