Mike Levin: “Bill leaves his beloved mother, Gertrude; his wife Mattie, their two children, Monica and Jeffrey; Bill's three older…”

“Bill leaves his beloved mother, Gertrude; his wife Mattie, their two children, Monica and Jeffrey; Bill's three older sons, William, III, Jonathan, and Reverend Eric Beckham; his two sisters Connie Evans and Elaine Beckham of Florida; his brother Charles of Detroit; seven grandchildren, and innumerable friends. Together we will celebrate his life and cherish his memory. In closing, I would like to share with my colleagues an article which appeared in the Detroit Free Press the day after Bill's funeral. The article includes the very moving sentiments expressed by Monica Beckham about her father as well as expressions of others who were touched by Bill's generous spirit. I ask that the article be printed in the Record. The article follows: [From the Detroit Free Press, May 4, 2000] Mourners Praise Beckham's Vision--2,000 at Funeral for Revered Detroit Civic Leader (By Ben Schmitt) William Beckham Jr. had a strategy to get home at a reasonable hour, as he juggled highranking jobs and late speaking engagements. He'd arrived early to evening meetings, empower the audience, gradually make his way toward the back door and vanish. ``How prophetic,'' said Willie Scott, a board member of Schools of the 21st Century, the Detroit school district's grant-funded educational partner. ``It is exactly how he lived and left us.…”