Beulah Fordham

Beulah Mae (Collins) Fordham, 93, died January 29, 2018 in Brenham.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Eben-Ezer Lutheran Church, with Pastor Ken Weiss officiating. A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wharton, Texas at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018.

Beulah Mae Collins was born at home in Smith County near Tyler, Texas on June 3, 1924 to Mary Temperance (Foshee) Collins. She was baptized in a lake near her country church. Later, she was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Wharton. Beulah also taught Sunday School to her younger friends there.

She completed 11 years of school and was given a minor’s release to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone as an operator. Later, she trained operators during WWII.

She met Dewitt Talmage Fordham, who was a friend of her brother, Hudson Collins, in Elementary School. Beulah and Tally were married February 15, 1945 in Dublin, Georgia. She was an operator in Georgia and Tally was helping set up a new hospital. Tally left again for the war.

Beulah and Tally moved to Wharton to work for Jim C. Locke Co. and finally at this time, their only child, Mary Sue, was born.

Beulah had many jobs: Southwestern Bell operator, Wharton Manor Nursing facility in Medical Records, Activities Director, Resident Files, and Ombudsman for the State. She loved working with people.

She was involved in her community, with memberships in the Order of the Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Advisor for Rainbow Girls, officer on the church council, and chairperson of the Memorial Co.

After Beulah and Tally retired, they moved to Brenham, and she became an Ombudsman for the Council of Aging in Texas.

After 17 years, she retired from RSVP and from the Council on Aging due to her health. Beulah was loved by many, and will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Sue and Edward Longhofer, Jr., both of Brenham; grandchildren: Damian M. and Tiffany L. Rasmussen; great-grandchildren Taylen L. Rasmussen, as well numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Tally Fordham, and son-in-law, Leonard Rasmussen.

Honorary pallbearers are Keith Bram, Raymond Bram, Carl Collins, and Hal Collins.

Funeral arrangements for Beulah Fordham are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.