TIFTON — Farris Laverne “Sally” Evans Beaumont, 81, of Tifton died at her residence Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church with Father Alfonzo Gutierrez and Deacon J. Brian Bergeron officiating. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jake Dunn, Garner Stephens, Eric Dunn, John Michael Beaumont, David Huggins, Josh French, Frank Fegel and Christian Fast.

Born on May 25, 1928 in Hawthorne, Fla., Mrs. Beaumont was the daughter of the late Albert Edward Evans and Alzade Hayman Evans. She was also preceded in death by two brothers and a sister-in-law, Leon Evans and Alvin H. and Lyndol Evans; a nephew, Al H. “Dan” Evans Jr.; and an infant daughter, Barbara Sue Beaumont. Mrs. Beaumont grew up in Hawthorne, Fla., where she served as the organist at the Hawthorne United Methodist Church beginning at the age of 12 and was the valedictorian of her senior class. She first studied music at the Maryville College in Tennessee and then was a member of the first co-educational class to attend the University of Florida where she majored in music. She was a lifelong Florida Gator fan.

Music would guide her life, as she started her career in radio broadcasting as a pianist during the days of live radio shows, while working with her brother, Al H. Evans, at radio stations in Savannah, Swainsboro, Fitzgerald and Perry. At the Swainsboro radio station, WJAT, she met her husband, the late Joe Beaumont, whom she married Dec. 13, 1951. They moved to Tifton in 1954 to join Ralph and Evelyn Edwards at WWGS radio station where they both worked and were known for their live radio shows and remote broadcasts for many years.

Mrs. Beaumont will be remembered for her love of and ability to play Big Band era music at social functions, as well as having played the piano and organ for decades at various chorus and talent shows, beauty pageants, graduations, theatrical productions, political functions, weddings and funerals. In addition to having served as a piano instructor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, she also taught private piano lessons in her home to many local students. She faithfully served as the organist and choir director at the Our Divine Savior Catholic Church for nearly 50 years. In 1976, the Beaumonts took over the operation of the Tiftarea Funeral Home, now Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors, where she served as the office manager and staff organist for many years. She was a member of the American Legion Post 21 and the VFW Post 5220 auxiliaries, where she enjoyed playing bingo. She loved animals, spending time at their home in Steinhatchee, Fla., playing bridge and attending the McDonald’s Morning Coffee Club.

Survivors include her children, Mary B. and Tom Wynn of Fitzgerald, Gina B. and Dewey Mosher III of Savannah and Mike and Lori Beaumont of Tifton; one sister-in-law, Barbara B. Hunter of Largo, Fla.; grandchildren, Jake Dunn, Garner and Stacey Stephens, Emily and David Huggins, Eric Dunn, John Michael Beaumont, Diane and Josh French, Dawn and Frank Fegel, Christina Mosher, Casey Mosher and Chloe Mosher; three great-grandchildren, Layla Dunn, Mikey Garvin and Isabella Cowart; best friends, Ken and Margo Martin of Tifton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Linda Gray and her staff for the personal care that they have given “Miss Sally” during the past months. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Tifton-Tift County Animal Shelter, 278 GA Highway South, Tifton, GA 31794. Online condolences may be expressed at albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com. Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.