Ora Rachel Hudson Beeland, 82, died Sunday, September 29, 2019 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson after a nearly month-long battle with Cryptococcal Meningitis. Beeland was born on November 5, 1936 to Herbie C. and Delia Mae Hudson in Sebastopol, MS and has lived in Newton for the past 64 years.

Rachel married the love of her life, Harmon Drexil "Joe" Beeland on September 10, 1954. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. She was a retired bookkeeper, financial adviser, and dedicated community servant.

A member of First Baptist Church in Newton, she served as secretary of her Sunday School Class, was a member of the Senior Adult Choir, LLL past president and program committee member, as well as a member of the Bereavement Committee, and the Hospitality Committee.

Beeland was a past president of the Newton Chamber of Commerce where she was named Newton's Outstanding Woman of the Year in 2002. She was also a member of the Newton Theatre Company where she served as artistic director, and was a past cast member, president, vice president, director, and helped with props and costumes.

Beeland was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, James Marion Hudson. She is survived by her husband Joe, as well as three sons, Gary, and wife Jane, of Madison; Tim, and wife Danny, of Sebastopol/Ross Barnett Reservoir; Richard, and wife Holley, of Chattanooga, and a brother Bill, and his wife Edie, of Terry. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Heather Massaro of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Ashley Hardcastle, of Frisco, Texas; Rachel-Johanna Beeland of Jackson; and Harper and Ruth Beeland of Chattanooga, as well as six great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at First Baptist Church Newton and from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the church with Dr. Brian Rushing and Bro. Randy Cuchens officiating. Burial will follow in Newton County Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Tony Beeland, Danny Beeland, C.L. Mann, Brian Mann, Kerry Gaines, William Emmons, Charles Godwin,  and Johnny Hudson.

Memorials can be made to Newton Theartre Company, P.O. Box 956, Newton, MS  39345 or First Baptist Church, Newton.