Tamara Beale Gwathmey went home to be with Lord on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 6pm. She was born on October 11, 1954 at Ft.Monmouth US

Army Hospital in Eatontown, New Jersey to her father,Sgt. William Mack Beale, and mother Arvis Marie Powell. Tamara received her early

education overseas in Germany and later graduated high school as an honor roll student at John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk Va. After high

school, she worked at the now Sentara Obici Hospital. She accepted Jesus Christ in early adult life, singing in the choir and continued to cultivate

her relationship with Christ over the years while spreading his love and joy to those she met. In the mid-1970s she moved to Harrisburg, PA to

work at the State Department of Commerce. Beginning as the Planning Unit Secretary, she then became the Appointment Secretary/Receptionist

in the Executive Office of the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. During December 1980, she met her future soulmate Spencer G.

Gwathmey. They were married on February 18, 1981 at St Paul Baptist Church, after which she moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia. From 1981

to 1984 she served in a secretarial position for the Virginia State Department of Housing and Community Development. After giving birth to her

second child, Tamara  decided to stay home fulltime. She enjoyed her young family and was an excellent housewife and mother and

businesswoman, simultaneously running Gwathmey Galleries, which showcased her impeccable skills as a seamstress and one-of-a-kind designer.

In the late 1980s she dedicated her time and efforts to young children as a teacher at her church's daycare facility Word of Life Childcare and

Learning Center in Henrico, Va. She was also an active member of the Ratcliffe Elementary PTA holding various offices. Desiring to re-enter the

workforce in the area of finance, she worked briefly at Consolidation Bank & Trust. Then in 1993, Tamara began working for Henrico County Public

Schools as a Payroll Office Assistant.

In 2012, she began working part time as one of the first employees of the Husqvarna Viking Sewing Gallery inside Joann fabrics in Richmond's

West End, in addition to being promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Finance/CFO. She held

that position until her retirement in 2015 (after serving over 20 years in HCPS).

Tamara's love for God and people, coupled with her multiple gifts and talents allowed her to touch the lives of many people. As her artistry

grew, she became a full-fledged fiber artist, and expanded her sewing business to launch Diamonds of Praise in 2006. The new venture not

only specialized in custom sewing designs but also embroidery, fabric designs, machine and hand knitting, crochet, and jewelry design.

She was also a member of fiber arts groups including the Richmond Knitters Group, Black Girls Knitting Group, and Paddington Knitting

Group. Many projects included work which was donated to babies in local NICUs, the elderly in nursing facilities and those in homeless

shelters.Her administrative skills also empowered her to serve in secretarial/financial roles in the ministries of which she was a member,

including Word of Life Assemblies of God, Better Covenant Christian Ministries and Christ Ascension International. In 2006, she and her

family joined Mount Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries where she then spent the last 10+ years serving, designing, creating, and

mentoring in her beloved Helps Ministry of Anointed Hands. Tamara was predeceased by her father, William Mack Beale, mother,

Arvis Marie Powell, grandfather Purvis W. Powell, grandmother, Eva Powell, and eldest sister, Kassandara Madison. Tamara leaves to

cherish her memories: her stepmother, Renate Beale, husband Spencer, daughter Tessa, son Israel (Kimberly), stepson Lamont (Natasha), three

grandsons Darnell, Mason, Julian; eight granddaughters Jazmine, Ashanti, Nylah, Eden, London, Zoe, Ava and Nina; three greatgrandchildren,

Kailey Destinee Connor, Dreya Nicole Connor, and Kylah Da'nae Connor; brother Andre (Ethel), and sister Arvis Taitt along with her brothers and

sisters-in love, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

She will always be remembered by her beautiful smile, her

hearty laugh, her witty sense of humor, the wisdom she shared

and her non-conventional ministry as an intercessor,

encourager and gifted teacher.

A walk through viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021 at C.W. Edwards Funeral Home, Inc; 16476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia 22427.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries, 2501 Mt. Gilead Boulevard , Richmond, Virginia 23235.

Livestreaming will be available on C W Edwards Funeral Home FACEBOOK page.

Interment will follow in St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 1995 Globe Road, Aylett, Virginia 23009.