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Beulah Cox Moore
1911-
“Ninety-eight is only a
stepping stone to something better,” shared
Beulah Moore with a bedridden woman at her
elder care facility in Buffalo, MO. “When
you’re looking to God, glory is coming.”
Beulah Cox was born on
September 21st, 1911 on the Four
Mont Prairie, in Southwestern Missouri,
settled by her grandparents James R. and Ada
Cox in the 1870’s. Beulah was the eldest
daughter of James E. and Josephine Cox and
drawn into a love of serving others by the
example of her parents and extended family
in the Dallas County area. Her grandparents
established the New Hope Baptist Church,
spreading the teachings and message of the
gospel of Christ. One of the key components
of Beulah’s life was supporting others in
the communities of Southwestern Missouri,
whether through meals, sharing harvesting
chores, canning, quilting bees, or driving
students to school in her father’s 18’
wagon. Beulah loved her childhood centering
on community service and her small one room
school house where she played forward in
Southwestern Missouri’s first girls’ high
school basketball team in 1926. After a
championship game and whirlwind courtship,
Nelson M. Marsh of Louisburg, who’d admired
her skill on the court, won Beulah’s
affection and they were married on December
23, 1928. When the snow melted Nelson and
Beulah moved to California where they were
later blessed with two daughters, Mary in
1930 and Betty in 1935. The Moores
celebrated their 60th anniversary
before the Lord called Nelson home. During
their life together serving others was
Beulah’s trademark.
Depending on your
relationship with this spunky, upbeat,
outspoken Christian woman, you may know her
by Miss Beulah, Bugs, Grandma, Beulah,
Nanny, Mom, or Auntie Bugsy. Regardless,
what you call her, what you do know is that
from the age of six she has walked
hand-in-glove with the Savior of the world,
and makes sure everyone around knows the
gift of grace Christ Jesus offers.
In 1935 after the birth of
her second daughter, Beulah was told a
degenerating illness would confine her to a
wheelchair, if she survived an upcoming
surgery. She told her doctors God had given
her two girls to care for and not only would
she come through the procedure, but be
walking in four weeks. Though using a metal
chair with welded balls for legs, Beulah was
up and moving in a month.
As her recovery progress she
not only cared for her girls, but took in
children to make money for her medical
bills. As these young mothers came, she
asked them what God meant to them and if she
could pray for them. The Great Depression
caused many men to be parted from their
families seeking work where they could find
it and Beulah saw the need to encourage
these single, stressed out ladies, as He had
comforted her.
As these women began spending more time with
Beulah they were lifted by her confidence in
God, the message of hope in Christ, and the
moving of the Spirit to guide them. Many
pews were filled at Bethel Baptist Community
Church in Saticoy as Beulah trusted God to
meet the needs of these young women through
the Gospel message.
When World War II began
Beulah began baking for the troops. She
traveled the old LA Red Line to the major
Pacific theater disembarkation centers in
Pomona and Pendleton. There Beulah sought
out servicemen standing alone without family
to see them off and gave them boxes of
breads and cookies with Scripture cards and
her address. She wrote down their name, and
then asked to pray for them before they
boarded their trains.
“I’ll pray God covers you
with His hand each day. And don’t forget
I’ll always have room for you if you’re ever
here again,” she’d say with a good-bye wave.
During and after the war
Beulah hosted many a service member in her
home. Some on leave, more from Balboa Naval
Hospital recovering from wounds. She kept in
touch with many of the men over the years
and attended weddings and christenings
whenever possible; always making sure she
shared the Gospel with them and their
families. Two of these men and their wives
still keep in contact with her every month,
sixty-seven years after their first meeting.
Years rolled by as Beulah
welcomed three granddaughters and two
great-grandchildren into her arms. It was
then that her focus then returned to the
nursery. Her church and community asked her
to direct these programs and God’s direction
was clear. As moms dropped off their little
ones Beulah challenged these young women
with the Gospel, but she saw a great need to
mentor these young women and began a Bible
began on how to love your husbands and
children.
Transitions in Beulah’s life,
at 95 saw her return to her childhood home
in MO. She was initially restless with the
change, her inability to drive, and lack of
contact with younger women and their
families. I was shocked one day to hear a
note of discouragement in her voice over the
new situations she was facing. Beulah was
not serving and became adrift.
As we prayed a peace settled
over her.
“I know God has a plan
and I have a feeling it is coming just
around the corner.” I smiled at my
grandmother’s determination and confidence
in God to direct and fill her life with His
purpose.
Two days later Beulah found
herself in an elder care facility, wondering
what God had in store. The following Sunday
on the phone she bubbled the answer.
“God has no retirement
plan, Child. He was just relocating me to
where my new assignment was.”
We all need to feel we are
worthy. We desperately yearn to be of
purpose. What joy God gave me, knowing that
He did have a wonderful direction for my
grandmother.
Daily Beulah and her one
hundred year old room mate travel the halls
of her facility reading Scripture, praying,
and singing old hymns. Rarely does a day
pass when someone doesn’t seek her out for
counsel or prayer.
Two weeks ago a woman who
works at the facility approached her
concerning her teenage daughter’s rebellion.
Beulah simply said, “Bring the child in for
a chat.” The woman did and God opened a
window in the teen’s heart.
Beulah began by asking the
girl what she thought of God. As their
conversation progressed, a solid connection
was made between these two ladies, oddly
enough because they were both cheerleaders.
My grandmother in 1925, this teen in 2009.
Last Sunday before I said, hello,
grandmother exploded, “We have a new sister
in Christ!”
My eyes burned and my throat
closed listening to Beulah’s joy. “Oh, to be
used of Jesus. There just isn’t anything to
compare to it in this life. I’m just so
happy the Spirit moved and I got to be there
to see it.”
I’d like to know how many
little ones are in nurseries today because
their moms, grandmas, and even
great-grandmas heard the Gospel of Christ
from Beulah. But it’s enough to know she
never missed a chance to be used by the
Spirit of God.
My daily prayer is that I
will be a willing hand to reach out and draw
others to Jesus, as I’ve seen my
grandmother, do her entire life.
Christine
Howard is a widow, mother, educator,
administrator, and
freelance author. Her published works
include newspaper bylines,
devotionals, educational articles, Bible
studies, book reviews, short
stories, and inspirational pieces. Her
passion is serving women through
hostessing month teas, quilting, leading a
Bible study, and facilitating two
book clubs. She loves to travel, do
historical research, and read.
Christine's goal is to be less and have her
Savior be more.
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