Anna Perry Beachem

Anna Perry Beachem, 88, of Manassas, Virginia, passed away on October 24, 2022. She was born on October 18, 1934, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Annie and Walter Perry. Although Anna grew up in the city of Raleigh, she maintained a love for the country by visiting her family’s farmhouse outside of town. Affectionally known as “Muffett”, she graduated from Needham-Broughton H.S. in 1952, where she started life-long interests in music, singing, photography and other cultures. She continued her studies, obtaining a 2-year commercial diploma, learning life-long administrative skills, working initially in an insurance office. She married Cedric in 1955 and moved to Washington, DC, devoting her life to raising her three sons. In the early 1970’s, Anna resumed her career in administration, as secretary for the Episcopal Church of Holy Communion in DC. A few years later, she worked for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian administrator, proudly serving her country until 2005. Anna then moved to Manassas, VA where she joined the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church and enjoyed a peaceful retirement. Anna was devoted to her sisters, brothers, sons, grandkids, great grandkids, nieces, nephews, and her cats. She was a Gold Star family member, having lost her oldest brother Walter in WWII over Germany in December 1944, and instilled in her sons an appreciation of the sacrifices made by generations of veterans. Anna volunteered to support wounded veterans from Vietnam, and later volunteered at a neo-natal clinic that specialized in handling babies in distress. She loved nature in general, trees and animals in specific, especially the smaller, more vulnerable ones. Anna was a church choir singer all her life, singing alto, and often singing around her house just because she loved it. In her later years, Anna resumed her love for needlework, joining her church’s knitting circle. Anna joins her parents, Annie and Walter, her siblings, Celeste, Dot, Kathleen, Gaston, Jean and Walt II, and her eldest son, Donald Duane Beachem. She is survived by her sister Carolyn, her sons, Francis Neal Beachem (wife Gail), and Thomas Andrew Beachem; Granddaughter, Michelle Ashley Beachem; Great-Granddaughter Allison Jordyn Welch; and many more loving family members and friends. A funeral service will be held for Anna at 1 PM on Thursday, November 10th at Trinity Episcopal Church, 9325 West Street, Manassas, Virginia 20110. Burial will follow immediately after at 2:30 PM at Manassas Cemetery, 9317 Center Street, Manassas, Virginia, 20110. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating in loving memory of Anna Perry Beachem to: Prince William SPCA: https://pwspca.org/donate/ Audubon Society of Northern Virginia: https://www.audubonva.org/donate

Anna Perry Beachem

October 18, 1934 - October 24, 2022