Sonya Rae Beasley

After a long fought health battle, Sonya passed on to her heavenly reward surrounded by her friends and family on the morning of Monday, April 10, 2023.

Born September 21, 1957 in West Memphis, AR to Joesph Franklin Cook and Gertrude Alcie Pankey-Cook, she was the oldest of their three children. She attended West Memphis High School and later graduated from business college with an Associates in Accounting.

On January 7, 1978 she married the love of her life, Johnnie Keith Beasley and they remained married for 43 years until his passing in 2021.

Preceded in death are her parents, brothers, and her beloved, Keith.

Sonya is survived in death by her daughter, Jonica Lynn Hope, her son-in-love, Michael Hope, grandchildren, Abby and John Michael Hope, all of Nixa, MO, sister-in-love, Frances Pike and nieces, Sharon Beasley and Sarah Estrada of Marion, AR.

When younger, Sonya always enjoyed being outdoors fishing with Keith, working in her flower beds, crocheting, cooking, sewing, cheering Jonica on at the softball field and in band and hosting family and friends in her home. As a true Southern Belle, hospitality was her spiritual gift.

In her later years you could find her spoiling Abby and John Michael. One of her fondest memories of their childhood was playing the role of “the crazy old lady” who would leave treasures behind for them to find at her home. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and even in her last days her concern for their welfare was always at the forefront of her mind.

In retirement and after the passing of her beloved, Sonya developed a love of traveling. If it were up to her, she would have kept Jonica and Michael on the road. She discovered the beach and Disney World. She was always thinking of places to go and projects to keep her “favorite son-in-law” busy doing.

In passing, she showed dignity, grace and bravery that surpasses all human understanding. Her dying worries were always Jonica, the kids, and their welfare.

Sonya was a woman of faith, and even though her health prohibited her activity at Cherry Street Baptist Church, that faith never wavered, even in her final breath which reflected her life verse, Hebrews 11:1, “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

Sonya will be deeply missed, and her family looks forward to reuniting with her in eternity.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at Cherry Street Baptist Church. Burial will be at Eastlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Cherry Street Baptist Church for the building fund to further the spread of the gospel both locally and around the world.