Johnny as a baby, around 1916.
During the early 1930's, as a scholastic football player. The inscription on the back of the photo says, “J. Beaver — Outstanding guard — all-conference of last year — Weight - 185. Palm Photo Service, Mebane, N. C.”
Johnny played football in high school in Rowan County, North Carolina (he and his family lived at China Grove), and then at Wingate College and Elon College.
This portrait of Johnny is probably from around 1935. (The photograph is provided by Jerold and Kathy Beaver Marlow.)
During the late 1930's, probably as a senior at Elon College.
Elon College graduation.
Around 1940, probably in Danville, Virginia, in front of the building where he had an apartment, at the corner of North Main Street and U. S. 58. At the time, he was teaching and coaching at Schoolfield High School.
Johnny, around 1940, as coach of a girls' team at Schoolfield High School. Schoolfield, a community which had grown up around Dan River Mills, was in 1940 part of Pittsylvania County, but has since been annexed into the city of Danville.
Johnny and his car, 1941.
Around 1941, on the back steps of Sunny Hill (at the intersection of U. S. 29 and Dry Fork Road), the home of his wife-to-be Reba Jones, and where they later lived until 1966.
In 1941, 1942, and 1943, Johnny was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. There he was a member of the base staff, and as an NCO was responsibile for organizing entertainment and athletics. In addition, he himself played and coached on the teams. In this photograph, he is the catcher (“hind-catcher,” as he and many other Southern boys usually called the position) for a baseball team. His pitcher is obviously a tall and gangly left-hander. The pitcher's identity is unknown. Several of the troops Johnny worked and played with were major league baseball players.
When Johnny traveled from Camp Lee to Chatham on weekends to see his sweetheart Reba Jones, he boarded at the Sours home at 301 South Main Street, Chatham. He stayed in a small room upstairs above the front door (the window is visible in this photograph). The house is still the home of Mary Catherine Sours Plaster, who was a little girl at the time and vacated her room for the weekend paying guest.
Johnny and Reba were married on January 21, 1943 at her home, “Sunny Hill,” at Dry Fork, Virginia. This studio photograph was probably taken shortly before the wedding. (The photograph is provided by Jerold and Kathy Beaver Marlow.)
Johnny Beaver, U. S. Army, location and date unknown. He is standing in front of a military base's message center.
Sgt. Johnny Beaver, U. S. Army, in Europe during 1945.
Summer 1948, Johnny and Reba Beaver at her Aunt Madie Yeatts's house, Dry Fork, Virginia.
March 1950, with daughter Patricia.
Summer 1956, with Patricia at the Wright Brothers Memorial, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Late 1950's, enjoying a sunny moment at Sunny Hill.
With Reba at a Military Ball at Hargrave Military Academy on a Valentine's Day weekend in the late 1950's.
With daughter Patricia at a Military Ball.
At their annual Christmas-season gathering in early December 1963, Johnny is shown with his brothers and father. From left: Johnny Beaver, Frank Beaver, John A. Beaver, Harold Beaver, Glenn Beaver, and Jim Beaver.
With Reba near the Wee Blue Inn, Virginia Beach, summer 1965. (The Avamere was their favorite hotel in Virginia Beach, but on this trip the Avamere had no rooms available.)
On the back deck of his home at 108 Peach Street, Chatham, Virginia, around the summer of 1968.
At Hargrave Military Academy, around 1970.
Johnny and Reba Beaver visit with the Chatham Retail Merchants' Association Santa during December 1976.
Johnny opens a Christmas gift, late 1970's, in the parlor of his and Reba's home.
This webpage is sponsored by Patricia B. Mitchell, daughter of John L. Beaver and proprietor of Mitchells Publications.
Copyright 2002–2004 Patricia B. Mitchell.