BARBARA AND BUBBA BELOATE
Meet Barbara and Bubba Beloate, husband and wife, who are both vital members of our staff here at Central Church.
Barbara's parents were Ethel and John McMahon. They met in Bowling Green, Kentucky which was Ethel's hometown. Mr. McMahon, who was from Crenshaw, Mississippi, was there attending college on the GI Bill. They married in 1948 and moved to Memphis. They had two daughters. First, Kathy was born in October, 1950, and then Barbara was born on November 19, 1956. Barbara says they were a close loving family, and she and Kathy were blessed to have had very special parents.
Their Dad worked for Dean's Milk Company near Overton Square. He loved his job and worked there for 52 years. He did not retire until he was 80 years old, and only then because he fell and broke his hip. Their Mom worked for the Easter Seals Organization for about 25 years.
When Barbara's mom was pregnant with her second baby (Barbara), she was exposed to a sick child. She asked what was wrong and was told that the child had German measles. Barbara says, "My Mother just freaked out! She went to the doctor and was told that if she caught the disease, then something could be wrong with her baby, so she was upset and afraid." Her mom did come down with the measles and was very sick. When Barbara was born, everything seemed fine, but as she grew, her family realized she did not respond to sounds. Doctors made an official diagnosis that Barbara was deaf when she was about 18 months old.
Barbara remembers, "When I was four, Mom took me to a new school called the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. It was in Mid-town near our home. I learned to read lips and listen with my hearing aid. I didn't learn to sign. The teachers in that school didn't teach signing. I went there for eight years, graduating in 1968. Then I went to Evangelical Christian School and graduated in 1977." Her school memories include some classmates our readers might recognize - Patty (Cole) Robbins, Anne (Ringer) Clay, Tim Clay, Bill Heinz, and Ellen (Grogan) Olford. Her 5th Grade teacher is another person you will recognize - our PRIME TIME feature writer, Joanne Fite. It is a small world.
Barbara continued her education at Draughon's Business College. She worked part time at the B & M Printing Company. After graduation she worked for the IRS for about one year, then took a job in data entry with the Kroger Company. Then in January, 1980, a mutual friend introduced her to a young man named Bubba Beloate. A week later he asked her out on a date, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Bubba Beloate, a native Memphian, was born August 6, 1956 to Wooten and Lena Beloate. He has three sisters, Frances (Crisler) and Barbara (Spann) who live in Memphis, and Charlene (Williams), who lives in Diamond Head, Mississippi.
Some of Bubba's favorite childhood memories center on fishing. He recalls, "When I was a child, my next door neighbor, Joe, started taking me fishing with him. My dad would go along sometimes too, when he wasn’t working. Joe and I spent many Saturdays fishing together at Arkabutla Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Herb Parson Lake, and even Audubon Park Lake before they closed it to fishing. Joe taught me how to recognize and fish for different species; he taught me patience, and how to respect others. He also gave me a very small Bible that fit in my tackle box. I still have that Bible in my tackle box, but I just can't read the small print now!" He enjoys fishing just as much now, but Barbara says only when it is warm. Bubba admits he is not a fan of cold weather. He also liked to bowl when he was younger and enjoyed that for many years.
Bubba graduated from Overton High School in 1974. He then went on to the University of Memphis and worked for Coca Cola Company.
Then in January of 1980, he met Barbara McMahon and we pick up again on their story. Barbara remembers riding in Bubba's 1970 Mustang and that they went bowling on their first date. Bowling turned out to be something they both enjoyed and they spent many years bowling in leagues together. They dated for a little more than two years and were married on June 12, 1982. Barbara says that she walked down the aisle to stand in front of the pastor with Bubba and then she froze. She remembers, "I couldn't say my vows because I couldn't understand him very well; I spoke so quietly that even my mom couldn't hear me."
After their marriage, Bubba took a job with FedEx and worked there in Customer Service for 16 years. Then he was offered a job at Central Church as a school age coordinator for Children's Ministries. He has continued in Children's Ministry leading Shock Wave for grade school age children on Wednesday evenings, and 3rd & 4th grade Sunday School classes. Four years ago, Bubba took on the position of Operations Manager for the whole church. His years in Customer Service certainly show through in his dedication to helping all of us on staff to work with excellence. Barbara has worked for Central for several years in child care. She worked for the nursery and has been with the Learning Center for 14 years, and is much loved by many, many children.
And how did these two come to know the LORD? Barbara grew up attending First Baptist Church on Poplar. She asked Jesus to be her Savior when she was 12. Bubba was raised in the Catholic Church and as a child he attended St. Anne's on Highland. He was saved when he was 25 years old, about six months before he and Barbara were married. In January of that year, his father took his own life. Bubba says it was a very hard day. His best friend came to talk with him and offer support. He shared the love and comfort we can find in Jesus and lead Bubba to the LORD. Bubba says that the help he received is testimony of how Jesus will help us to go through any circumstances no matter how hard they are.
The Beloates have been married almost 27 years and have two children, a son, Shawn, and a daughter, Kristen. Barbara says that one Sunday when Shawn was six years old and Kristen was 2 months old, Bubba woke her up and said they were going to Central Church. She says they went, met people in a small group and fell in love with the church. "This church helped us learn a lot about GOD. Our children were happy going to church every Sunday and Wednesday. Bubba has been a good husband and father. He made a good decision for us," she stated.
Over the 17 years since they joined Central, the whole family has been involved with Children's Ministry, Camp Tsungani, family trips, Jr./ Sr. High trips and others. Bubba has held the title of Chief Fishing Hawk at Camp Tsungani for 8 years. Their children have literally grown up in Central Church. Shawn is now 23. He graduated from Chrichton College majoring in Biblical Studies. He has been employed with the church since he was a young teenager first as a counselor in training with summer camp, and now in the Learning Center in before and after school programs for school age children. He also teaches a Bible study for College age students on Tuesday nights. He has been on two mission trips outside the U.S. and is studying and praying about his life calling. Kristen, now age 17, is a junior at Collierville High School. She is active in the church youth ministry and volunteers in with KidzCentral in Children’s Ministry. This summer she will go to Guatemala with a church team on her first mission trip.
Bubba has very little spare time but he likes to do yard work and work on cars - at least a little - but fishing is his passion - at least according to his wife. Barbara says her spare time is spent with her family, chatting with her best friend and hanging out with good friends from Central. She likes to play on the computer and relax with some quiet time. Her goal is to travel to the beach, Disney World, and SeaWorld and visit relatives.
Barbara had a remarkable experience that she shared with us. Years ago, her good friend Pam died a week after childbirth. While Barbara was holding Pam's little son, she saw a vision of Pam watching her and smiling. Barbara says that she was wearing a white gown and looked beautiful - like an angel. It brought Barbara peace. Another experience was hearing GODs vo'ice telling her to go to Camp Tsungani - that must have been an amazing experience, especially for a deaf person. She says that GOD has blessed her and has been good to her and her whole family and she thanks HIM every day.
Bubba and Barbara, what a joy it is to get to know you better. The LORD has blessed our church with you and your family. You are living examples of what it means to have a servant's heart and you have brought your children up in the same path. Thank you for your many years of love and service to the children and the congregation of Central Church.
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