Derbyshire, Elizabeth Toxey “Beth”, 70, went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 after a long illness. She was the daughter of the late Julian and Rita Toxey born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on January 7, 1950. Beth is survived by her husband, The Reverend James Derbyshire, and two brothers, Julian (Buddy) Toxey, Jr. Stumpy Point, North Carolina, and Weymouth (Wayne) Toxey, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Growing up in Elizabeth City, Beth was raised by her maternal grandparents, Dr. L Sigsbee and Rhetta Miller. Before she married, she travelled extensively throughout Europe with her uncle, Luther (Junior) Miller.
Beth dedicated much of her life to education and teaching. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1972, and continued to get her Master’s Degree in Education, and her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 1993, Beth founded the first Christian Public School in Mitchells, Virginia and developed plans for a nationwide system of Christian Public Education as a mission field to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the United States.
Beth’s career in education began as a high school English teacher, leading her to being a principal, and during her years of teaching she taught in public, private and Christian schools. Dr. Beth was invited to deliver a paper on her developmental work in Christian Public Education at an international symposium on innovations in Christian education held at Oxford University in the UK in 2012.
She assisted her husband, James, in his ministries in mission and church revitalization in five states over nearly 20 years before his retirement as rector of St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church in Largo, Florida. In the late 1980’s, they worked together in Pro-Life ministry in Washington, D.C. organizing activists throughout the country. Dr. Beth had a deep Christian Faith and love for Christ as her Savior.
A Celebration of Beth’s Life will be held at a later date to be announced.
