Atlanta Constitution December 22, 1903:
FUNERAL OF MOTHER BEASLEY
Woman Who Died Clasping Figure of Virgin Buried.
Savannah, Ga., December 21.—(Special.)
The funeral of Mother Matilda Beasley, the aged French-Indian woman who, as told in the Constitution today, died yesterday morning, with her arms clasped about the image of the Virgin Mary, before which she had crawled in her private chapel to die, took place this morning at 9:30 o'clock from the Sacred Heart church.
Father Gregory, of St. Benedict church, said mass. After the mass Father Aloysius, of the Sacred Heart church, spoke briefly of the life of Mother Beasley. He paid a high tribute to her pious life and charitable work. The pallbearers selected from the Mutual Aid Society of St. Benedict church, by request of Mother Beasley, were W. E. Bullock, T. S. Mitchell, C. F. Derara, Joseph King, William Desverges and James Dowes.
The interment was in the cathedral cemetery.
------------------------------------------
Her first names frequently appears as "Matilda"--as on gravestone, Catholic diocese burial record, and the above newspaper item.
Marble slab has inscription: "Mother Mathilda Taylor Beasley, 1834-1903; First black Religious in Georgia"
On concrete cross for Sister Thergia; founder Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1889; established St. Francis Home, an orphanage for Black children in 1892."
-------------------------------------------
Her marriage to Abraham Beasley took place on February 9, 1869.
Mathilda Beasley, studied to become a nun following the death of her husband (Abraham Beasley died September 3, 1877). She became Georgia's first African-American nun.
"Mother" Beasley established an orphanage for black girls in Savannah in 1887 and founded the first African-American community of religious sisters [Third Order of St. Francis] in Georgia in 1889.
In 1982 a park was dedicated in her honor on the east side of East Broad Street.
A historical marker commemorates Mother Mathilda Beasley O. S. F.: 1707 Bull Street, Johnson Square, in Savannah with this inscription:
Mathilda Taylor was born in 1834 [sic] in New Orleans, and came to Savannah as a young woman. She taught black children in her home before the Civil War, when it was still illegal. She married Abraham Beasley, a successful black businessman, in 1869. After the death of her husband in 1877, Mrs. Beasley journeyed to York England around 1885 to study as a nun, a Poor Clare, a branch of the Franciscan sisters. She returned to Savannah and established an orphanage in 1886 which became the St. Francis Home in 1892. In 1889, Sister Mathilda founded the first group of black nuns in Georgia which were of the 3rd order of St. Francis and became known as ´Mother Mathilda.´ Under her direction, this small order ran the orphanage for several years until it dispersed, Mother Mathilda gained help from the Church for her orphanage and in 1899, took the habit of the Franciscans and continued working at the orphanage. In 1901, she was given a cottage near the Sacred Heart Church to which she had earlier given her husband´s landholdings. She began to sew in her home and give the proceeds to poor blacks. On Dec. 20, 1903, the much beloved ´Mother Beasley´ was found dead kneeling in the cottage´s private chapel. Nearby were her burial clothes, funeral instructions and will. [GHM 025-104 Georgia Historic Marker 1988]
----------------------------------------
Mother Mathilda has been honored as one of Georgia's 'Women of Achievement.'
She has been commemorated with Mother Matilda Beasley Park at 500 E. Broad Street Savannah, GA. (dedicated August 2012)
The Savannah Tribune reported on July 31, 2013 in "Mother Mathilda Beasley House Project":
The County is in the process of relocating the house from its current site, at 1511 Price Street in Savannah, to the Mother Mathilda Beasley Park on East Broad Street. The renovated structure will serve as an interpretative site to commemorate the life and work of Mother Mathilda Beasley
For further information:
The Mother Beasley Society
Sacred Heart Parish
1707 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
------------------------------------
Also in this lot are Marie O. Beasley, and Sister M. Theresa.
------------------------------------
Please send me a notification if you have added an image. Please caption the photo with a source--no stolen images please.
The purported portrait, attached by another contributor in 2020, is often mistaken for Mother Mathilda, this photo almost certainly depicts Josephine Beasley (Georgia Historical Society collection of photographs, MS 1361.) [please see article by Jessica Leigh Lebos: https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/what-would-mother-mathilda-do/Content?oid=6549796]
FUNERAL OF MOTHER BEASLEY
Woman Who Died Clasping Figure of Virgin Buried.
Savannah, Ga., December 21.—(Special.)
The funeral of Mother Matilda Beasley, the aged French-Indian woman who, as told in the Constitution today, died yesterday morning, with her arms clasped about the image of the Virgin Mary, before which she had crawled in her private chapel to die, took place this morning at 9:30 o'clock from the Sacred Heart church.
Father Gregory, of St. Benedict church, said mass. After the mass Father Aloysius, of the Sacred Heart church, spoke briefly of the life of Mother Beasley. He paid a high tribute to her pious life and charitable work. The pallbearers selected from the Mutual Aid Society of St. Benedict church, by request of Mother Beasley, were W. E. Bullock, T. S. Mitchell, C. F. Derara, Joseph King, William Desverges and James Dowes.
The interment was in the cathedral cemetery.
------------------------------------------
Her first names frequently appears as "Matilda"--as on gravestone, Catholic diocese burial record, and the above newspaper item.
Marble slab has inscription: "Mother Mathilda Taylor Beasley, 1834-1903; First black Religious in Georgia"
On concrete cross for Sister Thergia; founder Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1889; established St. Francis Home, an orphanage for Black children in 1892."
-------------------------------------------
Her marriage to Abraham Beasley took place on February 9, 1869.
Mathilda Beasley, studied to become a nun following the death of her husband (Abraham Beasley died September 3, 1877). She became Georgia's first African-American nun.
"Mother" Beasley established an orphanage for black girls in Savannah in 1887 and founded the first African-American community of religious sisters [Third Order of St. Francis] in Georgia in 1889.
In 1982 a park was dedicated in her honor on the east side of East Broad Street.
A historical marker commemorates Mother Mathilda Beasley O. S. F.: 1707 Bull Street, Johnson Square, in Savannah with this inscription:
Mathilda Taylor was born in 1834 [sic] in New Orleans, and came to Savannah as a young woman. She taught black children in her home before the Civil War, when it was still illegal. She married Abraham Beasley, a successful black businessman, in 1869. After the death of her husband in 1877, Mrs. Beasley journeyed to York England around 1885 to study as a nun, a Poor Clare, a branch of the Franciscan sisters. She returned to Savannah and established an orphanage in 1886 which became the St. Francis Home in 1892. In 1889, Sister Mathilda founded the first group of black nuns in Georgia which were of the 3rd order of St. Francis and became known as ´Mother Mathilda.´ Under her direction, this small order ran the orphanage for several years until it dispersed, Mother Mathilda gained help from the Church for her orphanage and in 1899, took the habit of the Franciscans and continued working at the orphanage. In 1901, she was given a cottage near the Sacred Heart Church to which she had earlier given her husband´s landholdings. She began to sew in her home and give the proceeds to poor blacks. On Dec. 20, 1903, the much beloved ´Mother Beasley´ was found dead kneeling in the cottage´s private chapel. Nearby were her burial clothes, funeral instructions and will. [GHM 025-104 Georgia Historic Marker 1988]
----------------------------------------
Mother Mathilda has been honored as one of Georgia's 'Women of Achievement.'
She has been commemorated with Mother Matilda Beasley Park at 500 E. Broad Street Savannah, GA. (dedicated August 2012)
The Savannah Tribune reported on July 31, 2013 in "Mother Mathilda Beasley House Project":
The County is in the process of relocating the house from its current site, at 1511 Price Street in Savannah, to the Mother Mathilda Beasley Park on East Broad Street. The renovated structure will serve as an interpretative site to commemorate the life and work of Mother Mathilda Beasley
For further information:
The Mother Beasley Society
Sacred Heart Parish
1707 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
------------------------------------
Also in this lot are Marie O. Beasley, and Sister M. Theresa.
------------------------------------
Please send me a notification if you have added an image. Please caption the photo with a source--no stolen images please.
The purported portrait, attached by another contributor in 2020, is often mistaken for Mother Mathilda, this photo almost certainly depicts Josephine Beasley (Georgia Historical Society collection of photographs, MS 1361.) [please see article by Jessica Leigh Lebos: https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/what-would-mother-mathilda-do/Content?oid=6549796]
Atlanta Constitution December 22, 1903:
FUNERAL OF MOTHER BEASLEY
Woman Who Died Clasping Figure of Virgin Buried.
Savannah, Ga., December 21.—(Special.)
The funeral of Mother Matilda Beasley, the aged French-Indian woman who, as told in the Constitution today, died yesterday morning, with her arms clasped about the image of the Virgin Mary, before which she had crawled in her private chapel to die, took place this morning at 9:30 o'clock from the Sacred Heart church.
Father Gregory, of St. Benedict church, said mass. After the mass Father Aloysius, of the Sacred Heart church, spoke briefly of the life of Mother Beasley. He paid a high tribute to her pious life and charitable work. The pallbearers selected from the Mutual Aid Society of St. Benedict church, by request of Mother Beasley, were W. E. Bullock, T. S. Mitchell, C. F. Derara, Joseph King, William Desverges and James Dowes.
The interment was in the cathedral cemetery.
------------------------------------------
Her first names frequently appears as "Matilda"--as on gravestone, Catholic diocese burial record, and the above newspaper item.
Marble slab has inscription: "Mother Mathilda Taylor Beasley, 1834-1903; First black Religious in Georgia"
On concrete cross for Sister Thergia; founder Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1889; established St. Francis Home, an orphanage for Black children in 1892."
-------------------------------------------
Her marriage to Abraham Beasley took place on February 9, 1869.
Mathilda Beasley, studied to become a nun following the death of her husband (Abraham Beasley died September 3, 1877). She became Georgia's first African-American nun.
"Mother" Beasley established an orphanage for black girls in Savannah in 1887 and founded the first African-American community of religious sisters [Third Order of St. Francis] in Georgia in 1889.
In 1982 a park was dedicated in her honor on the east side of East Broad Street.
A historical marker commemorates Mother Mathilda Beasley O. S. F.: 1707 Bull Street, Johnson Square, in Savannah with this inscription:
Mathilda Taylor was born in 1834 [sic] in New Orleans, and came to Savannah as a young woman. She taught black children in her home before the Civil War, when it was still illegal. She married Abraham Beasley, a successful black businessman, in 1869. After the death of her husband in 1877, Mrs. Beasley journeyed to York England around 1885 to study as a nun, a Poor Clare, a branch of the Franciscan sisters. She returned to Savannah and established an orphanage in 1886 which became the St. Francis Home in 1892. In 1889, Sister Mathilda founded the first group of black nuns in Georgia which were of the 3rd order of St. Francis and became known as ´Mother Mathilda.´ Under her direction, this small order ran the orphanage for several years until it dispersed, Mother Mathilda gained help from the Church for her orphanage and in 1899, took the habit of the Franciscans and continued working at the orphanage. In 1901, she was given a cottage near the Sacred Heart Church to which she had earlier given her husband´s landholdings. She began to sew in her home and give the proceeds to poor blacks. On Dec. 20, 1903, the much beloved ´Mother Beasley´ was found dead kneeling in the cottage´s private chapel. Nearby were her burial clothes, funeral instructions and will. [GHM 025-104 Georgia Historic Marker 1988]
----------------------------------------
Mother Mathilda has been honored as one of Georgia's 'Women of Achievement.'
She has been commemorated with Mother Matilda Beasley Park at 500 E. Broad Street Savannah, GA. (dedicated August 2012)
The Savannah Tribune reported on July 31, 2013 in "Mother Mathilda Beasley House Project":
The County is in the process of relocating the house from its current site, at 1511 Price Street in Savannah, to the Mother Mathilda Beasley Park on East Broad Street. The renovated structure will serve as an interpretative site to commemorate the life and work of Mother Mathilda Beasley
For further information:
The Mother Beasley Society
Sacred Heart Parish
1707 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
------------------------------------
Also in this lot are Marie O. Beasley, and Sister M. Theresa.
------------------------------------
Please send me a notification if you have added an image. Please caption the photo with a source--no stolen images please.
The purported portrait, attached by another contributor in 2020, is often mistaken for Mother Mathilda, this photo almost certainly depicts Josephine Beasley (Georgia Historical Society collection of photographs, MS 1361.) [please see article by Jessica Leigh Lebos: https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/what-would-mother-mathilda-do/Content?oid=6549796]
FUNERAL OF MOTHER BEASLEY
Woman Who Died Clasping Figure of Virgin Buried.
Savannah, Ga., December 21.—(Special.)
The funeral of Mother Matilda Beasley, the aged French-Indian woman who, as told in the Constitution today, died yesterday morning, with her arms clasped about the image of the Virgin Mary, before which she had crawled in her private chapel to die, took place this morning at 9:30 o'clock from the Sacred Heart church.
Father Gregory, of St. Benedict church, said mass. After the mass Father Aloysius, of the Sacred Heart church, spoke briefly of the life of Mother Beasley. He paid a high tribute to her pious life and charitable work. The pallbearers selected from the Mutual Aid Society of St. Benedict church, by request of Mother Beasley, were W. E. Bullock, T. S. Mitchell, C. F. Derara, Joseph King, William Desverges and James Dowes.
The interment was in the cathedral cemetery.
------------------------------------------
Her first names frequently appears as "Matilda"--as on gravestone, Catholic diocese burial record, and the above newspaper item.
Marble slab has inscription: "Mother Mathilda Taylor Beasley, 1834-1903; First black Religious in Georgia"
On concrete cross for Sister Thergia; founder Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1889; established St. Francis Home, an orphanage for Black children in 1892."
-------------------------------------------
Her marriage to Abraham Beasley took place on February 9, 1869.
Mathilda Beasley, studied to become a nun following the death of her husband (Abraham Beasley died September 3, 1877). She became Georgia's first African-American nun.
"Mother" Beasley established an orphanage for black girls in Savannah in 1887 and founded the first African-American community of religious sisters [Third Order of St. Francis] in Georgia in 1889.
In 1982 a park was dedicated in her honor on the east side of East Broad Street.
A historical marker commemorates Mother Mathilda Beasley O. S. F.: 1707 Bull Street, Johnson Square, in Savannah with this inscription:
Mathilda Taylor was born in 1834 [sic] in New Orleans, and came to Savannah as a young woman. She taught black children in her home before the Civil War, when it was still illegal. She married Abraham Beasley, a successful black businessman, in 1869. After the death of her husband in 1877, Mrs. Beasley journeyed to York England around 1885 to study as a nun, a Poor Clare, a branch of the Franciscan sisters. She returned to Savannah and established an orphanage in 1886 which became the St. Francis Home in 1892. In 1889, Sister Mathilda founded the first group of black nuns in Georgia which were of the 3rd order of St. Francis and became known as ´Mother Mathilda.´ Under her direction, this small order ran the orphanage for several years until it dispersed, Mother Mathilda gained help from the Church for her orphanage and in 1899, took the habit of the Franciscans and continued working at the orphanage. In 1901, she was given a cottage near the Sacred Heart Church to which she had earlier given her husband´s landholdings. She began to sew in her home and give the proceeds to poor blacks. On Dec. 20, 1903, the much beloved ´Mother Beasley´ was found dead kneeling in the cottage´s private chapel. Nearby were her burial clothes, funeral instructions and will. [GHM 025-104 Georgia Historic Marker 1988]
----------------------------------------
Mother Mathilda has been honored as one of Georgia's 'Women of Achievement.'
She has been commemorated with Mother Matilda Beasley Park at 500 E. Broad Street Savannah, GA. (dedicated August 2012)
The Savannah Tribune reported on July 31, 2013 in "Mother Mathilda Beasley House Project":
The County is in the process of relocating the house from its current site, at 1511 Price Street in Savannah, to the Mother Mathilda Beasley Park on East Broad Street. The renovated structure will serve as an interpretative site to commemorate the life and work of Mother Mathilda Beasley
For further information:
The Mother Beasley Society
Sacred Heart Parish
1707 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
------------------------------------
Also in this lot are Marie O. Beasley, and Sister M. Theresa.
------------------------------------
Please send me a notification if you have added an image. Please caption the photo with a source--no stolen images please.
The purported portrait, attached by another contributor in 2020, is often mistaken for Mother Mathilda, this photo almost certainly depicts Josephine Beasley (Georgia Historical Society collection of photographs, MS 1361.) [please see article by Jessica Leigh Lebos: https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/what-would-mother-mathilda-do/Content?oid=6549796]
Inscription
In Memory of
Matilda
Beasley
R . I . P.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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