Ida Beasley

Ida Lue Beasley was born in the small town of Franklin, Georgia on December 12th, 1936, to Solomon and Ophelia Daniel Strickland. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, and led a full life with big dreams.

Ida always had a thirst and aptitude for knowledge having graduated at the top of her classes at Turner High School in Atlanta in 1954 and at Blayton School of Business in 1955. After graduating, the Strickland family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1956, where her new adventures began.

Ida excelled as a civil servant for over 36 years at the local and federal level. She was employed at the Veterans Administration, US Attorney’s office, Department of the Air Force, Army Corp of Engineers, US Customs and finally for the Department of Defense.

Her storied and exemplary career was full of landmark accomplishments including working on groundbreaking legal initiatives with the future Attorney General of California. While at the Air Force, she was part of the team who sent the first satellite into space, and was one of the first Black Women inspectors and import specialists at US Customs and was also a highly decorated special agent for Defense Investigative Services (DIS) and Homeland Security. In a display of perseverance, and determination, she was the oldest female special agent to train at DIS Training School in Richmond, Virginia.

Ida Beasley then reached American hero status after apprehending a spy during her career as a DIS Senior Special Agent!

Ever the trailblazer, she worked full time while graduating from Compton College with honors in 1974 and was the first person to graduate from the newly established California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1978 with honors in African American Studies and Political Science. While a student, she also completed an independent study project on her family’s genealogy going back 250 years that was widely regarded in academia and she was recruited by several Ivy League schools to continue her research.

Always active and committed to the Lord’s work, she joined Bethel AME Church in the early 1970’s and volunteered with the children’s ministry, then later attended Compton First Christian Church, and finally continued her ministry by joining the City of Refuge in the 1990's.

Always an avid and voracious reader, she consumed the Bible as well as multiple books and magazines daily. She was an exceptional gardener who grow and nurture any plant she touched. Beloved by many, she was always willing to provide help, support and mentorship to anyone in need.

Ida was a loving wife and mother. She was married to Robert Beasley for 39 years and this union produced three children: Michelle, Stephen and Chayra, were her prideand joy.

She was preceded in death by her parents Solomon and Ophelia Daniel Strickland and former husband Robert Beasley. She leaves behind her loving siblings, Walter Strickland, Marvis Williams and Mary Heard and her grieving children, Michelle and spouse Ernie Bonhomme, Stephen and Chayra, as well as, nieces Tere Williams-Marquez, Vanetia Williams, Patrice Strickland and nephews, Jeffrey Williams, Bryan Williams, Christopher Williams, Gerod Strickland, Mark Heard and their respective spouses and families along with a host of other close family and friends.