(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend the Graveside Service are REQUIRED to wear a face mask and practice social distancing)
Beatrice Margaret Peterson McGahee 92, of Asheville, NC entered into the presence of the Lord on December 29, 2021, at John Keever Care Partners Hospice Center. She was born August 24, 1929, to the late Matthew David Peterson and the late Ola Mae Jamerson Peterson.
She was preceded in death by her husband Willie Lee McGahee, Jr. in 1983, brothers David Peterson, Ralph Peterson, Robert Peterson and James Peterson, sisters Elizabeth (Sis) Peterson, Thelma Bristol, and Beulah Smith, grandson Norman J. McGahee Jr, cousin Alice Ailes, and a twin sister.
She was a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 12. She faithfully attended church until her health continued to decline in 2020. She was a secretary of the Missionary Circle and a member of the Senior Choir where she sang many solos and lifted up her voice in songs of praise to the Lord. She was a member of the Willing Workers, a Sunday School teacher for the Beginners Class and Chairperson of the Hospitality Committee. She loved Sunday School, Bible Study, Morning Worship and purchased many biblical books to increase her knowledge of God. Her favorite song was, “If I Can Help Somebody.”
She attended Burton Street Elementary School, Asheland Avenue School, Stephens-Lee High School and AB Technical College. She retired from the Asheville City Schools System, working at Livingston Street School, (now known as the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center/Reid Center), Hill Street School, (now known as Isaac Dickson Elementary School) and Asheville Middle School retiring in 1991.
Upon retiring she visited her children and grandchildren in San Diego, Antioch, and Alameda, California, Chicago, Illinois, Bremerton, Washington, Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Cape Canaveral, and Melbourne, Florida, Atlanta, GA and also Corfu, New York to visit her brother. She also cared for many of her grandchildren and other children in the Asheville, NC area. She often assisted others when they needed a helping hand, either financially or many other ways in which she could be of help.
She is best known for her homemade cakes such as her Red Velvet, German Chocolate, Coconut, Pound, Pecan Pound and Coffee Cream cakes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Angel Biscuits, Dinner Rolls and much more. She also would bake cakes for others outside of her family.Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Jacqueline P. McGahee and Velma Hamilton (Cletus), both of Asheville, sons Norman McGahee, Alvin McGahee (Barbara), and Travis McGahee, all of Asheville, and Vernon McGahee (Tunga) of Melbourne, Florida, 17 Grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, many nephews, nieces and friends.
A Graveside Service to honor the life of Mrs. Beatrice McGahee will be held on Tuesday, January 4, at 1pm at Violet Hill Cemetery, located on Hazel Mill Road in Asheville. Visitation with the family will be at 12pm prior to the service.
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