Rita Mae Beals

Rita Mae Beals was born in Ochterloney Street in Dartmouth. Her parents were Charles Fairfax and Elizabeth (Richardson) Fairfax. Her parents moved to Cherry Brook when Rita Mae was a baby. It was in Cherry Brook that she first went to school in what was then the one-room school. She finished school in grade 8. She remembers all her teachers: 'May Lance, Mr. Paris and Martha Jones'. The last-named was described in the interview as 'very rough, very strict and tall'-

At the age of about 18 or 19 Rita Mae began her working life, babysitting and doing housework for such employees as "Dr. Simpson, R. K. Kelly and the Mitchells'. The second of the employees, R. K. Kelly, lived in Berwick and Rita Mae Beals stayed there, too. Her work included washing, cleaning, cooking and other domestic work. Her wages were about six dollars a week.

Rita Mae was married in 1930 to Aubrey Ross of East Preston. The marriage was officiated by Rev. A. A. Wyse. In 1942, Rita Mae married for the second time. Her second husband was Jeff Beals. This marriage was blessed with two girls.

In all, Rita Mae bore eight children, the eldest of whom was christened Donald E- Fairfax, later to become a distinguished singer, clergyman and public figure:

           'When he was born, I was young.  So, when I went to

            Halifax, my father really took a liking to him and said 

            he wanted to take care of Donald.  So I said all right

            but christen him 'Fairfax'.  Rev.  Wellington States

            christened him.  I have seven others, Clifford, Freeman, 

            Aubrey, Joan, Florence, Maxine and Mona.

of her second husband, Jeff Beals, Rita Mae had this to say:

       'My second husband was a farmer.  He worked for a

        farmer by the name of Baker in Halifax.

        He delivered vegetables in town.  He would live on

        the farms and come home some nights, especially 

        during the weekends.  He took care of us and I

        kept up the household.  I knew what I had to do.  

        I worked hard when he died.  I even went out and

       did day work.  I eventually gave up and got some

       old age security or pension.  I still worked at home, 

       washed all my clothes and the next day I would iron. 

       You know, I am the last living member of my family.  

       I was never lazy.  I did everything I could to survive."

Rita Mae Beals recalled the care she took to keep in good health to remain active:

            'I never had an operation, never drank alcohol, 

            always had good, fresh food, not too much 

            canned goods, berries and fruits.  I made

            preserves and kept plenty of vegetables on hand.'

At the time of the interview in 1982, Rita Mae Beals was 82 years old. Naturally, age had taken its toll as she reminisced:

           'Now I have arthritis in my legs and I'm lame. 

            I thank God for two good husbands and a

            full life.  Now I have a little candy store for 

            the local children.  Keeps them happy and 

            gives me company.  My children visit me and 

            so do my grandchildren. My father and mother

            put Reverend Fairfax through college and gave

            him his education.  I did my best for my others.  

            They know that.'

Many others besides the children know that Rita Mae Beals, born Fairfax, did what she could in the difficult and trying circumstances of her time to bring up her children and hold her family together.

Still alive today (November 1986) Mrs. Beals currently resides with her oldest son, Reverend Donald Fairfax. She's now 86 years old and in fair health. She appears content in a comfortable home surrounded by loved ones to care for her needs in her old age.

Postscript. The following obituary notice appeared in the Mail Star on Wednesday, November 26, 1986.

                 Rita Mae Beals.  Funeral service for Rita 

                 Mae Beals, 86, of 31 Prince Albert Road,

                 Dartmouth, formerly of Cherry Brook, who 

                 died Sunday in Dartmouth General Hospital, 

                 will be 2 p.m. today in Cherry Brook Baptist

                 Church with Rev.  D. D. Skeir and Dr. W. P. 

                 Oliver officiating.



                 Burial will be in Cherry Brook Cemetery.Born

                 in Cherry Brook, she was the daughter of 

                 the late Charles and Elizabeth (Richardson) 

                 Fairfax.She was the oldest member of the 

                 Cherry Brook Baptist Church.She was the

                 last surviving member of her immediate 

                 family.She is survived by four sons, Rev.  

                 Donald Fairfax, Dartmouth; Aubrey and 

                 Freeman Ross, both of Cherry Brook; Hilton Ross, 

                 Toronto; four daughters, Florence

                 (Mrs.  Stanley Sparks),Lake Loon; Joan Ross, Halifax; 

                 Maxine Madden, Vancouver; Mona Beals, London, Ont.; 

                 30 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

                 She was predeceased by her first husband, Aubrey Ross,

                 and her second husband, Phillip Beals; five brothers, 

                 Thomas, Charles, Reginald, Ernest and Percy, 

                 two sisters,Inez and Mary.

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