Beverly Wheelless Knowles, affectionately known as “Bug”, age 71, a resident of Dothan passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 surrounded by love and cherished memories.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm at The Episcopal Church of Nativity on Saturday, January 4, 2025 with Rev. John Coleman officiating. A private family burial will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery with Glover Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm until 1:45 pm in the Parrish Hall at the church prior to services.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Wiregrass Humane Society at P.O. Box 1045 Dothan, AL 36302.
Bug was born on December 11, 1953, in Dothan, Alabama, to Hugh Ward Wheelless Sr. and Billie Freeman Wheelless. She graduated from Dothan High School in 1972. During her time at Dothan High, she was honored to serve as Sophomore Beauty and was a member of the Homecoming Court all three years of high school. Following her high school years, she attended Auburn University, where she was a proud member of the Alpha Delta Phi sorority and pursued her passion for Early Childhood Education. She earned her degree in 1976 and returned to her hometown to begin a lifelong dedication to teaching young minds. Bug worked as a Kindergarten, First, and Second-grade teacher in the Dothan City Schools system, where she touched countless lives with her kindness, patience, and dedication until her retirement.
After retiring, Bug devoted much of her time to her mother, Billie. Together, they spent their days crafting beautiful creations and tending to their flower gardens, sharing laughter and love along the way. Bug’s compassionate spirit extended to animals as well; she was an avid animal lover and volunteered her time with the Wiregrass Humane Society, advocating for and caring for animals in need.
Summers brought joy and relaxation as Bug spent cherished time at the lake with her children and friends. She was a source of light, always bringing warmth and laughter to those around her.
Bug was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dwayne Knowles; her daughter, Jessi Knowles; her parents, Hugh Ward Wheelless Sr. and Billie Freeman Wheelless; her sister, Patricia Wheelless (Goldman) Paschen; and her brother, Hugh Ward Wheelless Jr.
She is survived by her loving son, James Dwayne Knowles Jr. (Elizabeth) of Auburn; her adored granddaughter, Elizabeth Grace “Lizzy Grace” Knowles of Auburn; other family members, Trip Wheelless (Michelle), Barbara Wheelless, Hayes Wheelless (Paola Ramirez), Richard Goldman, Beth Knowles Cain (Tom of Webb and Dot Knowles Bristow (Lowell) of Columbia, Courtney Bristow Henderson (Jamie), Jamie Sewell (Nick), Caleb Bristow (Freda). Bug’s life was also graced by special friends Casey Phillips and Sherry Hodgson, who remained close to her heart.
Bug’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to family, friends, and community. She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those she touched.
Serving as pallbearers will be Darren Kennard, Will Sconyers, Brock Hodgson, David Reves Forrester, Josh West, Landon Wheelless, and Brannon Vann.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com
