of Memphis, TN

October 15, 1942 - February 1, 2026

Our beloved mother, Mary Virginia Steed Forrester Beall, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior just after midnight on February 1, 2026 surrounded by her children on the family farm in Whitton, Arkansas.
Mary Virginia was born October 15, 1942 in Little Rock to her adoring parents, Wirt Asa and Mary Mitchell Steed and her brothers Wirt Mitchell ''Sonny'' and James Garland ''Jim''. The Steed family made their home in Osceola where Wirt and Mary were teachers, entrepreneurs, and devoted members of First United Methodist Church.
After her 1960 graduation from Osceola High School, Mary Virginia attended Hendrix College for two years before transferring to State Teachers College in Conway. Despite a fierce battle with Victorian Period Poetry, she graduated with a BSE in 1964 and began her teaching career in Memphis. Phillip Forrester, a young farmer from Whitton and an occasional date, endeavored to rekindle their friendship upon learning that she was living and teaching just across the river in Memphis. With their friendship renewed, it was not long before they became engaged and were married in August of 1965.
Phillip and Mary settled on the farm in Whitton down the road from Phillip's parents and in those early years welcomed three children to their family: Mary Helen, Paul David and Keith Edward. With devotion to each other, dependence on God's faithful provision for their family and lots of hard work, they built a wonderful life in Whitton. Mary and Phillip selflessly loved and cared for their family and modeled for their children the importance of faith and family, the value of life-long learning, a strong work ethic and living within their means among many other life lessons. Mary served in the Whitton Baptist Church, enjoyed needlepoint, gardening, reading, and pursued entrepreneurial endeavors that included becoming a self-taught weaver of antique chair seats. She did not, however, enjoy camping but was a good sport about it and made those family excursions memorable in many ways. Mary eventually resumed teaching and retired after 22 years as a first-grade teacher having taught countless children to read and to love learning. After almost 34 years of marriage, Mary was widowed when Phillip passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 1999.
Mary remained in her home on the farm enjoying her children and grandchildren, lunching and shopping with her retired teacher's group, and traveling with friends and family and caring for her mother-in-law Helen whom she loved very much. After several years she returned to worship in the Methodist Church in Osceola. It was there that she became acquainted with John Beall and after they married in August 2007 she moved back to Osceola. She joined the membership of PEO Chapter O and was a vital member of the United Methodist Women's group serving as President for several years. She and John traveled extensively around the US and the World. Her favorite trip was to the Holy Lands and even the horror of leaving her purse on their tour bus did not dim the profound impact of seeing and walking where Jesus had walked.
In early 2022, Mary and John moved to Memphis to be near her daughter where they enjoyed the fun of their retirement community, the increased opportunities for shopping and dining out and fellowship with family. With John's devoted care, Mary was able to remain independent until the past few months when the effects of dementia accelerated. A bad fall and resulting brain injury prompted the decision to move her to Keith and Jill's home on the family farm in Whitton. Since early December, Mary was lovingly cared for by Keith, Jill and Mary Helen, and was surrounded by the people she loved in the place she loved the most. John remained devoted to Mary even as it became necessary for him to relocate to Florida to be near his son.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and their spouses and her beloved husband Phillip Lee Forrester. She is survived by her devoted husband John, her daughter Mary Helen (Max) Fairley, sons Paul David (Rhonda) Forrester and Keith Edward (Jill) Forrester. She is also survived by her six grandchildren Phillip Lincoln (Shelby), Warren Steed and Paul Edward (Savannah) Fairley, Jackson Ellis and Taylor Brooke Forrester and Fox Edward Lee Forrester and her first great-grandson Sterling Frances Fairley and his little brother due to be born in late April.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Swift Funeral Home
Highway 61 South
Osceola, AR  72370
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com