Rev. George H. Beachum, Iv

Through the grace and mercy of Almighty God, Reverend George H. Beachum, IV was born on May 6, 1936, in Wilmington, Delaware, to the late Anna Elizabeth (Campbell) Beachum and George H. Beachum, III. Reverend Beachum answered God’s call to come home to glory on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Reverend Beachum grew up in the cities of Wilmington and Middletown, Delaware. Reverend Beachum attended Bethel A.M.E. Church in Wilmington, Delaware with his mother, the late Evangelist Anna Elizabeth (Campbell) Beachum. He matriculated through the Wilmington Public Schools graduating from Howard High School in 1954 where he was a member of Howard’s varsity football, basketball, and track teams. In 1955, Reverend Beachum attended Maryland State College (University of Maryland Eastern Shore) where he was a member of the college’s football team. He then transferred to Delaware State College on a football scholarship. where he played for the DSU Hornets. He graduated from Delaware State College in 1961, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education with Minors in Biology, Mathematics, and English. He also joined the Beta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Reverend Beachum moved to Vineland, New Jersey, and began his teaching career in 1962 at the Vineland Training School where he taught severely disabled students. Advancing his career, he became employed with Vineland Public Schools where he served as a Special Education Teacher at Reber School. He later became an Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Department Chair of Special Education Programs, and Director of the Alternative School Program for Vineland Senior High School. Reverend Beachum served in the Vineland Public Schools for 38 years retiring in 2001. He came out of retirement to work for Christina School District at Newark High School as a Special Education Teacher from 2001-2004. In 2011, Reverend Beachum worked for Pritchett Associates, LLC in Newark, Delaware as a teacher and advisor in the fields of physical and special education. His greatest contributions to Pritchett Associates were his workshop presentations in the areas of teacher responsibilities, code of conduct, and ethics. He continued to serve as a Substitute Teacher for the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District up until 2019.

In 1963, he married the late Gertrude Elaine (Still) Beachum. Shortly thereafter, he was blessed with three children from this union--Karen Elizabeth, Troy Timothy, and Portia Nicole. Settling into his abundant life as a father and husband, Reverend Beachum realized that he not only wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people, but felt a strong desire to become a man of God.

Answering God’s call to the ministry, he preached his first sermon “Who Shall I Go To?” on September 3, 1965, at New Bethel A.M.E. Church in Vineland, New Jersey under the leadership of the late Reverend Charles B. Walker. Reverend Beachum earned a Master of Divinity from the New York Theological Seminary of Urban Studies in 1967. Upon completion of his studies, Reverend Beachum received his ordination as an Itinerant Elder at St. James A.M.E. Church in Newark, New Jersey by the late Bishop John Douglas Bright.

Reverend Beachum devoted his life to the ministry for 56 years. He served in the New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Delaware Annual Conferences of the First Episcopal District in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served his first pastoral appointment in 1967 at St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Lindenwold, New Jersey where he had three faithful members. The late Reverend Howard B. Brightman of Asbury Port, New Jersey was the Presiding Elder.

Determined to lead God’s children, Reverend Beachum was assigned to Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church located in Fenwick, New Jersey where he was the Pastor for seven years. During his third appointment, he served as Pastor of St. James A.M.E. Church in Ocean City, New Jersey under the leadership of the late Presiding Elder Charles C. Blake. It was here that Reverend Beachum, his late wife Gertrude Elaine Beachum, and three children--Karen, Troy, and Portia, resided in the church parsonage. He served as Pastor of St. James for two years. The late Bishop Ernest L. Hickman was his Prelate at the time of this pastoral appointment.

Reverend Beachum was then appointed to Grant A.M.E. Church in Chesilhurst, New Jersey. He, along with the officers and members of the church, built a new church in a predominantly African American community. As a result of the new church, the Chesilhurst Board of Education built the Shirley B. Foster Elementary School to serve the children and their families living in the community.

Reverend Beachum’s fifth appointment was to Bethel A.M.E. Church in Woodbury, New Jersey. He was given this appointment by the late Bishop Richard A. Hilderbrand in 1980. While serving as the pastor, Reverend Beachum led the officers and members of Bethel in building a $350,000 church edifice for the community.

Reverend Beachum took pride in ministerial fellowships of which he, his late wife Gertrude Elaine Beachum, and youngest daughter became members in 1987 at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Wilmington, Delaware. The pastors at that time were Rev. Jeffrey N. Leath and the late Rev. James K. Baldwin.

In the early nineties, Reverend Beachum was assigned to Bethany A.M.E. Church, the historically oldest church in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. He then served as Pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Atglen, Pennsylvania from 1993-2002 during which time he lost his wife, Gertrude Elaine Beachum in 2000. He then married Barbara (Anderson) Beachum in 2003.

Reverend Beachum’s final appointment was in 2004 at Grimes A.M.E.Church in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania where he pastored for six years. Recognizing the inequities in the educational system, Reverend Beachum developed the Grimes A.M.E. After School Program to provide academic support to children in the Phoenixville community.

On Saturday, July 31, 2010, Grimes A.M.E. Church honored Reverend Beachum and his wife Barbara A. Beachum with a retirement celebration for 43 years of Itinerant Ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He proclaimed with gratitude that, “We have come this far by faith, and thank God for the love, loyalty, and friendship of the Grimes A.M.E. Church family.” Reverend Beachum expressed that he and Barbara considered it an honor to have been appointed as their spiritual leaders for seven years of his 43 years in ministry.

However, God wasn’t finished using Reverend Beachum to inspire a congregation--filling it with His Holy Spirit. In 2012, Reverend Beachum and his wife Barbara had been called back home to Bethel A.M.E. Church in Wilmington, Delaware. During this time, he served on the ministerial staff under the leadership of Bishop Silvester Scott Beaman and Reverend Dr. Stanley Hearst, II. Reverend Beachum loved teaching the weekly mid-day Bible Study and visited with Bethel’s sick and shut-in. He led the Missions in Motion Ministry for Bethel’s Senior Community. Reverend Beachum delighted in celebrating the Annual Beachum’s Day held in February with family, friends, and members of Missions in Motion.

Reverend Beachum was a proud member of the New Jersey Education Association, Council for Exceptional Children, NAACP, Sanford Lodge #26 of Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliation, and a Lifetime Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He was recognized for his achievements in the Honored Professional National Registry and Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals in 1999.

Reverend Beachum was appointed to the New Jersey Annual Conference Board of Trustees, Board of Examiners, and Dean of the Atlantic City Ministerial Institute for Ministerial Training, serving from 1973-1979. In 2001, he was appointed to the Philadelphia Annual Conference Board of Trustees, serving until 2010.

Reverend Beachum loved his family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them at church, sporting events, family reunions, and vacations. He will be remembered for his jovial personality and infectious laugh. His servant leadership and determination enabled him to have a positive influence on many lives. Reverend Beachum was predeceased by his first wife, Gertrude Elaine (Still) Beachum and great-granddaughter Ry’Lynn Kalynda Thompson. He leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife of 20 years, Barbara (Anderson) Beachum. He is survived by his children Karen Elizabeth Beachum-Boyd, Troy Timothy Beachum (Stephanie), and Portia Nicole Tyson (Darren); grandchildren Alicia Nicole Boyd, Anna Elizabeth Boyd, Ashley Lynee’ Beachum, Aaron Timothy Tyson, Amy Alaya Thompson, Kamau Jahi Tyson, Darren Avery Tyson, Elaine Marie Beachum, and Sylvia Justine Beachum; great-grandchildren Anthony Tyrell Phillips, Ty’Shaun Nahzir Thomas, Tymere, Nathan Thomas, A’mani Nyasia Thomas, Genaia Ann Boyd, P’Ayre Tyshaun Boyd, Autum Ry’Lynn Beachum, Alaya Lynee’ Statin-Thompson, and Jermanii Rayne Allen; sisters Shirley Beachum (Warren), Marilyn Wilson, and Marcia Beachum; sister-in-law Creola Still, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.