Gary Beckward

Gary E. Beckward
December 27, 2004

Gary Eugene Beckward, 57, passed away at his Bethesda residence on Friday, Dec. 17, 2004. He was the devoted son of Jean Etta Beckward and the late Garfield Beckward.

Mr. Beckward was born Aug. 22, 1947, in Cumberland. He was a 1965 graduate of Fort Hill High School, attended Sheppard College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 1970. He graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Business Management in 1975 and received his Certified Residential Broker (CRB) designation in 1991. Following graduation, Mr. Beckward was a district sales manager for Kelly Springfield Tire Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., before returning to Cumberland, where he opened the Beckward Tire Company.

Several years later he began a successful career in real estate, which spanned a period of over 25 years. He started in Cumberland as a Realtor, and later relocated to the Washington D.C. area. There he was associated with several real estate agencies as top producing agent, associate broker/sales manager and general manager. In 1991, he returned to Cumberland and owned Heritage Realtors.

Later, he once again returned to the Washington D.C. area, where he recently retired from Avery Hess Realtors as sales manager. He was an icon in the Washington D.C. real estate community and received many top awards including the "First Year Licensee" award for both sales and listing in the Washington D.C. Board, several "Manager of the Year" awards, along with many national awards and others too numerous to mention. He was a life member of the Washington D.C. Board of Realtors.

Mr. Beckward was a member of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, where he served on the Trustee Board, was Budget Committee Director, and a member of the men's chorus. He was a past president of the NAACP, past member of the Board of Directors of the County United Way, the Drug Abuse Task Force and the Chamber of Commerce, while living in Cumberland.

He was an avid fisherman. His most enjoyable times were on the oceans and river banks fishing with his cousins, Lyle, Tony and Johnny, at the ocean with his close friends, trips to Rehobeth Beach and Florida with his wife, quality time spent with his family, socializing with his friends and relatives and thoroughly enjoying sports as a loyal Redskins and Maryland Terrapin fan.

Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, Mindy Edwards, Bethesda; sister, Debbie Beckward, Gaithersburg; step-daughter, Autumn Payne and husband Shai, Washington, D.C; step-son, Michael Payne and his wife Mindy, Pittsburgh; step-granddaughter, Adrienne Payne, Pittsburgh; a niece and nephews whom he loved and guided throughout their lives, Raelene, Todd and Troy Turner; his aunt, Betty Marie Green and husband Charles, Cumberland; a special uncle, William A. Colbert, Cumberland; sister-in-law, Joan Zenzen and husband Stuart, Rockville; many lifelong friends, including cousins and a special friend and caregiver, William (Bill) Hennessey and wife Jeanne, Silver Spring; and many very special great-nieces and nephews, whom he dearly loved.

Gary was a devoted and loving son, husband, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He was held in high esteem in the community as a role model and mentor to many young men. He will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his loving family, friends, neighbors, constituents, clientele and colleagues. Mr. Beckward, at his request, was cremated. A memorial service will be held on Jan. 8, 2004, at noon at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church (corner of Frederick and Decatur St.) with the Rev. Alfred Deas Jr. officiating. Entombment will be at Restlawn Memorial Gardens.