Virgie Maryjane “MJ” Beamer, 95, of California, MD passed away on October 26, 2020 at The Hospice House of St. Mary’s in Callaway, MD. Maryjane, the youngest child of the late Charles William Johnston and Virgie Butler Johnston, was born in Washington D.C. on September 8, 1925.
Like many young women in D.C. during World War II, Maryjane went to work for the U.S. Government and held various clerical jobs before retiring to become a homemaker. Maryjane went back to work in 1972 for Peebles Department store. Maryjane worked as a floor clerk then in the office until she retired in 1992.
Maryjane married her beloved husband, Wallace “Wally” Randolph Beamer, on February 12, 1955 and they had three children, Scott P. Beamer, Terry T. Beamer and Judy L. Sargent (Beamer). Wally and Maryjane spent 62 beautiful years of marriage together living in both Maryland and Florida.
Those closest to Maryjane knew her as a spunky redhead who spoke her mind, loved bargain shopping, rearranging furniture and planting flower gardens that yielded the most breathtaking blooms.
With a flair for fashion, Maryjane prided herself on trendy attire and was a certified ‘cool grandma’ all the way down to her faux ankle tattoo bracelet. Maryjane also brilliantly executed ‘semi-homemade’ cooking and DIY décor long before they were trendy on HGTV.
Above all, Maryjane loved her family and showered them with her one-of-a-kind tough love, but also by shopping for their favorite things or making them her famous pre-dinner salad.
Maryjane lived by these philosophies of life: “Stay active” “Exercise” “Be yourself” “Always stay young at heart”
Maryjane is survived by her sons, Scott (Chris) of Traveler Rest, SC and Terry (Lisa) of Odessa, FL; daughter, Judy (Scott) of Mechanicsville, MD; grandchildren, Jason C. Wagner, Jacob S. Beamer, Tara N. Strickland, Lindsey R. Godwin, Blaire K. Beamer, Bryce A. Beamer; great grandchildren, Wyatt Beamer, Ruby Strickland, Emersyn Godwin, Audie Strickland and Lilah Godwin.
In addition to her husband and parents, Maryjane is preceded in death by her brothers, William Johnston, John M. “Dickie” Johnston, Woodrow Johnston, Charles “Bucky” Johnston; sisters, Helen Johnston Stanton, Ruth Johnston Ferrara and Vivian Johnston Hanna.
Family will receive friends for Maryjane’s Life Celebration Gathering on Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm with a funeral service celebrated by Rev. James Chance at 1:00 pm at Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Hospice House of St. Mary’s or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org)
Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A.
