Burl Beckham, 84, of Paris, Mo. passed away on Jan. 11, 2007, at the Audrain Medical Center in Mexico.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Paris, Mo. Rev. Wesley Hammond will officiate.

Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12 noon Saturday until time of service at the church.

Mr. Beckham was born on Oct. 29, 1922, in Mt. Vernon to John N. and Nellie Pearl (Grigsby) Beckham.

He married Geneva Richards on Feb. 27, 1942, in Palmyra, Mo.

Mr. Beckham is survived by his wife Geneva Beckham of Paris, Mo.; daughter Linda Redington of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; sons Gary Beckham and wife Jocelyn of Aurora, Colo., and Larry Beckham and wife Peggy of Burlington, Iowa; brothers Clyde Beckham of Indiana, Kenneth Beckham of Alton, Keith Beckham and Charles Beckham of Waltonville, and Art Beckham of Mt. Vernon; sisters Margaret Fairchild of Mt. Vernon, and Ruth Ann Buford of Memphis, Tenn.; ten grandchildren; and eighteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Hartley.

Mr. Beckham served his country in WWII, serving in the Army Air Corp. He farmed from 1949 until 1968. He retired from the Missouri State Highway Department after 31 years of service. He was a past member and deacon of the Mt. Airy Baptist Church and was an active member in the First Baptist Church in Paris, Mo. He and his wife were very involved in the church missions group called Campers on Missions, where they spent 13 years traveling the country. He was very devoted to his faith.

Memorials may be made to the Youth Missions Group at the First Baptist Church of Paris.

Agnew Funeral Home in Paris, Mo. is in charge of all arrangements.

Source: The Register-News Mt. Vernon
Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co, IL
Date: Wednesday , January 17, 2007 -
Submitted by: James E. and Louise (Beckham) Heidlebaugh