Lee Harlan Beville, 1920-2001

  Lee Harlan Beville was born in Blackstone, Va., on January 8, 1920. He died in Virginia Beach, Va., on April 23, 2001.

  Before serving in the ministry, he had a distinguished military career serving in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He received 14 awards and decorations for his service. In 1976, he retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

  Lee received a call to the ministry of Christ. To prepare himself, he graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Candler School of Theology. He later received the Doctor of Divinity degree from the Protestant Episcopal Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Bethany Theological Seminary.

  During his years of ministry, Lee served the following churches: Heathsville, New Hope in Fredericksburg, St. James in Alexandria, Oxford in Suffolk, Haygood in Virginia Beach, Ginter Park in Richmond, Baylake in Virginia Beach, and First in Martinsville. He also served as a trustee of Ferrum College and as a member of the Historical Society of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1985, he retired in Virginia Beach.

  Lee was married to Margaret Bowers Beville for 54 years. They loved each other deeply through all of those years. Margaret and two lovely daughters, Nancy Prichard and Ellen Mitchell, survive him.

  I have known many fine people in my life, none were finer than Lee. His ministry was filled with acts of kindness and caring. All that he did was centered in Christ and people sensed that. There are many who are followers of our Lord today because of some word spoken or some deed of compassion done by Lee.

  The prophet tells us that the Lord requires that we "do justly, love kindness and walk humbly with our God." Lee Beville met those requirements every day of his ministry.