A Time To Be Born: Beverly Blakely’s journey began on April 7, 1957 and was born to Odessa and Nathaniel Blakely in Columbus, Ohio. Beverly was an only child.
A Time To Live: Beverly who was fondly known as “Bev” or “Mom B” attended Linden McKinley High School. In 1983, Beverly found herself strung out on drugs and alcohol. Soon she would become homeless and eventually end up in prison. From this experience, Beverly’s ministry was birthed and she formed Christians In The Hood, a non-profit organization geared toward youth intervention. Years later, Christians In The Hood transitioned to The Favor Foundation. In the early 90’s Beverly joined Consolidated Baptist Church where Christians In The Hood was formed. She started a food pantry, coordinated clothing drives, performed outreach, fed the homeless and led a robust prison ministry. Her ministry has touched thousands of incarcerated individuals and people experiencing homelessness over the years and Beverly selflessly gave from her heart. Her motto was Matthew 25:35-36 “For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
In 1988, Beverly married Anthony Smith.
Beverly loved her family. She always had an ABUNDANCE of advice for everyone she encountered and a very compassionate heart. Bev actively participated and worked with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Ohio and worked with mothers whose children live with mental illness.
A Time To Love: Beverly gave birth to 10 children, daughters Salama Holliday, Sarita (Travis) Swinson, Sabrina Pounds, sons Sacar (Quston) Blakely, Salance (Tonya) Blakely Sr., Sashon Blakely, Sa’Ra Blakely and Sawaun Blakely. Preceeded in death by parents Odessa and Nathaniel Blakely, daughter SaKemya Blakely and a son who passed at birth. She leaves to cherish her memory granddaughters Jakeelah (KeeKee) Foxx, Shavayah Courts, Sacasia Blakely, Danielle Williams, Shanelle Williams, Daejah Blakely, Destiny Blakely, DesiRaye Blakely, Rikkyia Pounds, Regan Pounds, Reon Blakely, grandsons Dominic Sanon, Michael Sanon, De’Anta Sanon, Jakeem (AK) Foxx, Jermanie (KD) Dixon, Damonte Latham, Salance Blakely Jr., Roderick Pounds III, and Kenttwon Brown. Beverly was excited to have a great granddaughter Amorra Pounds and was anxiously awaiting her great grandson to be born. She leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends Tina Jordan, Tish Davis and Judy Dyer.
A Time To Depart: Beverly “Bev” Blakely flew softly into the arms of God on Sunday June 20th, 2021, where she finally made it home.
Visitation 12:00pm and Funeral 1:00pm Saturday, July 3, 2021 at Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, 3161 E 5th Ave.
Click Here to View Program
I love you so much I miss her so much I can;t belive she gone and I really do love her so much and yea i miss you
An Angel here on earth. Beverly surely in her works fulfilled God’s purpose in giving of oneself unselfishly to others. The world will not be the same without her. Thank you our Lord in Savior for this Angel, Beverly Blakely.
MOM!
My confidant my soldier, my ride or die chick you are truly an amazing person a thousand words can’t bring you back ( I tried ) either can a million tear ( I cried) Love and Miss you so much than words can say.
My prayers are with Sarita Swindon!!!! Your family…. I know the pain, loss, loneliness of loosing a Mother!!!!! Just know baby girl God has your family. Hold on to each other, cry if you have too… Just know in your weakness God is made perfect!!!! I love you Sarita and I am just a message away!!!!
Mom bev” my best friend and Rollie! Mom you loved me, nurtured me and chastised me as well as been my greatest cheerleader. I will forever miss the way you would call me and the first thing you would say is “LAWRENCE” when you were mad or it was “HEY SWEETIE” or even “VONNIE BOO” lol when you were calm. You were truly a gift to those around you abs I’ll forever cherish the memories we shared! I love you mom!
Just as I am
I accepted Beverly just as she was broken,hurt,angry&confused a grown woman yet a little girl that had to grow up much to fast. Tough on the exterior but a sweetheart inside that would cry in an instance lol Her journey wasn’t easy but she did her best. She loved her children dearly and wanted them to reach their highest potential,even if she had to fuss at them to get them to understand their worth.She bragged&spoke so highly of you all. Salama her first born that helped with her siblings through life’s struggles,Sarita her sounding board available whenever she needed her. Salance she said was like her wanting things in order.Sacar smart&creative,Sabrina quiet sweetheart (her twin)Sashon had her hussle
Rah&Sawaun(Boo)her babies Boo had a way of breaking her down by snuggling up to her.she was proud of her grandchildren as well She called Sarita Tee,Tina,Judy& I her life coaches.When she got upset she would call all of us,we were the calm in her storm.
Judy&Tina were definitely her girls She would always say Judy agree with me lol,I felt Tina was the voice of reason,but would be ready to go if Bev said come get me lol.My sis was a fireball but I understood I couldn’t fight fire with fire she needed the opposite of what she was receiving or dishing out lol ,she would cry after our talks and say thank you,that’s why I called you,I feel better.Lately she was calling to make sure I was coming to Lance wedding,fussing about the dress they wanted her to wear all in the same breath lol.I said Beverly just wear the dress Tonya got good taste in clothing .She said Okkaaayyy Tish with her infectious laugh behind it.Through all the fussing she just wanted the best for you all,She never wanted her Children to go through what she went through.To know her was to love her unconditionally.To see through her faults and see her needs My prayer is that her Children and grandchildren, will continue the work she started with Love determination&with the fire that she embodied.If you Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge him he(God)will direct your path.
I’m going to miss you dearly sis.
Our talks, your infectious laugh,but most of all your heart of Gold.You fought a good fight sis.I can hear the Lord saying well done thy Good and Faithful Servant!!
The battle is over sis you got the victory!!!To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord♥️♥️♥️
Gone but never ever forgotten
Rest in P
He was a very nice person to the family I’m so sorry about your loss
Your mother was a phenomenal woman, who made me laugh so much, who taught me to keep going and stand strong. And a great listening ear. She was my friend and like a mother. Thank you for sharing her. Rest easy momma
When I first met Bev it was at a meeting for prison ministry and ex-offenders. We talked beyond the meeting and discovered that our moms were good friends from church. Bev talked about her life’s ups and downs and how much she loves her children. It was great to be able to share without judgement, it was mutual. Bev then asked me to be a board member for Christians in the Hood and to train for prison ministry. We went to grant writing classes together, spent countless hours separating clothes, delivering meals, disbursing clothing vouchers, scheduling for prison ministry, ex-offender events and seminars. Often times while working out of the basement of what is now New Generations, she would give me this look and I knew that meant it was time for a Church’s Chicken run. Bev and I spent countless hours up and down the highways and in and out of most all of Ohio’s prisons. I will miss our talks, our times of laughing and crying, but what I will miss most about my sister-friend is her love for her family, her authenticity and her infectious passion for everyone thrown away life’s circumstances. Bev was a true leader whose compassion transcended racial, cultural and religious barriers. I will always love my sister-friend Bev. I am keeping each of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Words can never describe the impact your presence & passion has had on my life. You gave me confidence and encoraged me o do things I never thought I would. You were a Ray of light and Hope to me and so many others. To say you’ll be missed is an understatement. Rest on Big Sis. Rest on!
My condolences to the Blakely family, we thank Ms Bev for welcoming us into her family and treating us like her own. We will miss her terribly.
Momma Bev, you are one of my FAVORITE people!! I will miss you so much. Thank you loving me just as iam. I’ll ALWAYS be grateful for you ❤️. Miss you!!
My Dear Cousin,
God made it possible for us to meet. I thank you for being YOU! I am so glad we were able to love and share. I am not there physically but my love is ever present. I will forever remember the laughs and talks. Rest on lady and I know you are in heaven doing your dance…..AND LOOKING GOOD DOING IT! One thing I know is God is real and he takes care of his own. You are not only a angel in heaven but you were one here on earth to many. Your work speaks for itself. To my Cousins….. LIVE….. She gave yall the tools to keep going despite of whatever is in the way. Keeping yall in prayer
Julia Baker
Beverly. You’re amazing. You are one of the kindest and humblest souls I’ve ever met. Whenever I was around you, I left a better version of me. You were uplifting and kind anytime I’d even seen you. You are really an awesome awesome lady. I hope I told you that. I know you always told me I was. You love. You loved the kids and you have earned those wings. Fly to wherever our Lord brings you. I’ll see you soon ❤️ Rest now. I’m mad though. I don’t understand what happened to you? Bye my friend, for now, until we meet again.
What a beautiful tribute to a life well lived. I did not know her, but I get a sense of the great person she was Sleep on cousin and may you be there to greet us when we join you.
I love you soo much Maw maw you will always live thru me you my queen my everything god most definitely received something special I just wish you was here so I can talk to you one more time and see that beautiful smile again Rest in heaven Queen ❤️
longlive my grandma forever in my heart