Beene, Lavelle
BEENE, Lavelle
Lavelle Virgle Beene was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas on July 28, 1922 to Jesse Dewey Beene and Hazel Ann (Rogers) Beene. He died in Atlanta, Georgia on October 22, 2021 after a brief illness. He is survived by sister Marzelle ("Beenie") Berry, nephews Mark Berry and Craig Berry (Maureen Kupstas), and goddaughter Trisha Kearschner (Kevin Kearschner). He was preceded in death by his wife Marie Touge (Jerome) Beene and sons Jerry Lavelle Beene and James Henry Beene.
Most of Lavelle's childhood was spent in Fort Worth, Texas where he graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1940. He started college, including a year at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, before joining the Army during WWII. He then spent some time in an officer training program at NYU, a program interrupted by his urgent mobilization into the 104th Infantry Division, more commonly called the Timberwolves, with which he saw 195 days of continuous combat in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany in 1944-45. He attained the rank of First Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star and several other medals.
After the war Lavelle returned to Wheaton, where he graduated in 1948. On January 1, 1947 he married Marie Jerome of Fort Worth. He had first met Marie in the high school journalism work room when they were co-editors of the school's weekly paper, and had stayed in touch through the war and after. They spent 74 love-filled years together until Marie's death on January 4, 2021.
After Wheaton, Lavelle continued his education at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he received a Masters of Theology in 1952. He served as a pastor in Kansas and later joined America's oldest life insurance company, Presbyterian Ministers' Fund, where he was able to combine his business acumen and interest in ministry. He spent the remainder of his career with PMF, completing his service there as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Lavelle was very active in his church as a teacher and deacon and supported the Young Life youth ministry in several different capacities over the years; he was instrumental in Young Life's acquisition of the SharpTop Cove camp property. Lavelle served in a variety of volunteer positions at the Lenbrook retirement community and was a member of his local Kiwanis Club and a men's garden club. He was an avid fisherman and a devoted follower of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons.
Lavelle's kindness, leadership, intelligence, and good humor will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. A reception will follow at the church. Masks are required.
Lavelle requested donations be made to Young Life, designated for SharpTop Cove (P.O. Box 70065, Prescott, AZ 86304-7065), or to Wheaton College (501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187).
