Paula Elvira Joseph

Paula “Beulah” Elvira Arthur Joseph

Paula, better known as Beulah, was born on January 13th, 1937 to Egbert and Keziah Arthur in Panama City, Panama.   A true trailblazer, Beulah was creative, agile, a fashionista, and a strong woman of God who navigated life unlike any other.  A “miracle” baby, she came to Keziah’s womb way into her menopause years, indicative to Beulah’s predestined divine purpose. Paula’s drive and commitment to family was displayed early and often as Beulah unfortunately had to drop out of high school to take care of her ailing father - yet she became a known mathematician, historian, and superb accountant.  Never shy to hard work, she did an array of jobs that often made most feel lazy.  Beulah was a “domestic” to many white “Zonians”, she was a prolific entrepreneur, selling tupperware, jewelry, patties, “souse”, barquillos and was even a “loan shark”. She was fair yet tough and if you ever mess with her “susu”; she’ll find and collect her dues no matter who you were And if not, “she’ll cuff you”… Uniquely suited to multi-task, she managed a household with flexibility and serene competence that would baffle her neighbors and definitely her family.  She’ll play sessions of bingo while cooking a hardy meal fitting to the most demanding critics with ease and superb know-how.  She brought harmony to the entire neighborhood by balancing academics, leisure and sports…Ms. Beulah helped teach by opening her home for all to play scrabble at her porch, basketball and volleyball in the front yard and simply talk in an environment were she could oversee/influence yet allow for growth - Beulah did so through example as she played softball in many local leagues late into her fifties as a sharp third baseman and tough catcher.  Beulah loved to dance and often hosted parties while dancing with her husband way into the morning and catering to her friends. She had no limits and later in life reinvented herself and became a trusted advisor to many, developed a deep affinity to the Lord and His teaching, and became a devoted member, elder and deaconess of her church. She later went to college mastering many subject in like fashion as when she was an A student in high school…placing heed to the phrase “never too late”. 

Beulah was a survivor, a no-nonsense - heavy handed person…literally; Her life story is everlasting, she shaped an unbelievable path for her family - she was a powerful force with uncanny vision.  Ms. Beulah was a mentor to many, financial genius, committed friend, wife, mother and caregiver and above all, a believer that good things will happen when you place God first.   

Beulah, was preceded by her husband, Kenneth A Joseph and had 4 children - Sharon M Joseph, Valerie G Riley, Kirk A Joseph and Gregory K Joseph. Grandchildren Gediz, Kheila, Ashea, Kadin, Adrianne, Gregory II, Geovante’, Akyla, Dominike, Keylan and multiple great grand children.