Rachel Fowlkes Beck, 99

Published 11:49 am Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Rachel Fowlkes Beck, 99, of Danville, Kentucky, died peacefully on March 23, 2025. She was the fifth of seven children born on March 15, 1926, to the late James Nolan Fowlkes and Mame Elizabeth Waggnor Fowlkes. She graduated from Trible High School in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, in 1943.

After graduation, Rachel moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where she kept house and cared for the young daughter of the Burdettes (family friends) while they both worked. Mr. Burdette was the Chief of Police in Knoxville, and one night, he brought home a young policeman for dinner. Rachel and Harrison began to date, and the rest is history. They married in 1945 and soon started a family. Rachel spent her life as a homemaker and beloved mother. She loved to garden, both flowers and vegetables, but her favorite role was always that of mother and grandmother.

Rachel cherished her two children, Alicia Beck (Harry) Nickens of Danville, Kentucky, and James Bradford (Leah) Beck (deceased). She adored her six grandchildren, Kimberly Nickens (Jody) Monaghan of Daleville, Virginia; Cassidee Nickens Wolter of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Bradley Harrison (Ashlee) Nickens of Midlothian, Virginia; Tonya Beck Moore of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Shelley Beck (Todd) Parks of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Dakota Beck (Alvaro) Alvarez of San Diego, California plus her fourteen great-grandchildren. Rachel is also survived by her former daughter-in-law, Glenda Beck, and many dear nieces and nephews.

Rachel is predeceased in addition to her parents by her sisters Alicia Fowlkes, Elizabeth Hallmark, and Patricia Collier; her brothers Joseph, Raymond, and James Fowlkes; and her daughter-in-law Janice Beck.

Special friends include the late Richard John Mills and his children Roxanne Elyse Fiedor, Richard “Rick” James Mills, and Kristine “Kris” Mills (John) Torvik. Her best friend was Amanda Sweeney. They grew up in the same hometown in TN, then rekindled their friendship when they both ended up living in Port Charlotte, FL. One year, the two retired ladies took off from Florida in Amanda’s car, traveled to California and back, spending the night with everyone they knew along the way and eating most of the time out of their cooler. They started their trip with $1,000 each, traveled for a month, saw everybody and everything they wanted to see, and returned home with some money in their pockets.

Rachel had impeccable taste in her appearance and lived a full Christian life, spreading an abundance of joy with those she encountered. Her presence and laughter would light up the room. Since 1992, Rachel’s family has included staff and special friends at San Carlos II, an independent living facility in Port Charlotte, Florida. In 2022, Rachel moved to Danville, Kentucky, to share life with her daughter, Alicia, and son-in-law, Harry. Her face always lit up, and she raised her hands for a kiss when Harry entered the room. Her last year, she enjoyed life with the many friends and staff she loved at McDowell Place of Danville. A special thank you to Margaret Edelen and Terri Weber, who helped care for Rachel the last years of her life; they were wonderful.

She will be remembered for her laughter and giving spirit, her love of playing cards and knitting house shoes, making more than 5,000 pairs to give to family, friends, and others she encountered along the way.

There were too many years for us to feel short-changed, but it’s still hard to give her up.

The family will gather for a Time of Remembrance from 2-4 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at Stith Funeral Home, Danville, Kentucky.

Memorial donations are suggested to Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, 339 W. Lexington Avenue, Danville, Kentucky 40422. For condolences and to share memories please visit www.stithcares.com