Beatrice Faith Culp
8/12/21 – 1/22/23
A life not cut short but a life well lived
Beatrice Faith Culp, age 17 months, passed away on January 22, 2023, after her courageous battle against congenital defects.
The beautiful Beatrice was born a fighter on August 12, 2021, in Traverse City, Michigan. She captured the hearts of not only her family but the whole community.
From the moment she was born, sweet Bea proved her doctors wrong every step of the way. Bea wrote her story and as her Gigi would say, the moral of Bea’s story was to “Love the Love” (coined by Aunt Hannah) and to “Bea Happy”.
Although Bea was deaf, legally blind, and had limited mobility, Bea knew exactly what she wanted, who she wanted, and when she wanted them. She cherished her moments with her mom and her Gigi. When she was sick, she wanted both by her side. During her most painful hospital stays and procedures, Bea always wanted her mom and Gigi to know that she was going to be alright. She would put her hands on their faces, and she would give a smile, no matter how weak.
Bea loved to take naps with her great-grammy and her dad. If Dad was not around to snooze with her, she loved getting to snuggle up with Great Grammy and get enough rest to keep her mom up all night. Her mom would sing cheerfully the next day after being kept up, “I didn’t get no sleep because of you, and you’re not going to get no sleep because of me.”
She loved learning sign language with her Aunt Mandy and her Gigi, who helped the family learn fun ways to communicate with their girl. Bea taught them a very important lesson; no language is required for hearts to connect and to communicate clearly. Bea had her own language, her own way of letting everyone know what she wanted. She just wanted to love the life that she was given and the people that she was given to.
Bea loved watching Miss Rachel, Bluey, Daniel Tiger, and Pastor Scott on Sunday mornings.
In the words of Maria from Sound of Music, “These are a few of Bea’s favorite things; long baths, spa treatments with her mom, reading books, watching her toons, coloring, being with her family, kisses, shopping at the DeVos gift store, laying under trees on a breezy sunny day, hammocking, driving the golf cart fast, swinging, yoga with mom, and she recently started choosing her own outfit and bows and she loved admiring herself in the mirror.”
Beatrice Faith lived a lifetime in just her 17 months here. She taught us so many lessons to apply to our life for the remainder of our time on this earth. So, with courage and faith, we will move forward without our Baby Bea and try to remember, grow where you are planted, enjoy the little things, and live in the now.
Bea is survived by her parents Zachary and Victoria (Collins) Culp; grandparents, Susan Collins and Jack Jr. and Angela Culp; great-grandparents, Dean Collins, Jack and Betty Culp, and Warren and Barb Petoskey; aunts and uncles, Amanda and Zach Skiera, Charity and Kevin Wright, Glenda and Richard Mason, Hannah and Ray Hartle, Ian Culp, and Jameson Culp; cousins, Matthew, Rebekah, and Nathanial Skiera, Blythe and Benjamin Wright, Zachary, Nicholas, and Makenzie Clough, and Richard Jr, and Kandice Mason.
She was preceded in death by her great-great-grandma, Alice Collins; great-great-grandma Rachel Blanks; great-grandpa Floyd Collins; great-aunt, Amy Collins; and great-aunt, Claudia Clough.
This sweet girl’s Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at E-Free Church – Gaylord Campus at 1649 M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735, in the main sanctuary. Doors will open at 4:00 pm for visitation with family and the service will start at 5:00 p.m. with a reception that will follow.
You are welcome to wear red or pink to celebrate Bea. If you would like, you are welcome to bring a packet of seeds of your favorite flower to be planted in a garden for Bea in the spring.
Flowers can be sent to the family via the Gaylord E-Free Church, 1649 M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735. Flowers by Evelyn in Gaylord has been supporting Bea’s journey if you are looking for a florist.
In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Grand Rapids in Bea’s name or you could also donate to the Hearing and Visually Impaired Department of the COP-ISD by mail at 6065 Learning Lane, Indian River, Mi. 49749.
Arrangements were entrusted to Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.
4 comments on “Beatrice F. Culp”
Beatrice loved everyone around her, especially her dad, our grandson, Zach, and grandmother and grandfather, Angela and Jay Culp. The family would appreciate your prayers during this time as we process Beatrice’s passing at so young an age and the life she promoted among us.
Thank God for His peace.
Sending you all our love and prayers
Love. Elizabeth, Suda, and girls
Free at last, free at last. In her forever home with all the children that Jesus bid to come to Him. May the God of comfort hold you all with His loving embrace. As you remember the pure JOY that Bea brought into your lives, may you know you cry not alone. Scripture says “Jesus wept!” With love and prayers.
She was my great little ‘bea’ always proving someone wrong. This is for ian culp