Beverly Williams Crisp Harstad, a lifetime resident of Baltimore, Frederick, and Columbia, Maryland, passed away on May 24, 2021, at 87 years old. Beverly was born the eldest daughter of Nellie and Arthur Williams. Like her parents, she had a zest for life and elevated the spirits and achievements of those she touched. Beverly loved family above all else.
After graduating from public schools in Baltimore, Beverly was awarded a scholarship to attend New York University, where she spent a life-changing year that deepened her passion for education. Following graduation from Morgan State University in 1962, she pursued this passion by becoming a teacher in the Baltimore City Public School system. True to the lessons she learned in her youth, Beverly received many awards for her outstanding job performance and truly made a difference in the lives of her students and the communities she served. Beverly began her career as a middle school teacher, but then rapidly advanced upward through the hierarchy, first as a supervising teacher, then as head of the English Department at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, then as Vice-Principal of Herring Run Middle School, and, finally, as the Principal of Northeast Middle School.
Further, during her career she also continued her education, receiving a Master’s Degree in Education from The Johns Hopkins University, and then a second Master’s in Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park, where she was working towards a PhD when her first husband, John, became seriously ill. While working on her dissertation she felt it necessary to cut back on her schedule to devote more time to John’s care. She remained committed to her passion of education and after more than 10 years as Principal of Northeast, she was offered the position of Associate Superintendent of the Baltimore City School System, which she declined. After a total of 31 years of service to the citizens of Baltimore City, she finally elected to retire in 1993.
Beverly was blessed to marry two extraordinary men, proving that it is possible to have more than one soulmate. Her wedding to John Carroll Crisp, Sr. in 1952 resulted in the birth of her only child, John, Jr. Beverly and John were very adventurous and often included Nellie in their journeys. Several years after John, Sr.’s untimely death in 1979, Beverly was fortunate to meet John Bruce Harstad at a swing dancing event in 1990. Beverly and Bruce enjoyed a loving 21 years of marriage and were delighted to travel to Bruce’s homeland of Norway to see his ancestral home. They shared an interest in traveling and dancing through-out their marriage.
Surviving Beverly are her son, John Carroll Crisp, Jr., Esq.; daughter-in-law Sherrie Denise Crisp; and grandson John Crisp, III. She also leaves to mourn her brother, Rodney Bernard Williams; two sisters: Margaret Rose Murray and Dr. Sandy Williams Ortega, Ph.D; and Sandy’s spouse Julio Wilfredo Ortega, and dear sister-in-law Frances Ward. Beverly was preceded in death by her brothers James Curtis Williams; Charles Leroy Williams, Esq.; and Dr. Howard Bruce Williams, Ph.D. She is cherished and celebrated by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a large extended family of friends, former students and colleagues, and neighbors who cherish her memory. Her death has caused a huge hole in our hearts and she will be deeply missed.
Family and Friends are invited to gather at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, MD 21044 on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 from 11:00am to 12:00 noon, at which time a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment in Druid Ridge Cemetery.
