Elizabeth (Farmer) Beville was the wife of Richard Payne Beville. She was born in Mineral, Va., one of twenty children of the late Mr. John Jasper Farmer and the late Mrs. Dorothy (Coleman) Farmer.
Elizabeth was a member of St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, Allentown. In her faithfulness to God, she taught Sunday School, served as president of the Missionary Society for ten years, Chairperson for the Annual Women’s Day, member of the Willing Workers Society, Church Choir, founder of the Zionettes and the Pearls of Joy Choirs, Church Organist and promoter of the annual “This Is Your Life” Awards Banquet and a recipient of the Rev. H. Taylor Award.
Elizabeth was a past member of the Executive Board of the Allentown Council of Churches and a committee member of the Council’s food program of the Lehigh Valley. She was also the Superintendent of the Buds of Promise Children’s Missionary Society.
Elizabeth’s civic duties included serving as a past member of the Allentown Y.W.C.A. Executive Board and held a present membership at the Allentown Branch, former president of the Allentown Chapter N.A.A.C.P. She was the past and the present Worthy Matron and Treasurer of the Virginia E. Holland Chapter #86, Bethlehem, Pa., member of the Golden Circle of Philadelphia Assembly Chapter #5 and served as a Deputy District Grand Matron of the 4th District, Prince Hall Affiliate, State of Pennsylvania and a volunteer worker for the National Heart, Cancer and Arthritis Funds.