SOMETIMES PEOPLE’S great acts of service are not recognized enough today. Therefore, it was about time for Dr. Farris Beasley to be honored for serving Lincoln County all his life.
Beasley was awarded with the 2021 Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award in recognition of his volunteer service in the Lincoln County community. He received the award on Feb. 13 in Franklin, Tennessee, at the Franklin Marriott, where others were also honored for their work in their respective communities.
“I was very much surprised,” Beasley said. “I think it’s a very nice honor, and I appreciate the people that nominated me for that honor.”
The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award is a program, created by Volunteer Tennessee, that recognizes individuals from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties for their outstanding volunteer work. Participating counties conduct nominations to honor one youth and one adult outstanding volunteer every year. The program is now in its 13th year.
Beasley was raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned an undergraduate degree at UT Knoxville, finishing his Veterinary degree at Auburn University in 1959. He moved to Fayetteville that very same year to begin his veterinary career and retired in 2000.
Beasley is a member of the Camp Blount Historic Site Association and worked to bring recognition to the importance of Camp Blount in Lincoln County, a place where General Andrew Jackson and thousands of Tennessee soldiers gathered in 1813 in response to a civil war between factions of the Creek Indian Nation. He spent many volunteer hours planning, researching, seeking grants, and fundraising to designate Camp Blount as an official state historic site, wishing to bring history back to the public, particularly to the young people of the community.
“I think our young people really need to know where we came from and who we are and appreciate all the people that went on before them,” Beasley said.
Beasley is also on the Lincoln County Museum Board, having given many tours through the museum. He serves as a board member of Leadership Lincoln, leading the adult and student leadership classes each year on Agriculture days, visiting and educating the participants on prominent farms in the county. He couples this with his membership in the Lincoln County Livestock Association, where he promotes agriculture and educates local livestock farmers. He was past president of the TN Angus Association and the TN Livestock Association as well.
Beasley is a member of the Washington Street Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon for 27 years. He is married and has three sons.
Lincoln County Mayor Bill Newman, who has known Beasley since high school, said Lincoln County could not have selected a finer person.
“First off, he was deserving,” Newman said. “He is so self-motivated. He doesn’t need awards to be motivated, but I think people that have done a service like Dr. Beasley, they do need to be recognized.”
Newman said Beasley does not turn down an opportunity to serve.
“His work ethic is beyond compare,” Newman said. “His honesty is of utmost, and just his personality – that he gets along with people – is just really top notch.”
Beasley’s humbleness and service have gone a long way for his community.
“I just appreciate the fact that I was recognized for contributing a little bit,” Beasley said. “I was really grateful to be selected.” -GN
