Dream, Struggle, VICTORY!
No Ordinary Man

On what was thought to be a mild day of 68 degrees on June 6, 1978, a special baby boy was born to very young parents, Reginald Leon Beal, and Camille Lenora Lomax (Melvin) in SE Washington, DC. He was given the name Donte’ Leon Beal and quickly became the center of attention for both his paternal and maternal grandparents. The family was super excited as he was the foundation of a new generation of hope. His name was the beginning of his affinity with his identity. From the start of life, he was called, “Everlasting, Steadfast, Enduring”, which is the Latin meaning of Donte’. As Donte’ aged he would begin to affirm himself in the 3rd person. You would often hear him say, Donte Beal this…and Donte Beal that, or just D. Beal. And when asked why he always talks about himself that way, he would just smile and laugh as if he was keeping it a secret. There’s no doubt that he embraced himself.

Donte’ started his education in the DC Public School system and later transferred into the Prince George’s County Public School system where he would go on to graduate from Forestville High School in 1996. He was very popular in school and displayed his love for fashion and friends. He was a natural social butterfly who used humor and laughter to build connections. It was in high school when he decided that he wanted to become a dentist and often talked about going to dental school. Subsequently, he enrolled in Montgomery County Community College to begin the journey and it was short-lived. There was one issue. “D. Beal” didn’t particularly care for the traditional way of learning things and started to discover that he had a deeper need to freely do things his way. He was in search of personal and financial freedom. From that point on he never stayed in one job very long. He used to say, “I just can’t see me sitting at a desk all day” and often asked his sister while smiling and laughing, “How do you do that? I just can’t!”. He knew that college was not for everyone and that it was not the only way to succeed. So, he left school without a concrete plan and whole-heartedly believed that his talents and gifts would make room for him. He had faith! And now his dream of creating a family legacy was now officially born. He would often speak of retiring his entire family, buying a huge piece of land, and building everyone a house on that same land to live happily ever after.

Donte was many things at his core being. He was a multi-talented entrepreneur at heart, a lyricist, a chef, a designer, an artist, and a very talented barber. Donte was a big idea person with great ambition. He didn’t need all his ducks in a row before he acted on his dreams. He just jumped out there! He spoke a lot of things into existence. He was a master at creating valuable friendships with everyone he met. He is what the family would call, a “sincere con-man”. He would make plans with other peoples’ resources and convince them that it was their idea to buy-into his plans. Most people are still amazed at the ventures they invested in as the result of Donte’s conviction. He always started with the end in mind and often achieved what he was after. Donte’ once started a restaurant business with absolutely no capital in one of the prime targeted growth areas for business in Washington, DC! He was even featured on the news channel 2 to highlight his accomplishments. He was able to acquire the location and leverage relationships to get started. That deserves a WOW! Before his passing he was working on a textile/custom T-shirt business, his debut music album (with singles “Be Strong” and “Icy Medallion”) and working towards owning his own barbershop. He legally owned an LLC called Lil Time Left, LLC. How prophetic!

Most importantly, Donte’ was in love with his spiritual walk. He loved the Lord! No one can doubt that. He always worked on his personal relationship with God. He gave himself communion daily! It was evident that he was spiritually training himself to be strong. He was anointed and because of this anointing was often attacked by the enemy who would often meet him on the battlefield and cause him to have countless internal and external struggles. Through it all he never forgot who he was in the Lord and would soon inherit the name, “Bible Slayer” from his sister. He is known to many as Tay, and to know Tay is to know that no matter how he showed up he showed up with a kind heart and the WORD! He aimed to consistently witness for God. Although at times his witnessing was ineffective because of his fight to align his actions with the word. Yet, he stayed in the battle and continue to work for God. That’s better than an inactive Christian who tries to save no one. He has won so many souls over for God just by taking action and/or inviting people to his church home.

Donte’ values family and ancestry above all and often gave honor to those who have passed on before him. He was loyal to family and wanted a family unit of his own. He married his best friend Antra White Beal on November 19, 2016. And from this union a total of 6 siblings became the “Beal Bunch” to form a loving family of 8. If Virginia is for lovers, then that’s where Donte belonged. He moved his family to Richmond, VA to set roots and later had great plans to buy land in King George, Virginia to build. He spoke of this so much that if there is a King George, Virginia in Heaven he lives there. He locked in his mansion in heaven by making Jesus his personal Lord and Savior and was even baptized the old fashion way, in a lake! Nothing else could have got him in the Pearlie Gates! Jesus paid it all! The family finds peace in knowing that. We now crown him King Priest Donte’Leon Beal!

Donte’ Leon Beal’s legacy will continue as he leaves to cherish his memory the following loved ones: Anitra White Beal (wife); Children: Amyira Beal, Ashlynn Beal, Aden Beal, Kaprise White, Kapriah White and Jailyn White; Loving Parents: Horace & Camille Lomax (parents); Reginald Leon Beal (parent); Siblings: Johnny & Kenisha Beal-Dickey (Brother-in-law/sister); Niece: Samantha Dickey; Grandparents: Margaret Beal, Doris Lomax, Catherine Hill; Grand Uncles/Aunts: Milton & Gwen Jordan, Bernard Jordan, Mike & Pearl Huskins; Uncles/Aunts: Robert Melvin, Troy Melvin, Patrick & Sheryl Perry, James Hill 2nd, Sherman & Anisia Beal; Deborah Lorick, Tina Williams, Curtis & Marion Scott, Cynthia Lomax, Denise Lomax and a host of loved cousins and very close friends.

He was preceded in death by grandmothers Alice Perry and Rosa L. Melvin. Grandfathers, Robert Melvin, Herbert Beal, Horace Lomax, and James L. Hill. Great- grandmother, Alma Jordan. Grand Uncle: Bobby Jordan; Aunts: Dorothy Beal, Sharon Beal-Hill, Joyce Perry Irby; Uncles: Karl (Tony) Melvin; Michael Melvin, William (Mike) Perry, Gary Melvin and some loved cousins and friends.