Beula Wynne Love

Beula Wynne Love, 84, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Funeral services will be June 9, 2007 at the Broadview Baptist Church at 2:00 pm. Officiating will be Brothers David Cason, Jack Ridlehoover, and Greg Rake. The family will be receiving friends Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Beula was born on July 19, 1922 to Beula Wynne and William Henry Love in Terrell, Texas. She was well known and loved for her exceptional work in various fields of child advocacy. Beula graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from TSCW now Texas Women's University in Denton, TX. She first worked with children as a school teacher in Tucumcari, New Mexico where she remained for eight years. As part of the completion of her certification in Social Work, she began work as an intern at the Abilene-Taylor County Child Welfare office in February 1952. She remained there for several years before leaving to complete her Masters of Science in Social Work which she received from the University of Texas in 1960. Beula returned to Abilene where she assumed the position of Supervisor of the Abilene-Taylor County Child Welfare Unit where she remained for a total of twenty-nine years. Upon retirement she established Therapeikos, a Christian counseling and adoption agency, with her close friend and former Regional Supervisor of Texas Department of Welfare Services, Frances Lewis. She continued her work at Therapekios for fourteen years and continued private counseling until her death. Throughout her career Beula received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Liberty Bell award by the Abilene Young Lawyers Association, the Pathfinders award for public service, Lifetime Achievement by the National Association of Social Workers and dedication of the CPS Bluebonnet Room in her honor. Throughout her life Beula exemplified a servant's heart. She touched countless lives through her compassion, selflessness, dedication and was greatly respected for her high ethical standards and Christ-like service. Beula was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Billie Majors and Sarah "Sallie" Smith. She is survived by nieces; Linda Love Matlack and Michelle Gatton; a nephew, Bill Majors; three cousins, Joanne Breeden, Rosemary Alderdice, and Jim Bob Wynne. She is also survived by Oran, Jo, Greg, Molly and Joel Rake; Cindy DeBusk, Travis Jones, Gail Scruggs and family; Virginia Gilbert, Lou Jean Swindell, Gloria Robertson and their families; Sylvia Ptak, Tonya DuPont, Joy Taylor, Maria Watson, Bill and Denise Guidera and many other beloved family and friends. Therapeikos was derived from the Greek word therapeia, meaning healing, helping and caring which embodied Beula's life. Special thanks to Beula's close companions; Leta Marsh, Patti Greenfield, Peggy Colosimo, Maria Berry, Tina Watson, Mary Charles Dixon, Tempi Kirk, and Home Instead sitters. She often took care of children herself for extended periods of time until they could be placed in homes, and welcomed unwed mothers into her home as she saw them through the birth and adoption process. Oran Rake, Bill Majors, Gary Scruggs, Joel Rake, Bill Hocking, Travis Jones, Ralph Katon and Jimmy Bardin will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to: Broadview Baptist Church-Building Fund, 2500 S. 27th, Abilene, TX 79605, Christian Community Development Corp-Our House of the Big Country, 1609 River Oaks, Abilene, TX 79605, or Pioneer Baptist Church-missions office, 701 Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605.