Mary Irene Beasley

Mary Reiford Beasley of Gulfport, MS formerly of North Boston, NY passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024, in Gulfport.

Mary had a strong sense of community and a deep seated belief in the sharing of one’s time and talent as a way of giving back. Her heart and home were always open. Growing up as a Girl Scout, it was only natural that Mary would be an Assistant Troup Leader and Den Mother to her sons.

Being an active member of the PTA at Boston Valley Elementary School, Mary was also homeroom mother throughout her children’s years at the school.

After her husband Kenneth took an early retirement from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the couple settled in Oxford, MS where Mary continued her community involvement.

While working for a Domino’s franchise as a bookkeeper and caring for her employer’s child, Mary found ways to give of her time and talent whenever possible. While in Oxford, Mary oversaw operations of the local food pantry for her church and was very active in Church Women United Association. As a founding mother of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Oxford, she sat on their board. A devoted woman of God, Mary was an ordained minister of the Christian Order of Spiritual Scientists. She spent much of her life pursuing theological studies.

After illness brought the couple to Gulfport to be near family, Mary continued her work within the Unitarian Universalists in Gulfport. She took this time to further her studies and pursue other interests.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Sherman Beasley; a daughter, Mary and son Robert (Stacey) Beasley; and a brother, Charles (Jewell) Reiford.

She is survived by 4 children; Kenneth (Linda) Beasley of Gulfport, MS; Michael (Terrie) Beasley of Knoxville, TN; Mary (Stephen) Moore of Sebastian, FL; Estella Herbert (Rich Marcin) of Pittsburgh, PA; 17 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the O’Neal Road Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Oxford, 31 County Road 198, Oxford, MS 38655 or Unity Spiritual Center of Gulfport, 1700 E. Railroad Street, Gulfport, MS 39501.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Mary Beasley.