Willie Mae Barker Beattie, 89, long-time resident of Jasper, Tennessee, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, in a nursing facility near Florence, Alabama following an extended illness. Mrs. Beattie, affectionately known as "Billie" or "Baby Mae", was born October 26, 1922, in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, the daughter of Mose Easterly Barker and Willie Mae Jernigan Barker. She was the widow of James Fife Beattie, whom she married on June 4, 1949; he died March 29, 1990.

Mrs. Beattie grew up in Jasper, attending the public schools there before graduating from Tennessee Tech in 1944 with a BS in business administration. After college, she returned to Jasper, where she taught school for 32 years, primarily teaching business subjects at Marion County High School. She was active in a number of school-related associations on the local, state and national level.

Mrs. Beattie was also extremely active in a number of hereditary organizations. She was a member of the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as Chapter Regent from 1989-1991, and was also a member of the Prudhomme Fort Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and was a Magna Carta Dame.

Mrs. Beattie was a long-time member of the Jasper Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the choir. She and her husband were active in church, civic and social affairs in Jasper during their lives there.

In addition to her husband, Jim, and her parents, Mrs. Beattie was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Christen Michelson Beattie; and four sisters: Patsy Beene, Lois Hoge, Mildred Barker, and Wyndolyn Schubert. She is survived by her children: Dr. James F. Beattie, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Marie Michelson, of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and David B. Beattie and his wife, Lynne Beattie, of Florence, Alabama; and three grandchildren: James Fife Beattie III, Evan Patterson Beattie, and Leslie McLain Beattie, and several nieces and nephews and many friends.

The family will gather with friends for visitation on Sunday, June 3, 2012, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, Central time, at Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper, followed by graveside services at the Craighead-Hoge Cemetery in Jasper, with the Rev. Carson Fraser officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to the Craighead Hoge Cemetery Fund, c/o David Beattie, 813 Prospect Street, Florence, Alabama 35630 or the Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home, 2019 County Road 394, Killen, Alabama 35645.