Beulah Mae Guthrie
Beulah Mae Simpkins (Hiatt) Guthrie, age 87, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026.
Born on March 28, 1938, in Pulaski, Virginia, Beulah was the daughter of the late Rady and Jennie Owens Simpkins. She spent most of her life in Roanoke, a place she proudly called home, where she built a life centered on family, hard work, and unwavering loyalty to the people—and teams—she loved.
Beulah retired as a weaver from Precision Fabrics Group, a career that reflected her strong work ethic and dedication. In her quieter moments, she was rarely without a crossword puzzle close at hand, always keeping her mind sharp. Strong in her faith, she was blessed to help children understand the Word of God, a calling she embraced with patience, love, and devotion.
An avid and passionate sports fan, Beulah’s enthusiasm was unmatched. During football season, she proudly soared with her beloved Philadelphia Eagles, especially cheering on her favorite player, Jalen Hurts—never hesitating to let the referees know when they missed a call. When basketball season arrived, she was “bleeding green” for Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics, calling out missed fouls and errors with the same intensity. A natural night owl, Beulah also became a devoted fan of UFC Fight Night, bobbing and weaving in her seat as if she were in the ring herself. NASCAR ran deep in her blood. From early days around moonshine running to watching and meeting many of racing’s legends, the sport remained a lifelong passion—one her family believes fueled her spirit for decades.
In addition to her parents, Beulah was preceded in death by her siblings, Woodrow Simpkins and his wife Roseanne, Troy Simpkins, and Jean Burwell; her son, Gary Quesinberry; and her husbands, Curtis Hiatt and Gene Guthrie.
She is survived by Christian Thurman of the home; her children, Drema Quesenberry of Mount Airy, North Carolina, James Quesenberry of Roanoke, Virginia, and Shannon Hiatt and Joey Carver of Roanoke, Virginia; her brother, Earnie Simpkins and wife Mary of Dublin, Virginia; and her sister-in-law, Melva Simpkins of Roanoke, Virginia.
She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Deric Quesenberry and wife Tosha of Portsmouth, Virginia; Quentin Quesenberry and wife Mackenzie of Roanoke, Virginia; and Hunter Carver of Roanoke, Virginia; seven great-grandchildren; her best friend, Nancy Stanley; special friends Mark Williams and Patty Gilley, Chuck Griffin, Patricia Goad, Mark "Bubba #2"Roberson, Michele Lytton, Shannon Martin, Micki Glenn, and granddaughter “Peanut”, Logan "Little Bit" Andrews and Terious "T" Ford, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Beulah will be remembered for her sharp wit, fierce loyalty, and the unmistakable sound of her cheering—or scolding the refs—from her seat. Her love for family, faith, sports, and life itself will live on through the many stories shared by those who knew and loved her.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Lotz Roanoke Chapel with a Celebration of Beulah’s life at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, she will be interned at Old Dominion Memorial Gardens
