Mary Jane BEACHUM

1867 - 1910  (42 years)

• Name	Mary Jane BEACHUM
  Birth	23 Jun 1867	Anson County, NC
  Gender	Female
  Name	Mary Jane "Zillie" BEACHUM
  Death	26 Jan 1910	Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC
  Burial	Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC
  Notes	(1) www.findagrave.com: Mary Jane "Zillie" Beachum Stearns Birth: 23 Jun 1867, Anson County, North Carolina, USA Death: 26 Jan 1910 (aged 42), Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA Burial: Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA Mary Jane "Zillie" Beachum was the fifth daughter and eighth of fourteen children born to Jeremiah Washington Beachum (1830-1910), a Confederate soldier, and his first wife Mary Jane Taylor (1836-1882). Her paternal grandparents were Hugh A. Beachum (1806-1861) and his wife Zillah "Zillie" O'Neal (1812-1882); and her maternal grandparents were William Taylor (c.1794-1848) and his wife Sarah McLendon (c.1805-1865), all of Anson County. Mary Jane was born at her father's homeplace in Anson, some two years after he'd returned from his Confederate service. I am uncertain of her exact birth date, and suspect she may have actually been born in 1869 instead of 1867 (see the 1870-80 census records). However, the date given is the one on her tombstone. Her birth is actually noted twice on different pages in her father's family Bible, once in 1868 and once in 1869, but I think those entries were made later. According to family legend, her grandmother, Zillie O'Neal (1812-1882, Mrs. Hugh Beachum), on her deathbed, decided she was displeased that none of her descendants bore her name, so she called her favorite grandchild, Mary Jane, to her bedside and offered her a ring (some versions say it was a gold piece) if she would take on the name. She agreed and was called Zillie until she died. A story that I was told that sheds some insight into her character is that, when she was a little girl, her father kept a coffin in the attic over his store down in Anson County. (Whether it was one he'd had made for himself, since he was very tall, or just store stock, I do not know.) All the children were scared of the coffin and would go and look at it. One day, they dared each other to go and lie in the coffin . . . and Mary Jane was the only one brave enough to do it. She said it was "the strangest experience she'd ever had." But it shows that, like her parents who faced war and the horrors of reconstrucion unflinchingly, she was brave and courageous, even as a little girl. Zillie Mary Jane married Dulin Benson Stearns (1863-1962) in Union County, NC, on Dec. 24, 1884. He was a son of Dulin Stearns (c.1837-1863), a Confederate soldier who died in the War, and his wife Rusha Elizabeth King (1837-1894), of Union County, NC. Mary Jane & Dulin had 10 children, 9 of whom survived her: 1. Junius Stitt Stearns (1885-1965) m. Ethel Elvira Ellis (1893-1956) in 1911, five children: Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. (1913-1986, m. Katharine Lasater), Margaret Ellen Stearns (1915-1918), Rachel Wilson Stearns (1917-2005, m. S. Everett Montgomery), Frank Ellis Stearns (1918-2003, m. Jessie Mae Pleasants), and George Benson Stearns (1920-2003, m. Jimmie Steele). 2. Ada Eugenia Stearns(1887-1980) m. John Henry Bennett (1878-1962), in 1902, four children, Lois Ethel Bennett (1903-1988, m. Raymond Keplinger, 2nd m. Jim Springs), Lela Bernice Bennett (1906-1983, m. Melvin Grant), John Henry Bennett (1909-1987, m. Zula E. Lowder) and Virginia Mae Bennett (1914-2008, m. Carl Scholosberg). 3. Ila Faye Stearns (1890-1980, m. Clyde Covington Fesperman (1887-1945) in 1920, one son, Clyde Covington Fesperman, Jr. (m. Marjorie Pless). 4. Carrold Adam Stearns (1892-1950) m. Maude Elma Watson (1904-1932) in 1920, six children, Watson Whitty Stearns (1821-1956), Carrold Adam Stearns, Jr. (1922-2013, m. Norma Cheek), Elma Waston Stearns (1923-2012, Mrs. Charles F. Deleot), Benjamin Dulin Stearns (1925-2006, m. Etta Taylor), Mary Jane Beachum Stearns (1927-1927) and Jeremiah Beachum Stearns (1932-1932). 5. Clyde Casey Stearns (1895-1969) m. Sue Estelle "Susie" Schell () in 1930, three children, Susan Stearns (Mrs. J. D. Ramseur), Clyde Casey Stearns, Jr. (1932-2008, m. Jane Gibson) and Jeremiah Beachum Stearns (m. Marian Gabriel). 6. Jesse Free Stearns (1898-1914) Killed at age 16, accidentally shot by his best friend while hunting. 7. Mary Elizabeth Stearns (1900-1985) m. Raymond Stricklen Deck (1900-1942) in 1924. Two daughters Jean Stearns Deck (1924-2013, Mrs. Andrew H. Symmes) and Catherine Deck (1926-2007, Mrs. J. D. Benson). 8. John Lee Stearns (1904-1904) There is some confusion as to whether he was named John Lee Stearns or Dulin Benson Stearns, Jr., for his father. 9. Eunice Virginia Stearns (1906-1983, m. John Levi Field) in 1929, one daughter, Joanna Field (d. 2009, Mrs. Kenneth O. Pankow). 10. Ophelia Jane Stearns (1909-1910). The family lived in Union Co., NC until around 1890 or 1891, when they moved to the city of Charlotte. By all acounts, Mary Jane was a devout Christian, a gracious lady, a devoted wife and a loving mother. "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. . . . Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. . . . She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. . . , She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. . . . Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Proverbs, Chapter 31. Family Members: Parents: Jeremiah Washington Beachum (1830-1910), Mary Jane Taylor Beachum (1836-1882); Spouse: Dulin Benson Stearns (1863-1962, m. 1884); Children: Junius Stitt Stearns (1885-1965), Ada Eugenia Stearns Bennett (1887-1980), Faye Stearns Fesperman (1889-1980), Carrold Adam Stearns (1892-1950), Clyde Casey Stearns (1895-1969), Jesse Free Stearns (1898-1914), Mary Elizabeth Stearns Deck (1900-1985), John Lee Stearns (1904-1904), Eunice Virginia Stearns Field (1906-1983), Ophelia Jane Stearns (1909-1910); Siblings: Zachary Taylor Beachum (1854-1926), Angeline Melvina Beachum Carpenter (1855-1921), John Beachum (1857-1940), Sarah Isabelle Beachum Wright (1858-1931), Cleopatra Beachum Irby (1861-1931), Louisa Clementine Beachum Caudle (1864-1939), Joseph Jackson Beachum (1866-1882), Hugh Wilson Beachum (1870-1940), Atlas Free Beachum (1872-1933), Heallon Mercia Beachum King (1874-1930), Colen Lenora Beachum Ballard (1875-1955), Arindo Washington Beacham (1877-1961), Jeremiah Osco Beachum (1881-1882) Created by: John Field Pankow Added: 27 Oct 2004 Find A Grave Memorial 9719241
  Person ID	I44516	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Dulin Benson STEARNS,   b. 1 Oct 1863, Union County, NC d. 6 Nov 1962, Burlington, Alamance County, NC (Age 99 years)
  Marriage	24 Dec 1884	Union County, NC
  Children	1. Eunice Virginia STEARNS,   b. 23 Jan 1906, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC d. 1 Jun 1983, Asheville, Buncombe County, NC (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F19148	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024