Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 29, 2018

CHARLOTTE – Earl Bess Beam, 93, passed away on Sunday, July 29, 2018.  Born on January 16, 1925, to the late Bruner B. and Maude Lulla Beam, in the township of Colfax, Rutherford County, NC.  Earl also lived in Cherokee Falls, Gaffney and Blacksburg, SC, where he completed high school and worked with his brothers and father in the B.B. Beam General Merchandise Store.  Earl served in the Navy from October 1943 to June 1946 along with his two brothers. After the war, he attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia and graduated with honors in June 1950.

Earl worked for a short time with Phillip Morris Corp. and then joined Southern Bell Telephone on November 16, 1950.  He held a number of positions, including Directory Advertising Salesman, Business Office Manager, Rates and Tariffs Manager and Independent Company Relations Manager.  After retiring in August 1983, he did consulting work with BellSouth.

A member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, he served as president for the Charlotte region.  As of 2010, Earl had served on the Board of Directors of Carolinas Telco FCU for fifty years in the positions of president, treasurer and secretary at various times.  He also served as president of the BellSouth Life Member Pioneers.

Earl and his wife, Anne were long-time members of First Baptist Church of Charlotte.

Every July for the past twenty years, Earl and Anne spent the month in the mountains with family and friends.   A highlight, enjoyed by all, was when they took the entire family, all 17, to Yellowstone National Park.  Earl loved to attend his grandchildren’s cheerleading contests and all sporting events in which his grandchildren participated.

Mr. Beam is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Anne Jackson Beam; his son, Timothy Earl Beam of Charlotte; two daughters, Nancy Leigh Nichols and her husband, Dale, of Fort Mill, SC and Frances Luanne Querry and her husband, Clifton, of Kernersville, NC.  He had nine grandchildren, Matthew, Morgan and his wife, Carin, and Meghan Beam; Christopher, Michael, Adam and J.C. Nichols; and Brandon and Hanna Querry.  He dearly loved his family and grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Sharon Baptist Church, 6411 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.  The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, PO Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.