Obituary of Christina D. Beckman

Christina D. Beckman, 105, of the Dibert Home, formerly of 1501 West Third St., died at 11:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 26, 2011. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1905, a daughter of John and Christina White Davidson. Coming to the United States at the age of two, she grew up in Jamestown, attended public schools and graduated from Jamestown High School and its Post Secretarial Course. She was employed by the YMCA and Hopes Windows as a private secretary and later worked for John Blears. In 1938 she married Herbert A. Beckman, a teacher at Jamestown High School, and they resided on Harding Avenue in Jamestown for many years. She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Fenton Historical Society, Marvin Community House, AARP, Westside Women's Club and the YWCA, where she had served as a board member. Surviving are her daughter Dr. Kathie Smallwood of Denton, Texas and her son David and his wife, Sharon, of Santa Rosa, California. Also surviving is a granddaughter Dr. Sarah Fergerson, her husband Joe and their two children, Nicholas and Nathaniel Fergerson, all of El Dorado Hills, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, who died March 28, 1991; two sisters, Jessie Nelson and Henrietta Bardo; and a brother, John Davidson. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by the Lind Funeral Home. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 316 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, NY 14701; the James Prendergast Library Association, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701; or Hospice of Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750. The family expresses deep thanks to everyone at the Dibert Home in Jamestown for helping make the last years of Mrs. Beckman so happy, and to the many friends who made her life so rich.