Jeanne Berrier Beck

Jeanne Berrier Beck, 99, of Lexington, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Hinkle Hospice House.

Born on September 5, 1926, in Davidson County, North Carolina, Jeanne was the daughter of the late Olin Gilmer Berrier and Bessie Leonard Berrier. After graduating from high school at Welcome School, she received her Associate degree in bookkeeping from Ashmore Business College where she was also a teaching assistant for one year. Known for her dedication and attention to detail, she spent her working years as a bookkeeper for People’s Insurance Co. in Lexington and later for Community Service Station which she owned with her late husband, David Beck.

Jeanne was deeply involved in her community and church. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 3074 and a former member of the Lexington Choral Society. At the young age of 14, she delighted in teaching young children to sing hymns at Beulah United Church of Christ. She went on to form the children’s choir and later faithfully served as director of the adult choir. She was also a Sunday School teacher, and she held leadership roles as both a deacon and an elder.

Jeanne’s love of music was instilled in her by her father, a talented multi-instrumentalist who taught his entire family to play an instrument so they could “roll back the rugs” in the living room and play music together every Sunday evening. Her dad went on to form a well-known square dance band in which Jeanne played piano and her brother, Leonard, played mandolin and “called” the dances. They traveled to many towns and brought joy to their loyal dancers. Jeanne’s father, Olin, also had a “record-cutting machine” to record the music of local musicians, and her job was to stand by the machine and “ball up the wax,” as the records were being made. Those recordings are now in the music archives library at UNC-Chapel Hill. Later on, when she wasn’t playing with the band, she worked at McClellan’s Five and Dime store on South Main Street in Lexington, NC, managing the counter that sold lace and ribbons, and selling sheet music by playing the piano in the store to encourage sales.

We are comforted in knowing that Jeanne is now blissfully playing music with her family as well as reunited with her dearest childhood friend since age 5, Peggy Snider.

In addition to her parents, Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, David Beck; her brother, Leonard Berrier; her sister, Margaret Smith; and her nephew Ward Smith.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Donna Jeanne Beck Michael (Jim Corrigan) of Nashville, TN, her nephews, Len Berrier, and Larry Beck (Terri McDermott Beck), her special cousin Patty Koontz Lookabill (Reggie) and other beloved members of her extended family.

Jeanne loved to help others and was known for her kindness and compassion. A special thank you to the staff of Brookdale Lexington, Jeanne’s home since June, 2019, and to Hinkle Hospice House of Davidson County for their remarkable care and support.

A service celebrating Jeanne’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials to Jeanne be made to Beulah United Church of Christ, PO Box 846, Welcome, NC 27374.

Davidson Funeral Home is honored to assist the Beck family.