Beatrice L. Toran

Beatrice Lavinia Toran, 90, of Neptune, NJ passed away on October 23, 2018.  She was born on June 18, 1928 in Philadelphia Lion Inn Hospital to Anna Mae Bryan and Burton James Wicks. She was one of 11 children which included sisters, Jeanette, Dorothy, Kathleen, Phyllis, and Corrine; and brothers, Leroy, Anthony, Ambrose, Thomas, and Eugene.

As a young child Beatrice attended Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School and Saint Ignacious Middle School where she finished 10th Grade. At the age of sixteen her son Eugene was born, and she began working in the Philadelphia Navy Yard to care for the two of them.

Beatrice moved to Asbury Park, NJ with her son Eugene to care for her grandmother who had become ill. It was there she met and later married Godfrey. They married on April 12, 1947 and had two children, Spentley and Kenneth.

Beatrice did not let any grass grow under her feet. She went back to school and got her GED and began Cosmetology school at the Newark School of Beauty Culture. She worked for several people and eventually acquired her own shop named, “Bea Toran’s Hair Fashions” on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ. Her business lasted over 30 years and became well known throughout the shore. Everyone young and old passed through those doors at one time in their life.

Beatrice loved being a member of the Saint Peter Claver Church on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park. She was a faithful member and held several positions in the church, until it was demolished in 2008.

Beatrice was predeceased by her husband, Godfrey in 2007; sisters, Dorothy, Kathleen, Phyllis, and Corrine; and brothers, Leroy, Ambrose, Thomas and Eugene.

She is survived by her sons, Eugene C. Toran of Las Vegas, NV, Spentley L. Toran and wife, Earlene Toran of Neptune, NJ, and Kenneth A. Toran and wife, Linda Toran of Laurel, Md; sister, Jeanette Harris of Philadelphia, PA; and Anthony B. Wicks of Philadelphia, PA; several nephews and nieces; and her niece, Trudy Watt of Ocean Township, NJ whom she regarded as a daughter; 14 grandchildren, Chauncey, Crystal, Ian, Jamie, Janise, Jewell, Kyle, Marika, Michael, Monique, Spentley, Tonja, Torri, Yemonya "Yemi" Yasin;  22 great-grandchildren; Amber, Andrew, Ashley, Brianna, Ian II, Jonathan, Jordan, Ma-Asia, Ma-Eternal, Ma-lyfe, Nya, Onyx, Ra'yana, Rah'miere, Rah'siere, Saniya, Sawyer, Shannon, Teonna, Trevor, Tyler, Tyree;  and one great-great grandchild, Gavin.

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