Cornell James Beslin
Cornell James Beslin departed this life on September 26, 2022.
He was born March 13, 1952 in New Orleans, as the third of five children born to Joseph James Beslin II and Charlie Mae Stephens Beslin. While growing up, Cornell was affectionately known as “Butch” and was an avid swimmer. During the summer, Cornell and the rest of his siblings, worked as lifeguards for the New Orleans Recreation Development (N.O.R.D.) and the New Orleans Levee Board. Cornell attended Booker T. Washington High School and served as president of the student body council, and he was the sole representative for New Orleans at Camp Rising Sun leadership in New York.
Cornell attended college at Grambling State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He enlisted in the Navy after taking a break in college life. He completed an initial tour as a disbursing clerk on the USS ORION (AS-18) submarine tender and Midway Island during his service. During that time, he married his college sweetheart, Maxine. After graduation, he began his career by joining Southern Railway, later Norfolk Southern, as a trainee assistant and Trainmaster (leading Safety) in multiple locations that included: Birmingham, AL, Somerset, KY, Selma, AL and ending in Chattanooga. While in Chattanooga, he transitioned careers and worked as Payroll Manager at Erlanger Hospital for 24 years where he was recognized for his devotion to service and dedication to people.
Service to support and uplift others was in Cornell’s soul. Throughout life, Cornell served in many capacities while attending Central Congregational United Church (New Orleans), Warren Chapel A.M.E & St. James A.M.E. (Chattanooga). He was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated [Gamma Gamma Undergraduate Chapter & Kappa Iota Graduate Chapter] where he served in numerous leadership positions. In addition to his fraternity service, one of his many passions was supporting Tyner High, now Tyner Academy, football and basketball programs. He started the first booster club for the basketball team while creating videos to capture the events. As “The Voice of Rams” football, he announced games for over 20 years and provided excitement and commentary for the “Ram Train”.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Maxine Stubblefield Beslin of 49 years; two sons, Marcus (Betty) of Suffolk, VA, and Christopher (Letitia) of LaVergne, TN; six grandchildren (Kennedy, Sean, Benjamin, Christian, Taylor & Jordan); three sisters, Margie Beslin Shorter (Joseph) of New Orleans, LA, Deidre Beslin of Memphis, TN and Stephani Beslin Black (Paul) of Gulfport, MS; nieces, Natasha and Diana; nephews Joseph (Joan), Gregory, Jermaine, Kemario, Trey, and Mathew; brother and sister in-lov,e Anthony Stubblefield (Cathy) of Augusta, GA and Michelle Stubblefield Weatherly of Chicago, IL; special cousins, Joyce Pascal Kilgore (James), Marva Smith, and Joseph G. Smith of Washington D.C.; and a host of close relatives, friends, and neighbors.
A visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, in the chapel. Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery.