Ms. Beatrice Jones Welch

Beatrice Jones Welch was born on March 13,1929 in Wyatt, Missouri. She was the second of three children born to the union of Katie and Beverly Jones. The Jones family relocated to Cairo, Illinois in 1935, when Beatrice was five years of age. She received her formal education in the Cairo public school system and graduated from Sumner High School. Beatrice fondly remembers being raised in a home where "love abided and discipline was applied"; so much so that young Beatrice at age five was taught by her father to memorize The Lord's Prayer and, at the age of)3, delivered the Welcome Address at the Missouri County Baptist Convention, in Wyatt, Missouri. She and her brother (Beverly called him BJ) were extremely protective of each other from the earliest years, lasting throughout their lives. Shortly after moving to Chicago, Illinois, she met and married the love of her life, William Welch. The marriage of fifty-five years ended with his death. Beatrice's last employment was with the Cook County Treasurer's Office where she retired after serving twenty-three years. She was a long standing, faithful, active member of fifty-seven or fifty-eight years at Christian Tabernacle Church under the leadership of Pastor Maceo L. Woods. Beatrice served as a Deaconess whose duties included assisting with Holy Communion every first Sunday and assisting with candidates for baptism. Elder Julius M. Jackson states, "Her quiet and cooperative spirit was invaluable. The love of God expressed through her life could be witnessed by her countless acts of love and support given to this ministry and parishioners. Our beloved pastor Maceo L. Woods always publicly spoke well of her. She undoubtedly loved God, her pastor and the entire Christian Tabernacle Church family and she will be greatly missed." Dacia Dixon remembers Beatrice this way, "Grandma Bea was a Deaconess, a strong financial supporter and Missionary. She was also one of our church's best cooks. She loved and enjoyed her role as adoptive grandparent to Dacia, Nina and Greg. She always prayed for them and never missed a birthday or Christmas blessing them. They visited with her many times and blessed her as well. She enjoyed a special relationship and friendship with Sister Vernell Jones, Len, Eric and Elder Jackson." She was preceded in death by her parents, Katie and Beverly Jones; brother, Beverly Jr.; sister, Naomi; and husband, William Welch. She leaves to mourn her passing: her beloved niece, Mrs. Jacqueline Smith, who cared for her during her final months oflife, and other loving nieces and nephews; church granddaughter, Dacia Dixon; devoted building caretaker, Andre Thomas; two sisters-in-law, Clementine Allen and Ethel Jones; friends, Anne Hegwood-Williams, Mary Moton and Wesley Landry, Jr.; and a host of other friends and relatives.

Ms. Beatrice Jones Welch

March 13, 1929 - November 12, 2020