Obituary for Agene Beach
Mr. Agene Beach, born Tuesday, April 28, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, was the fourth of seven children born to Lorenza and Maggie Beach. He attended and graduated from Forrestville Elementary School, Dusable High School, and Wilson Jr. Collage, majoring in Accounting.
While attending DuSable, Agene was the co-captain of the successful Panthers high school basketball team. Agene was always popular. While attending high school, he met Verda Pradd who he dated and later married. Upon graduating high school in 1948, Agene volunteered for the U.S. Navy and was promoted to the position of Quartermaster 3rd class on the USS Libra, which he navigated and signaled for 4 years. Acquiring an honorable discharge, Agene completed classes and earned certificates as a Horticulturist, a Cabinet Marker, and a Real-estate Broker. Later he joined the Chicago Police Department. Agene was selected and trained to join a small group of policemen who taught children and all citizens against illegal drugs. Out of his assigned 12th district station, he organized sport teams that were joined by gang members and partially sighted and physically disabled children. Agene loved children and was known for his caring and effective relationships with them, school staff and the entire neighborhood. Many times he invited classrooms of children to meet him at the local Burger King for burgers. Agene even taught his neighborhood children to safely identify and record suspicious persons in the community. He had an outstanding relationship with the Maxwell Street entrepreneurs. He was named "The Officer Friendly" and has received many letters and awards to attest to his effectiveness.
In 1986, Officer Friendly Beach, on his way to work was hit in his police car by a careless driver. The car was demolished and Officer Friendly Beach was badly injured. Though he was thought to be dead, God had spared his life. It was at this point, under the pastor-ship of Dr. Marcus H. Morgan of the Emerald Avenue Church of God, he embraced the church and was anointed a Deacon. Agene served faithfully as a Deacon while physically able.
Agene also completed a degree in Urban Education through the first City College of Chicago's Dual Enrollment program between Malcolm X College and the University of Massachusetts called the UMass Program.
In 1985 he accompanied his wife Verda to Kendleton, Texas at the request of the Commission of Higher Education, the Board of Higher Education of Anderson University and the National Association of the Church of God's In-Service Training Institute (ISTI) to redevelop and revive the college there in Kendleton. Agene again began working with the children through the school to improve attendance.
Agene attended the Million Man March in Washington DC and was an avid supporter of the Men's Ministry at his church. He was a member of their national meetings. Agene supported, attended, and recruited members to attend the Men's Health Forum meeting quarterly at Trinity United Church of Christ. Agene's theme often quoted was "They would do better if they knew better."
In 2018, Agene became critically ill and died of a heart attack on March 27, 2020. Agene and Verda had two children, Adona and Vernetta Beach, who preceeded him in death.
While attending DuSable, Agene was the co-captain of the successful Panthers high school basketball team. Agene was always popular. While attending high school, he met Verda Pradd who he dated and later married. Upon graduating high school in 1948, Agene volunteered for the U.S. Navy and was promoted to the position of Quartermaster 3rd class on the USS Libra, which he navigated and signaled for 4 years. Acquiring an honorable discharge, Agene completed classes and earned certificates as a Horticulturist, a Cabinet Marker, and a Real-estate Broker. Later he joined the Chicago Police Department. Agene was selected and trained to join a small group of policemen who taught children and all citizens against illegal drugs. Out of his assigned 12th district station, he organized sport teams that were joined by gang members and partially sighted and physically disabled children. Agene loved children and was known for his caring and effective relationships with them, school staff and the entire neighborhood. Many times he invited classrooms of children to meet him at the local Burger King for burgers. Agene even taught his neighborhood children to safely identify and record suspicious persons in the community. He had an outstanding relationship with the Maxwell Street entrepreneurs. He was named "The Officer Friendly" and has received many letters and awards to attest to his effectiveness.
In 1986, Officer Friendly Beach, on his way to work was hit in his police car by a careless driver. The car was demolished and Officer Friendly Beach was badly injured. Though he was thought to be dead, God had spared his life. It was at this point, under the pastor-ship of Dr. Marcus H. Morgan of the Emerald Avenue Church of God, he embraced the church and was anointed a Deacon. Agene served faithfully as a Deacon while physically able.
Agene also completed a degree in Urban Education through the first City College of Chicago's Dual Enrollment program between Malcolm X College and the University of Massachusetts called the UMass Program.
In 1985 he accompanied his wife Verda to Kendleton, Texas at the request of the Commission of Higher Education, the Board of Higher Education of Anderson University and the National Association of the Church of God's In-Service Training Institute (ISTI) to redevelop and revive the college there in Kendleton. Agene again began working with the children through the school to improve attendance.
Agene attended the Million Man March in Washington DC and was an avid supporter of the Men's Ministry at his church. He was a member of their national meetings. Agene supported, attended, and recruited members to attend the Men's Health Forum meeting quarterly at Trinity United Church of Christ. Agene's theme often quoted was "They would do better if they knew better."
In 2018, Agene became critically ill and died of a heart attack on March 27, 2020. Agene and Verda had two children, Adona and Vernetta Beach, who preceeded him in death.