Beatrice Stewart Liggins

After 94 years of an exemplary life, Beatrice Stewart Liggins was called home August 4, 2022. Her life’s journey began as the sixth of 12 children born to William and Bertha Stewart at Freedman Hospital in her beloved city of Washington, DC.

As part of a large and close-knit family, Beatrice and her siblings shared a lively childhood filled with joyous memories and idyllic outings. The children attended Military Road School, a DC historic landmark site, and their father exposed them to Washington’s rich heritage as a cultural Black Mecca.

At the age of eight, Beatrice developed an interest in music that would become a running chord throughout her life, William Stewart discovered that his young daughter had a glorious operatic voice and always encouraged her to sing. Though Beatrice had the talent and drive to become a professional singer, it was not to be. After receiving her nursing training and certification, Beatrice worked as a hydro/physiotherapist, before moving on to a job at the Pentagon.

Beatrice still loved music, however, and that love led to meeting her life partner, Athel Liggins, and his daughter Anita, at a choir rehearsal at Trinity AMEZion Church. They dated, married at Trinity, and had three more daughters: Sylvia, Gail, and Shari.

Beatrice become a very active member of the church, serving on many ministries, including the Chancel Choir, Comfort Choir, Funeral Zion Loyalty Club, Coordinator of Youth Ushers, Share, and the Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society.

Beatrice also supported all of the children’s ministries and programs.

Beatrice and Athel, also known as A and B, always loved traveling together, whether they were taking an ocean cruise or a class trip with the wonderful students of McKinley High School, where Dr. Athel Liggins served as Principal.

Greatest of all her pleasures, however, was Beatrice’s love for her large, extended family. As a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and sister, Beatrice, affectionately known as Bea, Ms Bea, Mom, Momma B, Mommie, Grandmother, and Grandma BeBe, attended many family gatherings, graduations, and school programs on behalf of her grand and great grandchildren. She was also a great favorite with the staff at the Sunrise Nursing Home, where her husband, Athel, currently resides.

Ms. Bea is survived by her loving husband Athel of 74 years; daughters Sylvia Liggins Mackel, Gail Liggins, Shari Harvey (Sherman), and Anita Lennard (William); grandchildren John Lennard, Tela McNeil, Ken Mackel (Julie), Brittany Mackel, Tory Smith (Brittany), Alex Mackel, and Michelle Lennard Jones (Oscar); great-grandchildren Kayla Smith, Amaya Smith, Terrence Smith, Lucas Mackel, Miles Mackel, Karai Mackel, Micayla Taahna Jones, Osynar A.Jones, and William C. Jones; two sisters Martha Hussey and Francis Williams and a host of loving nieces and nephews, church family, and friends.