Birth Date: 02/07/1938
Deceased Date: 12/30/2023
Coats, NC – Mr. James F. “Freddie” Beasley, 85, passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at his residence in Fuquay-Varina, NC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on 11:30 am on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 108 South McKay Avenue in Dunn, NC, officiated by Father Joseph G. Mulroney, JCL. A committal service with military honors will be held at the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro, at 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
In August of this year, he was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Réjane Delacroix Beasley, just weeks after celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on June 22nd. He also survived the passing of his parents, and his 11 siblings: Jeany, Leola, Weldon, Edward, Maggie, Angeline, Earl, Wondree, George, Delton, and Catherine.
Mr. Beasley was born near Coats on February 7th, 1938 to William Edgar and Ora Hargrove Beasley. His parents were tenant farmers who lived in and around the Coats area during Mr. Beasley’s childhood. He was very proud to be the first of his family, but not the last, to graduate from high school in May of 1957. While still in high school, he served a short stint in the US Marine Corps Reserve.
A retired Master Sergeant in the US Air Force, Mr. Beasley enlisted on June 5th 1957, and served for 23 years, 2 months, and 25 days. His assignments included service at Chaumont Air Base, France during the late 1950’s, where he met the love of his life and future wife Réjane in the nearby village of Braux-le-Châtel. He also served at RAF Lakenheath, UK, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and several stateside assignments including Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC.
Mr. Beasley was a veteran of the war in Vietnam, serving in the 412th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, in Cam Ranh Bay, from November 1967 through October 1968.
Awards throughout his Air Force career include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars. He served another 18 years in the civil service at Fort Bragg/Fort Liberty in North Carolina, for a total of over 40 years of national service.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Vince and Colleen Beasley of Freeport, NY; daughter and son-in-law Alice and Danny Denning of Angier, NC; granddaughters Alexandria Holman (Devan) of Angier, and Lauren Denning (boyfriend Hayden) of Boone; and his great-grandchildren Alexis and Landon Holman. He is also survived by dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws, here and in France.
The family will receive visitors from 5:00pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, January 4th, 2023 at the Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Coats, NC.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Disabled American Veterans at DAV.COM or the United Service Organization at USO.COM
Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Coats, NC
