CHERRYVILLE - Martha Alice Taylor Beam, 78, of 702 Queens Road, died June 8, 2009 at Carolina Medical Center, Charlotte, born June 7, 1931 in Lincoln County a daughter of the late Charles Lester and Velma Hicks Taylor. She was retired from Carolina Freight Carriers with 42 years of service. Martha was a member of First Baptist Church, Cherryville, member of the Lion’s Club, member of the Eastern Star of Cherryville Chapter 156 and a member of the Red Hat Society.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Graham Richard “Major” Beam in 1990, a brother, James Edwin Taylor and a sister Nella Ruth Taylor.

Survivors include a brother Paul Taylor and wife Lynette of Lexington, SC, a sister Ann Leatherman and husband Carl of Cherryville and numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved cat “Pumkin“.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Cherryville at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, June 11, 2009 with Dr. Vince Hefner officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 1:45 at the church prior to the service. Burial in Cherryville, City Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 301 East First Street, Cherryville, N.C. 28021 or Shriners Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, NC 29605.

* Condolences may be sent to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net