Mrs. Beverley Chalk Townsend, age 88, of Lumberton, NC, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 30, 2020. She was born in Richmond, VA on December 12, 1931, to the late Elizabeth Cottrell Chalk and the late Richard William Chalk. She graduated from Greensboro High School, attended Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1953 where she was a member of the Honor Council and Chi Omega sorority.

She married J. LeRoy Townsend, Jr. on June 19, 1954 in Greensboro, NC. Bev and LeRoy settled in Lumberton, where she was active in the community, in addition to being a loving wife and devoted mother to her children. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, where she taught children's Sunday School for 15 years, served on numerous committees, and enjoyed the Women's Fellowship Class. Beverley also served as a board member of the NC Museum of History, Carolina Civic Center, Robeson County History Museum, and was a former trustee of the Robeson County Public Library.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Stephen Chalk Townsend, and her husband of 60 years, LeRoy Townsend, Jr.

She is survived by her children, John L. Townsend III (Maree) of Greenwich, CT, David G. Townsend (Margaret) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Betsy Townsend Smith (David) of Atlanta, GA; seven grandchildren: Merritt Townsend Patridge (Adam), Louise Townsend Duckett (Will), Reilly Catherine Townsend, Mary Lyle Townsend, David Gray Townsend, Jr., Elizabeth Smith Edwards (Scott), and Catherine Smith Bondurant (Ben); and four great-grandchildren: Eleanor Edith Patridge, Claire Merritt Patridge, Eliza Shore Duckett, and Elizabeth Lyle Edwards. Beverley is also survived by her brother, Richard William Chalk (Kay) of Wilmington, NC, and many nieces and nephews.

Her family is grateful to her special friends and caregivers, Nancy Sealey, Betty Locklear, and Candace McMillan, and to the staff at Wesley Pines.

A private memorial service will be held in celebration of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Endowment Fund, 606 N. Walnut Street, Lumberton, NC  28358.