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Celebration of life service Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at Grace Apostolic Church. Interment Union Cemetery. In lieu of floral tributes, please consider a contribution to Project Help Clothing Ministry, a non-profit, 5013c clothing charity, founded by the late Claire Waters (Bea’s sister) for financially-challenged families; and/or the Never Quit Educational Scholarship Foundation, where an annual scholarship, to help a female high school student, will be established in her name.
In Loving Memory of a Royal, Faithful Servant
Josephine Beatrice Garland Broaddus
For most of us, life is complicated; sometimes disappointing. Our wonderful mom, grandmother, aunt and cousin might say, “When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.”
On June 24, 1930, the fourth and youngest child, Josephine Beatrice Garland, was born to John and Viola (Ridley) Garland in Hillsboro, Georgia. Affectionately known as “Bea”, she was named in honor of her maternal grandmother, Josephine Ridley. The meaning of her name, “The Lord increases and the Bringer of Joy,” was indicative of her personality because she never met a stranger whom she didn’t know at least one of their relatives.
Bea saw life on the one-hundred acre family farm as a pleasurable, yet steadfast opportunity, to experience the world-of-work. Her father’s earnest efforts generated a bounty of fresh produce, cotton and animals on the farm. It was there where Bea’s work ethic became a blueprint for employment in later years.
Jasper County Training School, in Monticello, Georgia, became her place of learning from grades K-11. During this era, schools were closed in the summer season so that children could assist their respective families with picking cotton. The Garland family was no exception to that rule. Bea continued her educational quest following that brief interruption, and graduated from Hudson High School in Macon, Georgia, ten miles from her hometown.
After high school graduation, Bea enrolled in Albany State College as an education major. It is now known as Albany State University, one of three historically black colleges in the state of Georgia. Teaching children was her desire, but her heartstrings were attached to the health plight of her beloved sister, Claire Garland Waters, then living in Columbus, Ohio. Claire was experiencing a difficult pregnancy; and Bea felt the “call of family” superseded her own needs.
With the birth of the Waters’ child, Sandra, Bea became so accustomed to Columbus, Ohio, that she began to call the locale “home.” Her love of Columbus established quintessential friendships that have forever impacted her life. Dolores Nivins, Betty Jackson Fulton, Clara Dell Thompson, Alice Whacker Smith were a few of the saints whom she befriended. Her sister, Claire, and those friends modeled for her the how, the why and the walk of holiness.
Bishop Karl F. and Sis. Josephine (Mom and Pop) Smith were also unwavering friends. Holy matrimony united the Garland and Smith families. All were frequent guests in the westside home of Uncle J.L. and Aunt Carrie Garland.
Bea continued her love of education at Franklin University and Bliss College, majoring in Office Management. Soon afterward, she married Walter Broaddus, a U.S. Army veteran. Two sons, Stanley Terrance, and Jon Tracy Broaddus were born of this union. When Bea became a single parent in the early 70’s, she did the work of two parents—providing and caring most adequately for her family of three.
Her employment at Westinghouse Manufacturing Corporation for eight years produced a perfect attendance record. When the Westinghouse Corporation dissolved, she became an employee of the Liebert Corporation—again, achieving perfect attendance for 25 years!
In 1976, Bea discovered a greater calling on her life, as the precious gift of the Holy Ghost readily flowed in an unknown tongue from her lips. Her niece, Sandy, witnessed to her about the need to be saved. Ironically, the niece whom she came to assist at birth, now was present to encourage her to partake of the divine birth of heaven!
Sister Frankie Lynne and Sister Virginia Kuthrell also encouraged her in her walk with Christ. Her faith was manifested in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and she was overjoyed! She became a member of the Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith, and dutifully sang in the Women’s Choir, under the direction of her beloved friend, Evangelist Ethel Conley.
Now, all of us who truly know Bea, understand, that if there was a scripture in the Bible that pertained personally to her, it would read something like this: “I am Holy Ghost filled; however, believe this--I stand on my own ground, speak my mind, and mind my own business. Selah.” Her Madea-style advice, mother wit and common sense affirmed her reply to any question someone may ask her. One summer, Bea’s car was ransacked, in her own driveway, by some unknown thugs. The blessing was that most of her possessions were not in her car, yet the “headache” of experiencing this kind of thievery and invasion of privacy loomed heavily. Four calls to the Columbus Police Department (CPD) produced no officer. Their resolution—make a burglary report on-line, or if one does not have a computer, go to the local library. No damage, no one hurt, minor theft—then no officer. Upset and bewildered, was the best description of Bea, at this point. Subsequently, a CPD officer was flagged down in the neighborhood. They came to Bea’s house to take a report, and advised her on a plan-of-action. The officers examined the car and its strewn contents. After taking the report, Bea‘s statement to the officers left them in awe. “If I catch the person or persons in my car again, and call the CPD, just bring Diehl-Whittaker with you and save all of us some time.” The officers chuckled, knowing that they had discovered Madea’s (Tyler Perry) Columbus protégé.
Bea cast her lot, as a charter member, with Grace Apostolic Church when it was located at Mohawk Middle School. She considered it the utmost honor to have her beloved pastor and first lady, Bishop James and Lady Marcia Gaiters, serve as her under shepherd. She often recalled their gentle meekness and their unwavering faith in “good, old fashioned holiness!” She frequently remarked that Bishop Gaiters made the “waters quiver” when he rendered one of her favorite songs, “Down through the Years, God’s Been Good to Me.”
Bea’s delectable favorites were many—homemade sour cream pound cake (a variety of flavors), Johnny Marzetti, corned beef & cabbage, fresh greens, mouthwatering ribs, seafood salad, ambrosia salad, fried fish, turkey rolls, to name a few. Her love of the southern fruits of muscadine and scuppernong grapes and watermelon were perennial favorites. Popeye’s Spicy Chicken sandwich, Pepsi Cola™ as well as Cracker Barrel’s Chicken & Noodles were weekly preferences. She always took “Sunday Best” to-heart as she dressed in beautiful hats and apparel. A few weeks ago, Bea reminisced about the fourth Sunday of each month, when her dad would be the lead soloist for the Men’s Choir at White’s Chapel AME Church in Hillsboro, GA. He would often sing this song, “Jesus Gonna Make-up My Dying Bed.” Believe it or not, she remembered every word and verse!
Embossed on her checks is the scripture, “…For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Bea was our sparkling jewel; our love and our family matriarch. She was preceded in death by parents, John and Viola; sisters, Claire (Dennis) Waters, Carolyn Garland; brother, John W. Garland. Bea was the awesome mother of Terry and Tracy; doting grandmother of Tracy, Jr.; and loving surrogate “mom” to Sandy (John) Holley, Sheri, Sheila, Steve and Sylvia Waters; Rosemary Wade, Gail Brazell, Kenny Watters, Krystal Wright, Beulah Moore; and tremendous cousin to Joe Lloyd Garland, Steve Garland, Sonja and Derrick Miller, Gail Hutchins, Priscilla Heard, Ruth (J.L. deceased) Card, Barbara Delaney, Rose Squires, Hazel Comer, Judy and Joe Harper, Karl Smith, Ruby Rooks, Charles Massey, the Card Family (Detroit) and numerous cousins in Ohio, Georgia and Michigan; special friends, Ada Bates, Ethel Nevels, Marion Jackson, Mary Lyons, Betty Parker, Regina Lott, Madalyn Blackburn, Freya Jones, Nettie Davis, Cathy Stevenson, Candy Broaddus, Larry Clemons, Jeff Reavish, Kim Wilson, Darla Reed, Mildred Penn and Thomas Pringle. WE WILL LOVE YOU, BEA, FOREVER!!!
“Your living was not in vain, Your living remains a timeless legacy; a template for existing, Your living made the realities of God gleam like porcelain vessels”
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
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