Tribute to Women: Pam Beck
/Winston Churchill wrote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Volunteer extraordinaire Pam Beck has given countless hours to the Texarkana community, and this service has shaped her life.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Pam attended an all-girls Catholic high school, which instilled in her an ethic of service. “To pass [religion class] you had to volunteer, so I started volunteering at East Jefferson Hospital as a candy striper every week,” she said. “I absolutely loved it and continued volunteering there after I graduated and until I moved to Texarkana at age 20.”
Though Pam initially relocated to Texarkana to marry, she chose to stay after getting divorced. “I thought about moving back [to Louisiana] but decided Texarkana would be a better place to raise my son, Jon Robert,” she said. She worked at Temporary Services Unlimited for Brenda Maxey, first as a temp and then in their office. At 24, when she and her then-husband purchased The Woodland Apartments, Brenda was an invaluable resource. “She taught me bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, human relations, worker’s compensation and the list goes on and on,” Pam recalled. “She taught me everything I would need to know to own my own business.”
Pam is still in property management to this day, as the sole owner and supervisor of Willow Crest Apartments in Abilene. However, in Texarkana, she is known less for how she makes a living and more for how she makes her life—through service.
Pam is the treasurer of the PGISD Education Foundation, an organization of which she has been an active member (including three years as president) since its inception in 2007. Prior to that, when her son attended Pleasant Grove, she served as PTA president, room mom and fundraiser coordinator.
She was an active member of the Junior League of Texarkana for 11 years, during which time she served “in many capacities: everything from community placements to Mistletoe Fair chairman, treasurer, community vice president and president,” Pam recalled. She currently acts as secretary and treasurer for the sustainers.
Pam is a past president of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Friends of the Foundation Board and a current member of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Foundation Board. She has especially loved volunteering with the Texas Dental Association Mission of Mercy, in partnership with St. Michael’s, to provide free dental care to people in need.
From 2005 to 2019, Pam volunteered for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, three times as race chairperson. For 10 years, she sat on the Susan G. Komen Texarkana Affiliate Board, once as president.
Pam loves a challenge. This photo was taken when she climbed Multnomah Falls with her son, Jon Robert.
At St. Edward Catholic Church, Pam has sat on the finance council since 2010. She is an active congregant, former Sunday-school teacher and regular volunteer.
Her most recent role is that of volunteer coordinator for the 2023 Twice as Fine Texarkana Wine Festival, benefiting the Alzheimer’s Alliance.
Volunteerism often benefits the volunteer as much as it does the community, a truth ever-present in Pam’s life. Looking back on her young adulthood—a time of single parenthood and self-employment in a new town—she reflected that volunteering was a liferaft. “Volunteering helped me find my village here in Texarkana,” she said.
FSLM asked Pam ...
What’s something most people don’t know about you? I love to travel. I really just started traveling in 2015 with a trip to Rome. I had hoped I would be able to travel someplace every year. I went to India in 2016, Greece in 2017, South America in 2019 and then COVID hit. I am looking forward to traveling at the end of this year to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
What’s your favorite local spot to spend time? I have recently started doing hot yoga at TXK Yoga with my son and daughter-in-law and am really loving it.
What words of wisdom would you offer to your past self? Don’t always focus on the finish line; enjoy the journey.
Beth Pesek’s words on Pam Beck
It’s an honor to nominate Pam Beck as an honoree for her dedication and commitment of giving her time and talents to serve others. I can’t recall when I first met Pam, but we’ve attended the same church for years, and I taught her son, Jon Robert, while he was a Pleasant Grove High School student. She is strong in her faith which is shown by her actions. We are currently serving together on the CHRISTUS St. Michael Foundation Board, and over the past several years, I’ve served with Pam on the CHRISTUS St. Micheal Friends of the Foundation Board. Projects we’ve worked on together include successful drawdowns and silent auctions for our church, Texarkana’s Great Duck Race sponsored by CHRISTUS St. Michael, silent auctions for CHRISTUS St. Michael’s galas and the Texas Mission of Mercy, providing free dental care to those in need. We often sit together at the 1st Choice Pregnancy Center fall fundraiser events. When I think of Pam, I see someone with a true servant’s heart. Working closely with others gives an insight to a person’s true self, and Pam is compassionate, organized and meticulous, as well as one who makes the tasks enjoyable. I love working with others who have a giving heart like Pam.