Jennifer Beauford Retiring

The end of this month and year brings the retirement of Jennifer Beauford, due to health reasons. Here is last Sunday's Tenth Press article paying tribute to her.

A Blessed Woman

“That is a beautiful woman.” That was Phil Beauford’s assessment of Jennifer Maddox, eventually to become Jennifer Beauford. Though Phil had in mind what he saw inwardly, no doubt he was thinking of what he saw – an attractive woman who dresses well (especially her hats!), taking care of her appearance.

The appearance of Tenth is something that Jennifer has well taken care of in the fifteen years she has served on Tenth’s sexton staff. She is retiring at the end of the month due to physical difficulties, and we will miss the woman’s touch she gives in her care of the church’s facilities. For Jennifer’s work is not characterized simply by “doing a good job cleaning,” but the manner of her labor as a godly woman.

Jennifer really does serve as one serving the Lord. It is him that she seeks above all to please, whatever the job may be. One can see such an attitude in the results, but if you have the pleasure, as we on the staff do, you see it in the way she works. Jennifer doesn’t whistle while she works; she sings! With ear plugs attached, she loves to sing songs of worship to her Lord. She is like a Brother Lawrence, using whatever the time and occasion to commune with God.

When Phil Beauford had his ministry to homeless shelters, Jennifer would often accompany him and sing in the shelters. She not only sings to the music of others, but has written her own songs. That is another joy of hers – to write songs and poems for her Lord.

It would be hard to believe that such joy in the Lord could be in someone who grew up in an abusive home and then endured an abusive marriage. But, as Jennifer explains, “God gave me my life back; God saved me so many times.” Physically and spiritually, Jennifer has experienced God’s salvation.

And truly he has blessed her, as she gladly affirms. Kept from receiving but little education, Jennifer raised three daughters who have graduated from college. Then, she raised her niece Jacqueline as a fourth daughter. Jacqueline is now attending Philadelphia University in the arts program. (Jackie, by the way, also works on the sexton staff, is a Tenth member and deeply devoted to serving her Lord).

God blessed her with a church family. Folks like the Stockdales, who referred Jennifer to Tenth, and the Elliotts have been good friends to her, Tom Elliott serving as her elder. The bright ray in her life was Phil Beauford, her “best friend, motivator and mentor.” From the time of their friendship to their brief marriage, their relationship was a true love story founded in the love of their Savior and Lord. That is why Jennifer is able to carry on even when Phil was taken through cancer. Grief runs deep, but hope in the Lord runs deeper still. That is why you might come across Jennifer singing this song she wrote:

Your grace and mercy brought me through;

I’m living this moment because of you.

Thank You for saving a sinner like me

To tell the world salvation is free.

There were times when I just didn’t do right,

But you watched over me both day and night.

Justice demanded that I should die.

I once was blind, but thank God I can see.

It was your grace and Mercy that rescued me.