Mr. John L. Beam, age 80, of Summerville, GA, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2013, in the Redmond Regional Medical Center after a very brief illness.

 

Mr. Beam was born September 2, 1933, in Doddsville, MS, son of the late Charles Walton and Mamie L. Beam.  He has been a resident of Summerville, GA, for seven years.  Mr. Beam was a retired MSGT with the U. S. Air Force after 20 years of service, and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He was also a retired farmer and cattle farmer. He was a member of the Rena Lara Baptist Church of Rena Lara, MS, and was also a Mason and Shriner.  Mr. Beam’s ancestry has been traced back to Mr. Kimball Erskin Danforth Beam of Groton, MA, who lived from 1819 – 1896. In addition to his parents, Mr. Beam was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard Beam and Elwood Beam.

 

Mr. Beam is survived by his wife, Bittena Carter Beam; daughters and sons-in-law, Cassandra and Tommy Ramage, Nelda and Ray Leone; son and daughter-in-law, John E. and Teresa Beam; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ron and Loyce Carter, Charles and Toni Beam, George and Betty Beam; sister and brother-in-law, Faye and Bill Spurr; brother-in-law, Clinton Carter; sisters-in-law, Barbara Bronson, Shirley Carter; special niece, Sue Owens; 8 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

 

Funeral services for Mr. Beam will be held at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, November 27, 2013, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James Baird officiating.  Burial will follow at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday in the Georgia National Cemetery with full military honors.

 

Mr. Beam will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday.

 

Mason Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.