Viola Beatrice (Bea) Akers

  General Notes:

Bea worked for a dentist and then the Water, Gas, and Electric Co. in Danville, VA. She lived with and took care of Lula Belcher Adkins in Lula's home at 485 West Main Street. Lula was her aunt but they became good friends and companions.
When Lula had to give up her home Bea continued to live in Danville until her retirement in 1985 and then went to live with her sister Thelma at the Montgomery Family home place near Rocky Mount, Franklin Co., VA. Health concerns brought about a move from the home place in 2004. In March 2004, several months before the decision to move, this researcher spent a day at the farm visiting with Thelma and Bea. They were delightful and shared many family pictures and stories.

In 1940 Bea and her sister Thelma are living in Danville, VA with their uncle, Ben Belcher ... see general notes on Benjamin L. Belcher for 1940 census facts.

Danville City Directories continue to list Bea as living at 709 Jefferson, with her uncle Ben Belcher until the 1947 Danville City Directory records her living at 485 West Main. That is when she went to live with, care for, and be a companion to her widowed aunt Lula Belcher Adkins.
The 1947 Danville City Directory records
Beatrice Akers dental asst Dr. Robt N Harper r485 W Main
The 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, and 1960 Danville City Directories all list Bea the same as above. Bea indicated to this researcher in a 2004 interview that she lived with her Aunt Lula at 485 West Main Street in Danville from 1946 until 1971.

Obituary Published in Roanoke Times from September 26 to September 27, 2012
Beatrice Akers, 96, of Boones Mill, formerly of Danville, died Tuesday, September 25, 2012. She was born February 4, 1916, a daughter of the late Peter and Sally Belcher Akers, and was also preceded in death by her sisters, Eleanor Bowling, Thelma Montgomery, and Ruby Prillaman; and brothers, Weldon Akers and P.D. Akers Jr. Surviving are her sister, Merle Prillaman, of Roanoke; brothers, John Herbert Akers of Culpeper, and E.C. Akers, of Blue Ridge; special nephew, Robert B. Montgomery and wife, Jean; numerous other nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. Miss Akers was a member of Boones Mill Christian Church and the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Funeral services will be conducted from Boones Mill Christian Church 2 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2012. Interment will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Boones Mill Christian Church Building Fund, 7950 Grassy Hill Road, Boones Mill, VA 24065. Her family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.