My grandmother, Mary Gannam Saraf Beecher died Sept. 28 at Hospice Savannah. She was 90 years old. Grandma was born in Manchester, New Hampshire to Annie Abraham and Karem George Gannam. She had been a resident of Savannah for 81 years. Grandma was a communicant of St. James Catholic Church, a homemaker, and ran her own grocery store in her younger years. She was the widow of George Abdulkerim Saraf and Harold Pason Beecher.

Survivors are sons, Philip and Antoine Saraf both of Savannah and George Saraf of Rincon; five daughters, Phyllis McShane of Sun City, South Carolina, Antoinette Kastensmidt of Round Rock, Texas, and Mary Anne Fischer, Rose Tootle and Iris Smith, all of Savannah; a brother, Michael J. Gannam of Savannah; 25 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.

Visitation was at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel; Mass of Christian Burial was at St. James Catholic Church, and burial was at Bonaventure Cemetery.

My grandma, Mary Gannam Saraf Beecher, was a special woman - a tough old broad - a philosopher - a preacher - a person who loved to feed people - physically, spiritually, emotionally. She loved to laugh and her laugh was loud and infectious. Her greatest blessings were the grand babies and great grand babies her children and grandchildren brought home to place in her arms - she could see her life in them. She was a prayerful woman - her rosary always in the pocket of her apron. She loved God and the beauty and glory of His creations.

All the good that I am and all the good that I do are in great part because of her. She always cared enough to preach about anything she felt I should hear. The lessons she taught me by example are too numerous to mention but are learned well and guarded in my heart. She is the model for all I hope to be - she is and will forever be my hero. I love you Grandma. Kim

Listen to Grandma's responses to questions asked as we videotaped her in her back yard at 311 Paradise Drive in Savannah, Georgia in 1987. Oliver is videotaping her (trying not to let her know) Kim is interviewing (trying to record her words of wisdom for her descendants and for some reason her Georgia accent become prominent). Also present are Ashley and Christopher Peters, Mary Ann Saraf Fischer, Jayne Swiderski Fischer and Robbie Fischer, Jr. and of course, Maurice and Gigi, the French poodles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBzulnvT8LI

Photos: 1. Birth Certificate with name given by Grandpa Gannam at the time. 2. Grandma's baptism - notice the dove in the cage. 3. Grandma with her brother. 4. Grandma from photo in her father's store in Manchester, NH around age 8 - notice her bowed leg - that's how we identified her. 5. Grandma before 1926. 6. Family photos taken before 1941. 7. Grandma in her store (Not sure of year - but after Grandpa Saraf was murdered on June 13, 1941). 8. Grandma on Hopkins Street in front of the house. 9. Grandma, Great Grandpa Gannam, Step Grandpa Harold, Miss Lizzie (Grandpa's second wife), unknown. 10, 11, 12 - photos of Grandma taken for Church Directory through the years. 13. Family Reunion 1985 at Fort Screven: Clockwise Left bottom: Phyllis, Rose, George, Iris (red dress), Phillip, Mary Ann, Antoine (Bogie), Antoinette (kneeling) Toni, Grandma in pink dress. 14. Grandma in front of her house at 311 Paradise Drive: Great grand Ashley Peters, Grand daughter Aubrey Smith, Great Grand Christopher Peters 15. Grandma circa 1999.