Dr. And Mrs. John Johnson (J. J.) Beasley, M.D.
Pictured are Dr. John Johnson Beasley and wife, Edith Sloan Beasley in about 1940. John was the son
of Jerome (Rome) and Ellen Taylor Beasley. He was born Sep 6, 1875 and died Jun 2, 1950. Dr. Beasley
was the resident physician of Pleasant Shade from the early 1900s until the time of his death. Edith was
the daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Goad Sloan. She was born Sep 16, 1881 and died Dec 18, 1977.
Both John and Edith were born in the Pleasant Shade community. They became the parents of
four children that lived to be adults. In addition to a daughter, they had two sons, Lyman and
Focian. Focian also became a medical doctor. Dr. and Mrs.Beasley lived in downtown Pleasant
Shade and are buried there in the Sloan Cemetery.
Dr. Beasley's sons, Lyman and Focian, are also pictured on this website in the
1919 Pleasant Shade School and 1920 basketball pictures.
" Dr. John Beasley drawing water from his well" - 1935
He served the area as the local physician from the early 1900's until his death in 1950. He lived
in the "middle" of Pleasant Shade and his office was located next to the Sloan Brothers Store
at the intersection of old highway 80 and the Sloan Branch road. In the late 1940's, his office
was moved across highway 80 to a larger building which is now a residence. Dr. Beasley served
the medical needs of many people in the Pleasant Shade and surrounding areas. He made house
calls in all kinds of weather and to the deepest and most rugged "heads of hollows". He was the
attending physician at the birth of hundreds of individuals, myself included. I have the cancelled
check that my dad paid him in 1940 for my delivery and the charge was $20.00.
John Beasley's son, Focian, also an M.D., (retired) is 93 years old and is still active in both
mind and body. He recently (November 10, 2001) made after dinner remarks at the Pleasant
Shade School reunion.