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Mr. Roland Jerome Beavers, age 84, a resident of Vanceboro, NC, passed away Friday, October 20, 2023, at ECU Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

The family received friends from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Tuesday, October 24, 2023, outdoors at Haw Branch Church in Chocowinity. A graveside service followed the visitation and was officiated by Jason Kirkman.

Mr. Beavers was born in Beaufort County on April 10, 1939, the son of the late Troy Lee Beavers and the late Jennette Williams. He attended high school in Tennessee and North Carolina where he played multiple sports. He was a proud football player at Chocowinity High School. He later served in the North Carolina National Guard.

Mr. Beavers worked as a general foreman with Brown & Root, Inc. based in Houston, Texas, and retired in 2005. His work took him to many places around the world, in particular the Middle East and the South Pacific. His construction projects for the federal government and the military generated a lot of pride and he often shared stories of life abroad, especially in Iran, Diego Garcia, and the Philippines. While not a fan of flying, he enjoyed traveling and living in new countries, discovering new cultures, and learning languages (and teaching his girls to write and speak Farsi).

Retirement afforded him the chance to spend more time doing what he loved best: hunting, fishing, and gardening. Mr. Beavers had a green thumb like his mother and loved to share his garden’s bounty with family and friends. However, his true passion in life was deer hunting. He was a member of the Wilmar Hunt Club and later the Southside Hunt Club. Mr. Beavers is remembered as a kind man who took joy in teaching his children, nieces, and nephews how to fish, hunt, and play sports such as football, baseball, and tennis.

In August of 1985, Mr. Beavers married the former Estela Peria who survives. Estela has been a loving and supportive wife of 38 years and spent every day by her husband’s side as he battled health issues. She was his best friend to the end.

Surviving along with his wife Estela are his children: Tina Beavers Strong and husband Michael of Raleigh, NC; Bobby Beavers and partner Steven Cordova of San Antonio, TX; Julie Beavers of Cary, NC; Pam Beavers Ward and husband Brian of Chocowinity, NC; Wendy Beavers of Rehoboth Beach, DE; and grandson Rayn Ward of Chocowinity, NC. Mr. Beavers was preceded in death by his son Troy Beavers, grandson Dustin Ward, and sisters Janine Radcliffe and Jessie Respess.  Mr. Beavers was blessed with many nieces, nephews, and cousins across the southeast and maintained a strong circle of friends from his childhood.

The family kindly asks that memorial contributions be made to the NC Wildlife Endowment Fund, 1702 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1702.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Beavers family.