William Mack &uot;Speed&uot; Beale, 77, of the 700 block of Dunedin Road, Portsmouth, died Friday, May 28, 2004, in Portsmouth Naval Hospital, following a lengthy illness. A native of Suffolk, he was a son of the late William Benjamin Beale and Idonia Beale-Bemory.

He was a 1946 graduate of the former East Suffolk High School, and had retired from the U.S. Army after 24 years of service.

He attended El Paso Comm unity College, El Paso, Texas where he majored in psychology.

A member of Prince Hall Masonic Order he was a Grand Inspector General, 33rd degree.

Mr. Beale is survived by his wife of 43 years, Renate W. Beale, and a son, Andre William Beale, both of Portsmouth; three daughters, Kassandara B. Madison (Charles) of Philadelphia, Pa.; Artis M. Tait of Chesterfield; and Tamara Gwathmey (Spencer) of Richmond; two brothers, Fred D. Beale of Suffolk, and Joseph T. Beale (Ross) of Irvington, N.J.; five sisters, Mary B. Duncan and Allie B. Colbert of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Marion B. Wright and Janice B. Howell (Donald) of Suffolk; and Carol B. Diggs (Henry) of Portsmouth; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, a devoted aunt, Esther Eure of Trenton, N.J.; two special cousins, Leola Clark and Essie Clark of Suffolk; and many nieces nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in T.E. Cooke Overton Funeral Home. Interment will be in Carver Memorial Park.

Viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home

Arrangements are being handled by Cooke-Overton Funeral Home.