Rachel Beam Vinson

Roanoke Rapids-

On July 13, 2017 at 12:32 am, surrounded by her loving family, Casi, caregiver, Rachel Beam Vinson, 77, went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. Mama looked beautiful! She was affectionately known as Mema by her family and outsiders; you couldnt help but love her.

Rachel was born in Concord, NC, November 24, 1939, to the late David S. Beam and Lucille Carter Beam. She loved reading the bible and her crazy books. She worked at J.P. Stevens until its closing and babysat many children, whom she dearly loved. She was also a member of Victory Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Rachel was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, John E. PePa Vinson.

Surviving are her daughters, Melissa Rock Newsome of Roanoke Rapids and Rachel Marie Lowe and husband Jesse of Gaston; son, Robert Vinson and wife, Lisa, of Youngsville, NC; sisters, Ruth Kay Beam of Zebulon, NC, Gail Falciani and husband, Anthony, of Roanoke Rapids; brother, David Glenn Beam of Kannapolis, and a special niece, Karen Beam; grandchildren, Billy Bear Newsome and wife, Amanda, Hope Newsome and fianc, Kris Gurley, Hunter Vinson, Caleb Vinson, Tommy Norris, Jr. and wife, Monica and Randy Norris and wife, Jessica; great grandchildren, Haley Duncan, Nichole Brooks, Isabella Newsome, Phillip Yandle, Tyler Yandle, Seth Norris, Riley Norris, Justin Russell and Madison Russell; her special lifelong friend, Joan Blanchard; sister-in-laws, Eunice Widener, Dorothy Bryant and Linda Coker and husband, Jiggs. Also surviving are her Grand Pets, Uno, Charlotte, Hamilton, Katie, Hunter, Lily, Princess and Zoe.

The family will receive friends at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service Sunday, July 16, 2017, from 6-8 pm. Rev. Jeremy Kobernat will conduct funeral services in the chapel at Hockaday Monday, July 17, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow in Old Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke Rapids.

The family has suggested memorial contributions be made to Saint Judes Childrens Research, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 and/or Rabbi Yechiel Ecksten, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, PO Box 97339, Washington, DC 20077-7472..