Beverly Lyn Wickson (Bates) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, following a courageous six-year battle with cancer. She was 80 years old.
Beverly was born on January 11, 1946, in Milan, Tennessee, to the late Bruce T. Bates and Mary N. Bates (Altman). She graduated from Billerica Memorial High School and continued her education at the Peter Bent Brigham School of Nursing, where she earned her Registered Nurse degree. Beverly worked as an RN at Brigham and Women's Hospital on the men's surgical floor and later at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in the surgical recovery room before moving to Plymouth.
After becoming a mother, Beverly sought work that fit family life and discovered a new passion. In the fall of 1974, she began taking dance lessons at Carver Dance Center. What started as a class soon grew into a lifelong commitment. Beverly worked part-time at the studio sewing costumes, assisting with classes, working as a receptionist, helping backstage at recitals, and supporting the studio in countless other ways. She remained part of the Carver Dance Center family for the next 50 years and continued taking dance classes herself for many of those years. Her warmth, dedication, and creativity left a lasting impression on generations of students and parents. In addition to her work at the dance center, Beverly also worked at Tumbleweed Fantasy, a quilting store, and The Sampler, a needlepoint shop.
Beverly was deeply involved in her children's lives, serving as a room mother, troop leader, soccer coach, and Sunday school teacher. She was endlessly supportive and always willing to give her time.
Creativity was at the heart of Beverly's life. Along with dancing, she loved needlepoint, quilting, painting, photography, Nantucket basket making, sewing, and knitting. She was even invited to join a select group of artists to work on a tapestry commemorating Plymouth's centennial.
Travel was another great joy. Beverly traveled throughout the world and visited nearly every state in the U.S. Her two favorite destinations were Disney World and London, which she especially loved visiting with her family and her travel companion, Janice Frates.
Above all else, Beverly's greatest passion was her grandchildren. Known lovingly as "Bema," she never missed a sports game, school event, or birthday party. Whatever her grandchildren were doing, she was there-always their biggest fan.
Beverly was predeceased by her brother, Kenneth Bates. She is survived by her devoted husband, David Wickson; her son, Michael Wickson; her daughter, Jennifer Brown, and son-in-law Bob Brown; her three grandchildren, Colin Brown, Bailey Brown, and Joseph Wickson;* her sister-in-law, Sandy Bates; her nephews, Jeff Bates and his wife Pati Daggett, and Justin Bates and his wife Helen Bates, along with their children Tyler and Trevor;* as well as many cousins and dear friends.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, February 7, from 2:00–6:00 p.m. at Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St. (Rt. 106) Kingston, Massachusetts.A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring; details will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Beverly Wickson to support cancer research and patient care at:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
P.O. Box 849168
Boston, MA 02284
or via dana-farber.org/gift.