Beulah Lillie Ryan's Obituary
Beulah Presley Ryan, age 85, completed her earthly journey and entered her eternal heavenly home on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Ms. Beulah was born at her family home in Unionville, NC on March 18, 1941, to the late Rufus A. Presley and Katie Knight Presley. She was the last surviving sibling of 16 siblings and half-siblings. She graduated from Unionville High School in 1959 and later from SPCC.
Her career began at Carolina Mills, where she met her former husband Jack Ryan, Sr., whom she quickly married two weeks later on Dec. 23, 1961, and was married to for 47 years. Jack and Beulah had two children, Jack Ryan, Jr. and Renée Ryan-Hendricks. She raised her family and helped raise her grandchildren on land where she once picked cotton as a child. Her connection to the land and her family brought her great joy.
Ms. Beulah is survived by her son, Jack Ryan, Jr. (Elaine) and daughter, Renée Ryan-Hendricks (JT), her grandson, Gary Ryan, granddaughters Alexandra Starnes Caldwell (Joseph) and Sara R. Hendricks and three great grandsons AJ Ryan, Jaxon Caldwell and Memphis Caldwell. Mama’s greatest joy on earth was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a special aunt and great aunt to many nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
Ms. Beulah opened Unionville Child Development Center in 1989 and retired from there in 2019. Her purpose in life was fulfilled caring for and mentoring young children and young families, filling a grandmotherly role for many children in the Unionville area. In her retirement she looked forward to hearing the children playing on the playground directly in front of her home. In her final days the sounds of children playing often brought a smile to her face.
Mama will be missed terribly but we are thankful for the peace of knowing that she was saved and is now living eternally with her Savior Jesus Christ.
A service celebrating the life of Beulah will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Hopewell Baptist Church Legacy Campus, 420 Hopewell Church Road, Monroe, NC 28110. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 6:00 PM -8:00 PM at Davis Chapel-Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care, 1003 East Franklin Street, Monroe, NC 28112.
Davis Chapel- Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care is serving the Ryan family.
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