After a lifetime of serving others and working to make her community a better place for all, Ms. Dorthy Ruth Beamon went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 07, 2026, at age 87. She was born May 04, 1939, the eldest child of James Richard Beamon, Sr. and Ruth Etta Anthony Beamon. She attended Fairplains Elementary School, and Wilkes Central High School. She went on to graduate from Appalachian State Teachers College and returned home to teach first grade for two years. She then began working for Wilkes County Department of Social Services and was the Adoptions Social Worker for 7 years. She went to UNC Chapel Hill and received a MSW degree. She then began working for New River Behavioral Health Care, where she would have a 32-year career. During her time, she served as a therapist, as county director, and for the last 5 years, as the 5-county area director, the first female to hold that position. She did not fully retire though, after New River she continued working. She worked as a private therapist, she worked for the Rainbow center, and developed their family preservation plan, she was a therapist for Wilkes County Schools, and for 16 years she ran a county wide grief recovery program in partnership with Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. During her career, she took many specialized training courses in rural mental health care. She was instrumental in starting the Sunshine Club House for disabled adults, in creating WTA, in getting Hospice services in the county, and in founding the SAFE house, a shelter for battered women and families. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church since the 1960s. She served as organist for many years. She also served on the Vestry, and as Senior Warden. She was an active member of the ECW, and past president. She was a long-time member of the Dick Underwood Book Club. She was an avid gardener, a marvelous cook, an artist, a crafter, dressmaker, and a traveler and adventurer. She took her family on many trips to most of the lower 48 states. She also visited Canada, and Europe 3 times during her lifetime. She was an avid dog lover all of her life. She was a cancer survivor. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and a Godmother to many people. She touched every person’s life she came in contact with. 

Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday May 14, 2026, at St. Paul’sEpiscopal Church with Rev. Stephanie Parker officiating. Burial will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. 

She is survived by her brother, Jim Beamon (Caroline) of Creston, her niece Marianne Beamon of North Wilkesboro, her niece Christina Freeman (Austin) of Creston, NC. Great nephews, Burlie Freeman and Worth Freeman, and great niece Florence Freeman, all of Creston, NC. Her nephew Bert Hall (Sandra) of North Wilkesboro, great niece Ashley Hall (Logan) and Brookelynn Barringer (Joe) both of North Wilkesboro, great nieces Finley and Stella Rose Cooke, and great nephew Dawson Cooke, all of North Wilkesboro, her long- time devoted companions Pamela Walker, Martha Moxley, and Jackie Foster, and a host of beloved cousins and godchildren..

Memorials may be made to the Wilkes County DSS Special Needs Fund, 304 College Street, Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697. The family requests no food. The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the staff of Wilkes Health. 

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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