Mary Louise Gaines Beauchamp

Mary attended schools in Nashville, TN. She graduated from Hillsboro High School and then enrolled in George Peabody College for Teachers. She majored in Business Administration and English. Mary attained her BS degree in 1948. During this period in Hillsboro, she worked part-time for Dr. Thomas Barr, Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, then with Dr. Harrington Brearley, Professor of Sociology at Peabody. After graduating, she worked with Dr. John E. Windrow of the Peabody Alumni Association.

Mary was a member of the local DAR Chapter Samuel Johnson located in Raleigh. In addition, Mary was associated with the preservation of the Mordecai House in Raleigh as Docent, and in supervising the gift shop for expanding the history and lore of this historic Raleigh site. She was a longtime member of AAUW American Association of University Women joining in Wilmington, DE, and was an active participant since 1958.

Mary was an active member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, joining in 1980. Prior memberships in Presbyterian churches date from her childhood at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN (Dr. Vance and Dr. Barr) and others at different locations. Most pleasant times were spent at the River Road Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA (Dr. Sam Newell). The Presbyterian influence is dated from the days of Colonel John Donelson, original settler in Nashville history.

Mary is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert O. Beauchamp Jr of Raleigh, NC; son, Dr. David Gaines Beauchamp (Nancy) of Wilmington, NC (David practices veterinary medicine at Leland Veterinary Hospital in Leland, NC); and grandchildren, Gretchen and Rieman Beauchamp of Wilmington, NC (both are pursuing college careers).

Mary was preceded in death by her parents. Mary’s mother was a school teacher in Nashville after attaining her MA degree from Peabody in 1952. Mrs. Gaines was recognized as an outstanding leader by the Tennessee Education Association, and served as President of TEA prior to her retirement. Mary's father, McMurray Gaines Sr., served in the Army in World War I and was promoted to master engineer. He worked for the Tennessee Railroad and passed away when Mary was very young, circa 1935. Mary’s son, Robert Donelson Beauchamp, passed away in 2008. Mary’s brother, McMurray Gaines Jr, served during WWII in the Navy, and attained the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserve. McMurray passed away in 2011. Her second brother, John Donelson Gaines, was an outstanding attorney graduating from Cumberland Law School prior to being age 21. John was captured during WWII in France and succumbed to being a prisoner of war in spring 1945. John also preceded her in death.

Mary is a direct descendant of Rachel Donelson Jackson, wife to Andrew Jackson, President 1828-1836. Mary is also related to former Governor of Tennessee, Neil S. Brown, who also served as ambassador to Russia from the US. The father to Rachel Donelson, Colonel John Donelson, was one of the original founders of Nashville in 1790. He came to Nashville on the good boat Adventure with his wife and children, and residing in present day Donelson, TN near to the Hermitage. The family site is still called Tulip Grove, and the family dwelling is a historical landmark open to the public with furnishings dating to the early years of meetings with Jacksons and Donelsons.

Remembrances of a joyful and cheerful life with family and longtime friends are the tokens of Mary’s presence over the past 80 plus years. Her attendance to loving associates with Circle K of WMPC Women’s groups was a lasting and devoted time to gain spiritual guidance in her life. Her love and cherished moments with arranging flowers for celebrations of festive occasions were private moments of glory. Much time and energy was spent in planning and nurturing her personal gardens wherever she lived to display her great talents in making our earthly passage more beautiful. Homes were always adorned with personal touches of family ties, and made comfortable and pleasant times together. Aside from loving family and friends and making her surroundings marked with personal contributions, she was ever encouraging others to embrace a faultless environment given freely by the Divine Creator and to be shared endlessly and forever. Just look around the monuments to her timely presence, and remember the moments as a gift from a creature endowed with a personal gift for making our lives more bountiful for one another. Lastly, but no less dominating her life, was her love for devoted Collies since 1959 until 2009. Lilly, her last Collie, was a jewel, and missed with full knowledge that Mary would see her again wherever Dog Heaven may be. As Will Rodgers said, “Don’t know where dogs go on leaving us, but that is where I wish to go.” Heaven gives each one of us a chance for enjoying beauty surrounding us, but Mary made beauty a real personal gift to all. May she be granted more time in the next life to fulfill the beauty and cheer she gave us.

With profound love and affection from her husband of 67 years, and wishes to follow into Paradise together with her sons, relatives and friends in worship of our Lord and Savior. A favorite poem Thanotopsis by Bryan – “So live that when your summons comes to join that innumerable caravan, thou go not as a slave, but as a maiden in pleasant dreams.” Another favorite is the Portuguese Sonnet by E. B. Browning on defining love – “How do I love thee. Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace… I shall but love thee better after death.”

Four guiding principles in her stately path were honor, faith, dignity and and always love.

Honor toward to her God, Presbyterian faith and guidance to family and friends

Faith to Lordly and Biblical principles, exhibit cheer and pleasant interest in companions and friends

Dignity personified in gentle reminders and interest in friends and family

Love an abiding quality adorned by daily contact with family, neighbors and friends

A funeral service will be held 2:30 PM Friday, April 29, 2016 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. Graveside service and burial will be in Nashville, TN at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in memory of Mary to: Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, or alz.org

Condolences may be sent through: brownwynne.com