C Mother Dessa ree Beal was born to the union "of Mark Sr. and 7 | Lovie (Chance) Jones in Rosebud, Texas on October 28, 1920. 4 _ Asachild, she became a member of Harvest Chapel Church Ly and | attended Morning Star School iin Rosebud. She was an ex- a cellent student and graduated as salutatorian from the ninth — grade. By that time, she had already assumed responsibilities a way beyond what i 1S expected of a child her age, because her : a : mother died at a young age. Dessa Lee took on the roleof E caring for her four younger siblings. She often. stated that she - remembers her mother’s dying prayer, “Lord take care of my | children”. The Lord answered that prayer when her father, : Mark J ones, Sr. married Mary Helen Menifee. y In 1938, Mother Beal married B. J. Beal and began a family : which was blessed with 14 children. In 1955, and with the support of her aunt Nannie B. White, the Beal family with 8 _ children at that time, moved. from the farminRosebudto = |. - Ogden, Utah. As the family grew larger, it became more diffi- a - cult for the family to survive on just her husband’s income. To — help support her 12 children, Mother Beal entered the work- | a : force by taking on numerous domestic jobs as well as working | _ in retail stores to obtain the additional finances needed i inthe ~ home. Her personal sacrifice for the needs of her children was eS : always her top priority. and way of life. While working and caring for her family, she also furthered her education by at— tending night classes at Washington High School. She became oy ~ amember of Lincoln Avenue Church of God in Christ where _ she was baptized with the Holy Ghost and served faithfully— - under the leadership. and guidance of the Elders andSenior - Church Mothers. F rom. that period forward, Mother Beal lived : ~ aholy life working i in the church, ministering to people and - teaching all of her children and grandchildren the way of the | Lord. She was a prayer warrior who not only talked about — being saved, she also lived saved on aa daily basis. | Continued|)