Cora Beam Shinn

Born May 23, 1931, in Cleveland County, Cora was the youngest daughter of Elzie Lee Beam and Della Cora Borders Beam. Her brothers were Charles, Carlton, David and Mike Beam, and her sisters were Louise Beam McKee, Caroline Beam Martin, Vernell Beam Jones, and Myra Sue Beam, who died as an infant. Her younger brother David survives her.

She graduated from Gardner-Webb Junior College, where she was president of the student body. She received a B.S. degree physical education from Appalachian State Teachers College.

From 1953 until 1966, she was director of the women’s department of the Cannon Memorial YMCA in Kannapolis. It was during this time that she met her husband, Ed, whom she married May 16, 1964. They were married 57 years until his death on Aug. 2, 2021.

She left her career to become a homemaker and raise a family. Her daughter, Susan Amanda Shinn, was born Aug. 12, 1966. Susan married James Baxter Turner III on Jan. 6, 2017, and moved to Raleigh.

For several years in the 1970s, Cora taught four-year-old kindergarten at Mount Zion United Church of Christ in China Grove, in partnership with her neighbor and friend, Mrs. Edith B. (Crawford) Corriher, who had founded the five-year-old class.

One of those former students still calls Cora his favorite teacher ever. Her students went on to excel in careers including psychiatry, law, engineering, teaching, small businesses, and commercial appraising.

From 1980 to 1996, Cora was guidance/exceptional children’s secretary at China Grove Middle School. Her best friend at school was the guidance counselor, the late Phyllis Upright. Even after Phyllis’ death, Cora found funny notes to her from Phyllis in the file cabinets.

Cora retired in June 1996, and her grandson, Andrew David Poe — the light of her life — was born July 11, 1996.

After moving from the home they built in China Grove, the Shinns spent many happy years at Castlewood townhomes in Salisbury from 2001 to 2020. On their own, with Susan’s support, they made the decision to move to Salisbury’s Oak Park senior apartments in April 2020. They joined their family in Raleigh on Jan. 5, 2021, moving to a sister community, Whispering Pines. Let’s just be honest here: they moved because Andrew moved.

After Ed died, “Miss Cora” continued to live at Whispering Pines, thriving in her new studio apartment, loved and admired by everyone she met — residents and staff alike — with her friendliness and natural extroverted nature. The week of her death, a constant parade of nieces and nephews, friends, residents, and staff came by her room to say goodbye.

The Shinns joined St. John’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury, in 2009, where Cora served in the Resurrection Choir and was an inaugural member of the Telephone Team, a ministry she enjoyed as her time at home increased. Before moving to Raleigh, Ed and Cora watched the online service of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where her daughter and son-in-law are members.

After their move, the couple tuned in faithfully every Sunday for the Sunday service through its television ministry. After lunch, Cora continued to watch the St. John worship service on its Web site. With the support and encouragement of her family, Cora joined Hayes Barton Baptist Church on Dec. 18, 2022, where Jim’s grandfather was the founding pastor.

Throughout her life, Cora was involved in physical fitness. She was a YMCA member wherever she lived, and, after her move to Salisbury, went to the Y four mornings a week until the Covid shutdown in March 2020. Every Saturday, she stopped by McDonald’s on the way home to get a medium hot mocha, light cream. But only on Saturdays.

When she was 77, 78 and 79, Cora ran 500 miles each year with the Salisbury-Rowan Runners, keeping copious notes in her runner’s journals, and rounding her mileage to hundredths of a mile. She ran many 5Ks, receiving first-place medals and ribbons, as she was often the only person in her age group to participate. The only time she didn’t win first place was when she was placed in the 60-and-up age group, and lost to a 65-year-old woman who traveled the country, running 5Ks just for fun. Cora stewed about that for the rest of her life.

Her running awards were a terrific accomplishment, to be sure, but she was proudest of being a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She was the glue who held her family together, the person on whom they could always depend. She was their rock. She was a listening ear and soft shoulder for her many friends. Her Y friends called her their inspiration, because she never “pussyfooted around” — her words — during her workouts. She did not walk around and talk to folks during her workout time; instead they came over to her, like moths to a flame. Her daughter saw it happen over and over again.

We could tell you so many more wonderful things about her, but if she were reading this — and yes, she did because she proofread her own obituary — she would say, “Now Susan, I mean it. That’s enough.”

But friends and family would tell you that you could never get enough of Cora Beam Shinn.

Survivors include her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson and brother; as well as 20 nieces and nephews, all of whom adored her.

A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, NC 27608, Dr. David Hailey will officiate. A nephew, the Rev. Tom Beam, will serve as lector. Visitation to follow the service in the church parlor.

Per her wishes, a portion of Ed and Cora’s ashes will be scattered this spring in the columbarium of St. John’s Lutheran Church by Bishop Tim Smith. A portion of Ed’s ashes were scattered here on Aug. 6, 2021. A nephew, Dr. Tim Beam of Shelby, will scatter a portion of Cora’s ashes at her home congregation, Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, this spring in a private family service.

Memorials: The Shinn-Turner Endowed Cello Two Chair, Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27608.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.

“I have learned to be content with whatever I have.”

— Philippians 4:11

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

— 2 Timothy 4:7