Oxford’s beloved math teacher Mrs. Jeanne Beckett passed away on March 22 at 79 years old.
Mrs. Beckett began teaching 43 years ago, spending the last 24 years at Oxford, teaching Integrated Math 3 and Math 7.
A mathematician from a young age, Mrs. Beckett fell in love with the subject in a high school algebra class — even becoming a National Merit Scholar in 1963. Yet, she initially planned to major in history until her husband Vernon Beckett recommended her to major in math at Texas A&M after noticing her proficiency in solving word problems. Math became a source of joy for her, as she found fun in solving various problems.
“She often said that working through math problems brought her comfort and calm, even during the toughest times. That passion became something she wanted to share with her students — not just the subject, but the peace and confidence it gave her,” fellow math teacher Ms. Susie Min said. “Her limitless patience and gentle guidance were truly a gift to everyone she taught.”
Beyond her love of math, Mrs. Beckett loved her students and devoted herself to helping them in math and outside. Even after Cluster ended, she always kept the door to her final Class of 2025 cluster, Becketteers, welcoming them into her room, ready to catch up.
“For our senior year, even though Cluster ended two years ago, she still had all of our seniors come in every now and then to get goodie bags [with] custom stuff. There’s so many memories in there I’m never gonna forget. She really thought of everything,” Senior Nimal Periasamy said. “She postponed her retirement for our cluster, so that she could watch us graduate before she finally ended her career. I really wish I could have ended the year with her as well, but some things just aren’t in your control. I’m glad that in all the moments I shared with her, I always told her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me, and she really is one of my best memories of Oxford.”
Mrs. Beckett dedicated herself unwaveringly to her students, from never-ending support and encouragement with math problems to lending a shoulder to lean on.
“She created a comfortable and safe environment for everyone to stay in [for cluster and reunions]. I loved being in her room to talk, eat, and just hang out with my friends. It really felt like we were a family,” Senior Riley Tran said.
Oxford is incredibly grateful for her impact and contributions on campus through her warm presence and kindness, which she constantly showed, always offering comfort and support to everyone she talked to.
“When I was struggling with concussion symptoms, she gifted me my dog, Cooper, believing that a therapy/service dog could help me heal. I’ll never forget her saying, ‘Your life will never be the same now with Cooper… in a GOOD way!’ She couldn’t have been more right. Every moment I spend with Cooper reminds me of her incredible kindness and the love she so freely gave,” Ms. Min said.
Above all else, Mrs. Beckett’s selfless nature was the heart of every memory with her. For all who knew her, she was a pillar of the Oxford community, constantly looking out and putting others first.
“[Mrs. Beckett] touched so many lives with her care and dedication. The last time I saw her in the hospital, she was still thinking about her students — worried about them. I told her not to worry, to just focus on getting better. That’s just who she was — always putting others first,” Ms. Min said.
Every Thursday, Mrs. Beckett hosted a ladies’ bridge game in her classroom, celebrating joy together and offering support to her female colleagues, “never miss[ing] a chance to make someone feel special,” according to Ms. Min. The tradition will be continued to honor her legacy and friendship.
“Mrs. Beckett was a true friend to me. She was a great listener and always encouraging towards me in her comments/advice. She asked me about my kids and what they are up to, always interested in them since birth. She liked to remind me about the time she covered my class so I could take my oldest son to his first day of kindergarten,” history teacher Mrs. Shanon Groover said. “She would say ‘I remember when you got to school, you were crying so hard.’ She helped me through that day for sure!”
Often fondly reminiscing on her childhood memories, Mrs. Beckett always dreamed of revisiting her hometown, Charleston, West Virginia, full of places tied to beautiful and nostalgic memories she cherished.
Mrs. Beckett’s 80th birthday would have been on April 12. Oxford honored her after school on April 21 in the quad at a Celebration of Life, as well as planting roses: her favorite flower.
“You know, her kindness and love was big enough for a lifetime, and she loved us so much, her heart just couldn’t take it anymore,” Principal Amber Houston said. I think that she did that to show all of us that that’s how we should see each other, you know, as friends, colleagues, human to human, you know? Just a legacy of unconditional love and joy.”
Her legacy will always be remembered by the students she taught and loved, faculty she worked and laughed with, and heartfelt lives she changed and touched.
I truly believe she’s in heaven now, and as one of her students beautifully said, ‘I know she will take care of everyone up in heaven,’” Ms. Min said. “Let us hold on to the blessing she left us, and the hope she always carried in her heart. As the lyrics from her beloved song, [Take Me Home, Country Roads,] remind us: ‘May you walk with sunlight shining and a bluebird in every tree. May there be a silver lining, back of every cloud you see.’”
