Rev. Esker Thomas Beck

The Rev. Esker Thomas Beck, 80, of Winston-Salem, formerly of Ararat, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem. The Rev. Beck was born December 24, 1930, in Surry County, to the late Esker Franklin and Sadie Mae Eaton Beck. He was the owner and operator of Beck Concrete and a Baptist minister who pastored many Baptist churches in the area. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Margie Faye King Beck of Winston-Salem; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Margaret and Kenneth Steed of Thomasville, Mary Louise Roberts of Winston-Salem, and Patsy and Mark Kistler of Warren, OH; two sons, Thomas Beck and his friend, Audrey Austin, of Winston-Salem and David Beck of Mount Airy; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Virginia Martin of State Road and Rosella Myers of Midway; a half-sister, Vickie Beck of Mount Airy; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, Franklin and Carol Beck and Fred Beck, all of Mount Airy. In addition to his parents, the Rev. Beck was preceded in death by two brothers, Roger Beck and Theodore Beck; and two sisters, Ruby Beck and Viola Beck Montgomery. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 2:00 PM at New Bethel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Jimmy McCraw, Brother Don Collins, and the Rev. Odell Sisk officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where his body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the funeral service.