Memorial for Dorothy Beasley - Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA by redeemeratl

Dorothy Toth Beasley

October 5, 1937 - May 19, 2024

Whenever Dorothy stepped to the lectern for a Bible reading during worship at her beloved Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Midtown Atlanta, she wanted to do more. She once told her senior pastor that she would like to give context to the congregation listening, to explain how the story and its lessons fit into the bigger story of the God she believed in and served. It was emblematic of her faith, her heart, her intellect, and her desire to help others in their own journeys.

Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley lived a big life animated by words and The Word. In her professional career anchored in legal texts, she shattered glass ceilings in Georgia courts, argued landmark cases of national importance, and solved problems with compassion for people in Georgia and around the world. She lived her faith in countless ways, helping to establish Atlanta’s pioneering food-rescue project for the hungry and clearing obstacles for youth in foster care. She reveled in books and corresponded with her friends including U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sandra Day O’Connor. And she was a leader at her church for most of 50 years.

Dorothy died May 19th at Emory St. Joseph's hospital in Atlanta. She was 86. Born on October 5th, 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey, Dorothy was raised in nearby Garfield with her younger

sisters, Virginia and Stephanie. Their father, Stephen Toth, was an attorney and judge; their mother, Beatrice Dodd Toth, a secretary.

Dorothy studied American history and government at St. Lawrence University in New York, graduating in 1959. She then briefly worked at the State Department in Washington, D.C. before earning a women’s scholarship to attend the American University of Washington College School of Law. At the time, women were generally not hired as attorneys, and she was one of the few female students in her class. She earned her law degree and clerked for Circuit Court judges in Arlington, Virginia, then worked as an associate lawyer at the law firm of Shadyac, Berg & Nolen.

She married and moved to Atlanta where she continued her legal career at Fisher & Phillips law firm. She moved into public service becoming an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia, Criminal Division, representing the State in federal and state courts and in a number of cases before both the Georgia and U.S. Supreme Courts. One of those cases, Doe vs Bolton, saw Georgia's abortion laws struck down on the same day in 1973 that the court decided the betterknown companion case Roe vs Wade. Earlier she had argued the landmark Furman vs Georgia case in which the Supreme Court invalidated all existing death penalty laws. Dorothy served as a federal prosecutor in the Northern district of Georgia before becoming the first female judge of the Fulton County State Court in 1977. She spent 7 years on the Fulton bench and introduced to the county the concept of community service as a criminal sentence. In 1984, Dorothy was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals, becoming the state's first female to serve as appellate judge and then the Court’s first female Chief Justice in 1995, serving four years in that role.

As Chief Justice, Beasley added the words “and women” to the end of the Court's motto so it forever reads: “Upon the integrity, wisdom, and independence of the judiciary depend the sacred rights of free men and women.” She insisted the change also be added to the carving in the wall at the Court.

"Judge Beasley was a brilliant jurist whose dedication to public service was renowned not just in Georgia, but across the world," remembered Amanda Mercier, current Chief Judge of the Appeals Court. “Her love of the law, her integrity, her wisdom and her independence were unmatched.”

Dorothy left the bench and briefly worked at the National Center for State Courts in Virginia running its international division to enhance justice systems globally. She returned to Atlanta and spent more than a decade at Henning Mediation & Arbitration service while earning a Master of Law degree in International Law from Emory University School of Law. She then served with the United Nations International criminal tribunal for Rwanda. She received Emory Law’s Trailblazer Award in 2018, and two years later its award for Lifetime Commitment to Public Service. Her fingerprints are all over the judicial reform that was occurring in Africa, Asia and in the United States.

While building this rich career in the legal world, Dorothy was similarly busy with community work. She co-founded Atlanta’s Table, the project of The Atlanta Community Food Bank that provides hot meals for the hungry with food from the city's restaurants, hotels, and caterers. This concept was one of the first of its kind to be implemented in the country. Dorothy served in multiple professional organizations, supported civic education programs, advocated for public health, and raised awareness of child sex trafficking. She was characteristically hands-on as she

helped resettle refugee families through Lutheran Services of Georgia, now known as Inspiritus, and helped develop and grow Goshen Valley Boys Ranch into a nationally recognized organization serving foster children. She volunteered and championed over 50 organizations that were focused on creating better opportunities and support systems for those in need. Each of these efforts brought to the table professionals, educators, the faith community, government and non-profit organizations to address serious needs in our communities.

Dorothy’s dinner parties will be greatly missed. Each planned with care, Dorothy relished opportunities to host new and old friends alike. In opening her heart, her home, and substantive table conversation, Dorothy was unmatched. She read voraciously and was gracious in sharing her nuanced insights. She will be remembered fondly and with great admiration by those who knew her and those who will learn of her extraordinary life.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents as well as her sister Virginia. Dorothy is survived by her beloved sister Stephanie Toth Wells who remembers Dorothy as the “most giving, generous, and unselfish person.” Surviving also are Stephanie’s children, Neil Myron Kirkes, Zachary Marcus Wells and Jesse Jane Wells who has two children, Savannah Jane Wells and Eden Elizabeth Tumlin. Additionally, she is survived by her late sister Virginia's children: Susan Palmer-Wetherald (Hugh), and Susan’s stepdaughter and Hugh’s daughter Megan Wetherald; Rebecca Lewandoski and her three children, Grace, Evan and Laurel; and Stephen Palmer (Maria) and their two children, Joseph Palmer and Eva Palmer Melton.

PRELUDE

GATHERING

Standing

Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our sister, Dorothy Toth Beasley, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. | Thanks be to God.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

ACCLAMATION

Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. | We glorify you.

Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you.

Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you.

To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. | Amen.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: ELW 782

My Shepherd You Supply My Needs

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Dorothy We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.

Seated REMEMBRANCES

• J. Veronica Biggins, Managing Partner, Diversified Search; Board of Directors, Southwest Airlines

• Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams, Pastor Emerita, Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 23 Leah Woolfson, Neighbor Psalm 90:1-3, 12-13

SOLO: I Want to Climb Up Jacob's Ladder St. Helena Island Spiritual, Arr. W. L. James

REMEMBRANCES

• John Blend III, Founder, Goshen Valley Foundation

• Bill Boling, Co-Founder, Board Chair, and Senior Advisor; Food Well Alliance, Atlanta

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 121 Savannah Wells, Grand Niece 1 Corinthians 13

HYMN: ELW 787 On Eagle's Wings

REMEMBRANCES

• Viotza Young, Friend

• Jesse Wells, Niece

Standing GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

THE HOLY GOSPEL

Seated HOMILY

Standing HYMN 785 When Peace Like a River (It is Well With My Soul)

Pastor Mark H. Larson

APOSTLES' CREED

God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Kneeling or Seated PRAYERS

Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Jesus, full of compassion, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Dorothy and dry the tears of those who weep.