Beulah Wall Payne McClung
Beulah Wall Payne McClung, 82, entered her Heavenly home to be greeted by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, July 16, 2021. She was born in Casey County, Ky., on Nov. 27, 1938, to Eventus and Ruby Wall, hardworking sharecroppers at the end of the Great Depression, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by eight siblings, Susie, Walter, Jenny, Wanda, Ray, Bobby, Neal and Donna; also Don Payne, the father of her children; and son, Michael Payne. Surviving are her siblings, Gay (Bud) Sulfridge, Patty (Tom) McGinnis, James Dee (Blanche) Wall, Anita (Jimmie) Johnson and Tony Wall; her children, Eugene of Calif., David (Kathy) of Fla., Bobbi Sue (Brian) Gillette of N.C., Kathy (Rick) Turner of Mo., Brenda (Keith) Whitfield and Wendy Collins, both of Fla., and Melissa Landrum of Tenn.. She also has 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She has a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews also. Many of the friends of her children called her mom, ma or Miss Beulah.
Beulah was raised in the Battle Ground area and went to school there. She received her GED in 1975 which inspired her mother-in-law (70+ years old) to get her GED, also. In October 1978 she remarried and moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where she worked as a manager of Zippy Mart, UMC hospital gift shop and French Novelty ladies clothing store. She resided there until her death. She loved gardening, especially all her flowers, reading and “her” tv shows.
She believed in the salvation that Jesus Christ provided and still provides for all mankind through His shed blood and death on the cross of Calvary, His burial and His resurrection. She chose His salvation and proudly watched all eight of her children accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, also. She would want you, the reader of her life, to know and accept the Savior she now is with in Heaven. Won’t you accept Him?
The following is from her oldest, Eugene.
She raised eight children and allowed them to become individuals who could be themselves. She never claimed greatness but her legacy was in inspiring her children to be their best because they all were their best and were expected to be. Her children became a 20-year submariner, a volunteer fire department chief, newspaper owner and publisher, a missionary and teacher to China, business leaders, teachers, satisfied and loving mothers/grandmothers and fathers/grandfathers. She epitomized her belief in “high expectations lead to a better life.” She knew good and bad times but never complained.
The following is what her youngest, Melissa, said Friday morning after her passing.
This morning I lost the person who loved me and my children unconditionally (even when I was throwing a 3-year-old temper tantrum in my 30s); my biggest cheerleader; someone who felt every pain that I felt (so found much so that I would whitewash my life stories to her to save her some of it). She was not an angel; she was a real-life human being. But she sacrificed most of her life raising eight kids almost single handedly; numerous grands, great-grands, nieces, nephews and even some brothers and sisters. She endured more than her fair share of hardships and suffering. Life is hard. It was especially hard for her. Life is also the most precious and amazing thing. She sustained herself and happiness in helping family, friends, strangers and in the little things most people take for granted. She had a profound impact on this world that is beyond quantifying or qualifying and is never-ending. Those closest to her are devastated that she is no longer available to answer their every call, even in the middle of the night. She was always available to help someone else. I am devastated, too, but so very grateful that she will not suffer anymore. I do not need anything that anybody else could give me except time and the grace to grieve in my own personal way. I am not alone; she has and will always continue to help carry me on my path. She made me who I am today and will always be a part of me and my life.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
There was a graveside service on Monday, July 26, at 3 p.m. at the Battle Ground, Indiana, cemetery. All who knew and loved her were welcome. In lieu of flowers, make a donation to your favorite charity in her name.
Beulah was raised in the Battle Ground area and went to school there. She received her GED in 1975 which inspired her mother-in-law (70+ years old) to get her GED, also. In October 1978 she remarried and moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where she worked as a manager of Zippy Mart, UMC hospital gift shop and French Novelty ladies clothing store. She resided there until her death. She loved gardening, especially all her flowers, reading and “her” tv shows.
She believed in the salvation that Jesus Christ provided and still provides for all mankind through His shed blood and death on the cross of Calvary, His burial and His resurrection. She chose His salvation and proudly watched all eight of her children accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, also. She would want you, the reader of her life, to know and accept the Savior she now is with in Heaven. Won’t you accept Him?
The following is from her oldest, Eugene.
She raised eight children and allowed them to become individuals who could be themselves. She never claimed greatness but her legacy was in inspiring her children to be their best because they all were their best and were expected to be. Her children became a 20-year submariner, a volunteer fire department chief, newspaper owner and publisher, a missionary and teacher to China, business leaders, teachers, satisfied and loving mothers/grandmothers and fathers/grandfathers. She epitomized her belief in “high expectations lead to a better life.” She knew good and bad times but never complained.
The following is what her youngest, Melissa, said Friday morning after her passing.
This morning I lost the person who loved me and my children unconditionally (even when I was throwing a 3-year-old temper tantrum in my 30s); my biggest cheerleader; someone who felt every pain that I felt (so found much so that I would whitewash my life stories to her to save her some of it). She was not an angel; she was a real-life human being. But she sacrificed most of her life raising eight kids almost single handedly; numerous grands, great-grands, nieces, nephews and even some brothers and sisters. She endured more than her fair share of hardships and suffering. Life is hard. It was especially hard for her. Life is also the most precious and amazing thing. She sustained herself and happiness in helping family, friends, strangers and in the little things most people take for granted. She had a profound impact on this world that is beyond quantifying or qualifying and is never-ending. Those closest to her are devastated that she is no longer available to answer their every call, even in the middle of the night. She was always available to help someone else. I am devastated, too, but so very grateful that she will not suffer anymore. I do not need anything that anybody else could give me except time and the grace to grieve in my own personal way. I am not alone; she has and will always continue to help carry me on my path. She made me who I am today and will always be a part of me and my life.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
There was a graveside service on Monday, July 26, at 3 p.m. at the Battle Ground, Indiana, cemetery. All who knew and loved her were welcome. In lieu of flowers, make a donation to your favorite charity in her name.