Beulah Mae “Boots” Avery, as she was so affectionately called, was born on July 6, 1916 in Pueblo, Colorado. She graduated from Central High School in 1934 and attended Langston University in Oklahoma, where she met James William Avery. They were married June 28, 1939. Boots was a loving, happy, outgoing woman of distinction. She was a community oriented woman and loyal member of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church where she served as Trustees and in many other capacities. “Boots”, a phenomenal woman, possessing poise and grace, was very committed to community life and organizations, impacting the lives of many people in the Evanston community including the youth as she worked with the G.R.A.C.E. Girls Project in Delta Sigma Theta and fed the homeless at Ebenezer Church. She was a member and past President of the Foster Senior Citizens Club. She was a founder and past President of the Evanston North Shore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Additionally, Boots also served as President and a founding member of the North Shore Chapter of the Links, Inc. She enjoyed participating in “The Bookends”, book club, shopping with her daughters and traveling throughout the world. Beulah M. Avery who departed this life on Tuesday, February 19, 2002, will be missed and remembered by her children, James Avery Jr., Arlene, nee Avery Burke and Marsha, nee Avery Belcher; grandchildren, Greg and Kevin Belcher, Jeffrey and Pam Burke; daughterin-law, Carolyn Ligon Avery; sons-in-law, Jim Belcher and Sterling Burke; brother-in-law, Donald Avery; sister-in-law, Carolyn Taylor; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Services will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2002, and 10:30 a.m. at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 1109 Emerson St., Evanston, Illinois. Visitation will be held at The House of Thompson Mortuary, 1917 Ashbury Ave., Evanston, Illinois, from Noon until 6 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2002.
