On April 21, Oxford Academy hosted a Celebration of Life in the MPR for beloved math teacher Mrs. Jeanne Beckett, who passed away on March 22 at 79 years old.
Colleagues, friends, family, and students spoke in tributes to Mrs. Beckett at the celebration, reminiscing on their relationships with her and how she touched their lives. Video compilations also played, showcasing photos and memories throughout her life.
“[Mrs. Beckett] was one of those people you instantly felt you knew forever. That’s a magical friendship you’re lucky enough to get once in your lifetime. I hope to set the tone for today’s events just like [the lyrics to] one of her favorite songs, ‘[Take me home,] country roads. May all our memories gather around her.’ Although this song is referencing West Virgnia, if you knew Mrs. Beckett, she was the epitome of West Virginia. One of my first connections with Mrs. Beckett was in 2020 [when we] realized she went to the same high school as my mom. We discovered and connected two amazing West Virginia hearts that made each other whole on this West Coast. They continued to exchange interactions, gifts, and notes the last four years. If anyone knew Jeanne, she was the queen of those gifts,” Principal Amber Houston said.
“Jeanne was much more than a colleague. She was a dear friend, a mother figure to many of us on campus. She was always the first to celebrate the joys, the first to lend a hand and prayers in times of pain and despair. Our Thursday bridge lunches were less about card games but more about connections, supporting one another, laughing, and sharing life. She believed faithfully in lifting each other, especially as women. The ladies’ luncheon was one of her favorite ways to celebrate that spirit,” fellow math teacher Ms. Susie Min said. “Of course, she cared just as much for our male colleagues, always making sure that her room was stocked with chocolates, water, and soda for everyone who stopped by. That was Jeanne, always being there for others and thinking of others.”
“She’s always been such an amazing person. Her heart was always full of love, but the best part is knowing she gave it all for you, and it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if it came back; it didn’t matter if it left. But what mattered is she gave it. And I remember her telling me one time, ‘Just love like that; give it to the students and continue to be that light for them [because] they need it,’” a former student of Mrs. Beckett’s from Anaheim High School and AUHSD Senior Administrative Assistant David Alcala said.
“Despite our cluster dissolving, Mrs. Beckett never failed to remind us we had a safe space there. She always let us know we were loved and cared for, and during cluster, she gave us a space where the stresses of the day could be let out. She had a genuine love for all of us, and we could always see it when we entered her room for a cluster party or just popped in to say ‘hi,’” senior and former Becketteer Cluster student Mikayla Mariano said.
“To Mrs. Beckett: You were the kind of teacher who made every student, staff, and teacher feel seen, loved, and cared for. What meant the most were the conversations you shared in those small moments. You always welcomed me with kindness in your eyes and warmth in your voice. Talking to you felt like a breath of fresh air because you listened without judgment and spoke with so much heart. You had a way of making people feel better just by being around you,” former Becketteer Julissa Boykin, a senior, said. “You were a giver, a comforter, and an amazing human being. I’ll always be grateful for the little moments we shared together, and I promise to carry your kindness with me. Your presence will always be remembered. Thank you for being a special part of our school family.”
Mrs. Beckett’s Becketteers performed a tribute of her favorite song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver in her memory.
The ceremony concluded outside of Mrs. Beckett’s classroom, where attendees were given roses, Mrs. Beckett’s favorite flower, and wrote cards that were given to her family. A rose garden has also been planted in her honor outside of her classroom, displaying her favorite types of roses: pink Queen Elizabeths, red Firefighters, and yellow Peaces.
“Jeanne’s Garden” began as Mrs. Beckett’s 80th birthday wish and gift, and it stands as “a lasting celebration of the beautiful memories of love she planted in all of us,” Mrs. Houston said.
“I hope you’ll think of her each time you pass by [the garden]; let [it] remind you of her light, her love, and the memories you shared with her. Though she’s no longer with us physically, I know she’s still here in every laugh, every story, and every warm ray of sunshine,” McDonald said. “She’d want us to carry joy in our lives. Hold on to the good times; that’s how she lived and how she’d want us to remember her.”
I will always miss her wisdom, her smiles, and hugs. I miss chatting with her about my day,” Mariano said. “To say I feel blessed to have known Mrs. Beckett is an understatement because having known her, I will forever strive to be as an amazing person as she was. Despite her not being with us anymore, her warmth remains in our hearts and in our memory, which is something we can all be grateful for.”
She was the most incredible person I’ve ever known: kind, compassionate, humble, intelligent, and full of love. She embodied everything I’d hope to become. My grandma had a remarkable way of caring deeply for everyone, regardless of where they came from, always choosing love first. She taught me how to be a good person, how to care for others, and how to find light even in the darkest of times. I was her road trip buddy, shadow on errands, the one walking by her side nad helping her navigate curbs and pushing her in a wheelchair when she needed it. She always made me feel seen and supported, paying attention to my interests and surprising me with things she knew I loved,” McDonald said.
A full video of the Celebration of Life is available on OATV.
