JUANITA GARY BEAL

JUANITA GARY BEAL, 89, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2009. She is best remembered for dedicated service to her family, to HISD, to her church, and to all children who ever came in contact with her. Juanita Gary Beal was born in Houston, Texas in 1919 to Richard and Juanita Gary. She is a graduate of Jack Yates High School and was a proud majorette. Her first career was in retail at Battlestein Department Store. Her life long career was a dietitian in HISD where she supervised the nutrition of thousands of children in six different schools for 54 years. In 1957, Juanita and her friend Irma Allen, the school's first principal opened Nat Q. Henderson Elementary in historic Fifth Ward. Mrs. Beal spent 37 years at Nat Q. Henderson and received numerous formal laudatory remarks and ratings for excellence in job performance. She also put her culinary skills to work as a loyal congregant at The Fourth Missionary Baptist Church where she accepted responsibility for overseeing food planning and preparation for various programs. She was also a choir member for many years, and a member of Mission II. She married the late Bennie Lee "Rocky" Beal, Sr. in 1958, and over the years she helped him operate multiple transportation businesses, including starting a collection of antique cars, service stations, used car dealerships, and their "Love at First Sight," a bus company that served the Houston community for over ten years. Juanita and "Rocky"Beal had a beloved daughter, Dr. Janice Beal-Geyen who mourns the death of her mother along with Juanita Beal's granddaughter Jasmine Louise Geyen and her son-in-law Dr. Dashiel Geyen. She leaves a special niece Rubye Dee Steward, who was like her daughter. Also among the bereaved are her nieces, Robbie Gill and Garylyn McGee(Otis); step grandchildren Bennie Lee Beal III and Felecia Beal as well as play daughters Charlotte Carter and Tonya Houston, great nieces and nephews, the Beal Family, and many neighbors, friends and church congregants, who were all touched by Sis. Beal's warmth and positive, optimistic spirit. Family and friends will gather Friday, October 16, from 8pm to 10 pm for a visitation at Johnson Funeral Home, 5730 Calhoun Rd. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 17 at 1:00 pm at The Fourth Missionary Baptist Church at 2710 Webster Street. Burial is at the Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery.