Margaret Ada Jackson Beaumont slipped her earthly bonds on February 22, 2019. Born Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1913, the 4th child and second daughter of the Reverend Edgar Starkey and Abbie Eugenia Newman Jackson in Rowayton CT, where her father pastored the Methodist church. When Margaret was 3, the family moved to Floral Park, Long Island, NY.
Margaret was the valedictorian of her eighth grade class and graduated from Hempstead High School in 1931. Despite the great depression, she was able to attend Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated in 1935. In 1936, she completed a secretarial course at Ballard Business School in New York City and was employed by the Presbyterian Board of Missions at their headquarters in NY.
In 1937, a young theological student from Union Theological Seminary became the assistant to her father at the Willis Avenue Methodist Church in the Bronx. Margaret was the church organist and that student was Harold Beaumont. They soon discovered that they were kindred spirits and decided to spend their lives together serving the Lord through their ministry.
They were married in 1939 at the Newfield Methodist Church in Bridgeport, CT in a ceremony performed by her father. Together they served the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church for 40 years with parishes on Long Island, in Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester County. During WWII, while Harold served as a chaplain, Margaret went home to live with her parents and worked at the Bridgeport Thermostat Co. as part of the war effort.
Harold returned home in 1946, only to be recalled to active duty during the Korean War from1950-52. When Margaret again returned to her parents’ home until she was able to join Harold in Germany where he was stationed. Life was full as a minister’s wife.
Margaret was a full partner as organist, choir director, Sunday school teacher and Women’s Society leader in their many parishes. They retired first to Vermont in 1977, then in 1980 relocated to Arden, NC, where they were active members of the Skyland UMC. After 17 years in Arden they moved to a villa at Givens Estates.
At Givens, she put her musical and leadership talents to work as a pianist for vespers and the Women’s Friendship Circle. Margaret was predeceased by Harold in 2009 after celebrating 70 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by her brothers: Charles William, James Otho, and Edgar Newman and a sister, Alice Rose.
A Memorial Service in Celebration of Margaret’s life will take place at the Skyland United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 5th at 2:00 p.m. Private interment will take place at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard in Fletcher. In lieu of flowers, Margaret has requested donations be made in her memory to the Asheville Humane Society. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
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