On the 25th day of February of 1928, in the community of Choska Bottom in Oklahoma, a baby girl was born to Hosie and Pearlie Martin. She was named Beatrice and was the first of two lovely daughters.


The family eventually moved from Choska to Red Bird, where Beatrice received her formal education at Miller Washington School.


Due to the death of their mother, their grandmother, Patience Marshbanks assumed the responsibility for their care and rearing. At an early age, Beatrice, who was also known as "Bea", united with the Shiloh Baptist Church, but latermoved her membership to the First Baptist Chruch, where she remained a member until her death. She served the Lord faithfully, singing in the choir, and also a member of the Ladies Missionary Society.


Bea worked as a cook at the Miller Washington School for a number of years, but later became a certified medication aid at the Helen Raney Nursing Home, where she worked for 21 years until she retired in 1986.


Because of her love for family and children, Bea became a mother figure for many children and was affectionately called "Mamma Bea".


After "fourscore years" with us, Beatrice Martin Wells dozed from life to everlasting on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a son.


Remaining to lament her passing and cherish her beautiful memory; two daughters, Shirley Batiste and Bobbie Howard, both of Red Bird, Oklahoma; two sons, Willie [Sondra] Watson, Los Angeles, California and Ronald [Carol] Watson, Wewoka, Oklahoma; a sister, Jessie Mae Houston, Oakland, California; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; her oldest and dearest friend, Bertha Hamilton; along with a host of other relatives and loving friends.

The Tribute will be on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 2:30 PM in the First Baptist Church of Red Bird. Burial will follow in the Red Bird Cemetery.

You may visit Mrs. Wells on Friday from 12 Noon to 7 PM at the funeral home in Muskogee.