Beamon Louis Kendall

Beamon Louis Kendall was born on Sunday, June 23, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Clara & Beamon William Kendall. At the age of two, his Father moved the family to Jacksonville, Florida in pursuit of a career in Law Enforcement. The family made their home on West 10th Street and Myrtle Avenue and added two more children, Lillian and Jeffrey, to the fold. As the oldest son of one of Jacksonville’s first Black Police Officers, Beamon often referenced his Father’s stern discipline and love, which guided him through life. He attended Old Stanton High School. While there, he participated in the ROTC Program which his Father led. Upon graduation, Beamon attended Bethune Cookman University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Physical Education. While a student at Bethune Cookman University, he worked for the Daytona Beach Police Department. Both of his parents attended Florida A&M University, which inspired him to pursue and earn a graduate degree in Guidance and Counseling as a student there. As a young adult, he was a gym teacher, a Marine, and an Acting Registrar at Florida State College of Jacksonville.

After losing his Mother in his mid-twenties, his Father’s approval became pivotal in his desire to set and achieve higher goals. In 1972, Beamon became one of only 67 Black FBI Agents in the Country. His Father was so proud of this achievement, he had it engraved onto his wristwatch. In 1983, while working as a Special Agent in Philadelphia/Newark Offices, he met the love of his life, Laurel Thweatt, and her two daughters Seandré (shondray) and Tracy. In 1985, Beamon and Laurel were married and welcomed a son, Beamon William Kendall, II. Laurel affectionately began calling Beamon “Beloved” in 1988, and that nickname never faded. Love, laughter, and Bible verses overflowed in their home. Superbowl parties, summer barbecues, family road trips, soccer practice and games, traveling basketball games, impromptu get-togethers with family and/or friends, lively “Big Bea” (as he was also referred to) tutelage sessions, and the unfortunate tears from losing loved ones colored their journey. In 1995, Beamon moved his family from Franklinville, NJ to Jacksonville so that his children could have increased opportunities to secure their own financial independence. He retired from the FBI in 1996 after 24 years of service but decided to re-enter the workforce later that year as a Federal Court Security Officer at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Jacksonville. In 2012, he retired again so that he could spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Beamon was passionate about mentoring others. Known for his enormous heart and extensive knowledge, he gave practical advice on career navigation, finances, and relationship management with very little recognition for it. Taking a page from his stint as an Undercover Agent, he did not believe in leadership-by-title. Instead, he enjoyed being a leader with empathy amidst the people. He would informally sponsor and help others, such as paying for security guard training and college expenses, bringing breakfast or lunch to those who maintained his family’s cars, and visiting family and friends who were hospitalized or convalescing.

Big Bea believed that everyone should “go higher” than the elders that raised them and pursue higher education and/or personal growth. This belief strongly impacted his family and resulted in Laurel and Seandré earning graduate degrees; Tracy earned two undergraduate degrees, one being from his alma mater, Florida A&M University. She will begin working towards her graduate degree this Fall; Beamon earned his undergraduate degree, has achieved multiple FINRA Registrations and is currently an Executive Director in Banking; his daughter-in-love, Hadassah, earned a graduate degree as a Nurse Practitioner; his granddaughter, Mayah, is pursuing a career in Healthcare; his grandson, Jaden, finished the Duval County Early College Program, receiving both a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree. He received multiple scholarships and will be attending the University of North Florida in the Fall; his granddaughter, Aniyah, is currently attending Florida A&M University, following in the Kendall legacy; his granddaughter, Sabrien, has a 4.6 GPA in the Duval County Early College Program and is projected to graduate with both her high school diploma and an Associate’s degree in May 2027; his niece, Denée, earned a graduate degree; and his nephew, Jeffrey, is currently a Captain in the Jacksonville Fire Department. This belief has also impacted countless others who Big Bea mentored and thus will continue to impact many other individuals for generations to come.

“Big Bea,” “Beloved,” Beamon Louis Kendall will be dearly missed. He is survived by his Loving Wife, Laurel Kendall; his daughters - Seandré (Anthony) Spears and Tracy Kendall; his son, Beamon William Kendall, II (Hadassah Rooney); his niece that he loved and raised as a daughter, Denée Pearson; 8 Grandchildren - Mayah, Jaden, Aniyah, Sabrien, Hadassah Genevieve, Anthony III, Beamon Louis II, and Tristyn; and his Dear Friend, Willie (Mildred) Sapp and Family. Beamon is preceded in death by his parents, Beamon William and Clara Kendall, his sister, Lillian, and father-in-love and mother-in-love, Lloyd and Grace Thweatt. He is loved by his brother, Jeffrey (Connie) Kendall; sister-in-law, Kimberly Pearson; brother-in-law Peter (Gail) Thweatt; numerous nieces and nephews; his cousin, Robert Kendall, and Family; scores of Cousins from The Nims Family, The Anthony Family, The Bivens Family; and Friends and Neighbors from life’s journey. His 79 years of life have been inspiring and helpful to many.

Funeral services will be held on July 14, 2025 at 11:00am in Beaches Museum Chapel, 505 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL; committal services will follow in H. Warren Smith Cemetery. Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens in charge of arrangements 904-249-2374