Rev. John Seymour Beers

With sadness but a confidence he is with his Lord, the family of Rev John Seymour Beers announce his passing on July 30th, 2023 at the Hants Community Hospital. John was born to William and Violet Beers in the Wentworth Valley. In his early years he was heavily involved in the local Baptist Church, to which he’d go on to devote his life’s calling.

After high school, John worked for a few years at a printing press before deciding to return to school to attend the United Baptist Bible Training School (now Crandall University) in Moncton, NB. He then headed to Acadia University, where he earned a Bachelors in Philosophy and Math, a Masters in Divinity and later a Masters of Theology. It was also at Acadia where John met the love of his life, Ethel Harlow, to whom he was married for 56 years.

John devoted his life to ministry with Ethel by his side. He served in Baptist churches across Nova Scotia including Caledonia, Lawrencetown, Dartmouth, Kingston, and Yarmouth, and finished his career as Area Minister for the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. In retirement, he continued to minister as interim pastor at several churches. 

In addition, John served the broader community, volunteering on boards and committees for such causes as libraries, food banks, crisis phone lines, prison ministries, and many others. He also volunteered as a camp director for many years and was passionate about camping for kids. He was well known throughout the region for his compassion and commitment to community work and was recognized with distinguished citizen awards from local and provincial governments.

John’s last words to this world were “I love you.” This is fitting because his sole intention in life was to be an instrument of unconditional love. Anyone who knew him, whether for a long time or even briefly, felt his kindness, compassion and understanding. He was a friend to all and mentored and helped many people along the way.

No one experienced John’s unconditional love more than his family. He was a devoted husband and a proud father who rejoiced in the individuality of his wife and each of his children. When the blessing of grandchildren came, he wanted to be known as Grampy. He had a special place in his heart for each of his grandchildren: Katelyn, Noah, Skye, Théo, Emmy, Jacob, Maggie and Toby. Grampy loved them as much as they loved him.

He is survived by his wife Ethel, sons Jonathan (Kimberly), Andrew (Michelle), Tim (Nadine d’Entremont) and daughter, Joanna (Novat) Quinn and their children. He is also survived by his sisters Jenn O’Connor and Lenora MacEachern, brothers-in-law Leslie and Stephen Harlow, and sisters-in-law Cora Aulenbach, Audrey Evans, Grace Harlow-Gillighan, as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Violet, and brothers Gerald, Allan, Delbert and Larry. 

John’s Celebration of Life service is on Friday, August 4th at 2pm at the New Minas Baptist Church, officiated by Rev Daniel Cormier. The service will be followed by a reception and visitation.  

We are requesting family flowers only, but if you would like to honour John’s memory, donations can be made to Acadia Divinity College or to the Send-a-Kid to Camp fund for Kingswood Camp through the New Minas Baptist Church. 

For live stream clock below link:

https://youtube.com/live/1wgGnKtTrC0

www.eastcoastmemorial.ca 

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