Elba "Beba" Bejarano

September 30, 1934 - September 5, 2020

Elba "Beba" Zaldivar Bejarano, age 85 of Milledgeville passed away on September 5, 2020. She was a native of Cuba and had made her home in Milledgeville since 1972. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Jose Roberto Bejarano; daughter, Lourdes B. Suggs (Ricky) of Milledgeville and son, Robert Bejarano of Miami; brother, Armando Zaldivar M.D. of Camaguey, Cuba; grandchildrem, Ashley Marie Avant, Victoria Lucero (Brian), Ricky Lee Suggs (Amber), Kristopher Suggs (Kelly), Amber Holder (Derek); nieces, Elsy Martinez (Raul) and Maria Christina Zaldivar. A few tidbits of a wonderful mother and wife that you might not know... Elba loved horses, particularly Arabian horses. Her father taught her how to ride in his ranch in Camaguey, Cuba. She taught my father how to drive on a Jeep Willy at El Estribo. The cattle ranch. She attended Catholic School, in Camaguey at the Order of Saint Teresa or Teresianas in Spanish, and graduated with a law degree from The University of Havana in 1956. Never a quiet person, she convinced a hijacker not to release a live hand grenade in the plane we were in and helped my baby sister and I escape from the plane through the emergency exit. Varadero, Cuba December 1965. She was instrumental in getting us out of Cuba. She would go almost daily to Department of Immigration to insist they let us leave the country. This went on for ten years. She was an avid reader and taught me to love books. She taught both, my sister and I the importance of an education. In Spain after leaving Cuba, while we waited to come to the States, she exposed us to as much culture as possible. We saw many castles, cathedrals and of course, museums. Knowledge to her was an asset. In Georgia, she became a teacher and got her Master's in Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude from Georgia College. When we woke up to go to school, she would still be sitting at the kitchen table with the books open. Writing term papers by hand, Then type them on an old-fashioned typewriter. No Word or Windows at the time! She would stay up all night studying after taking care of the family all day. She taught Special Education in Baldwin County for nineteen years, no easy feat, and was elected Teacher of the Year in 1981 A fantastic cook and hostess, she and my dad introduced many to an old-fashioned Cuban conga line at their many parties. Married to Dr.Jose R.Bejarano for sixty years and having dated for over nine years, they were together for close to seventy years.. Our parents loved travelling and shared many wonderful moments with my sister and I. She was kind and generous to all, going out of her way to help others no matter if they were family or friends. Famous for her Cuban Black Beans and Flan which she graciously shared with many in town. We will always miss you, Dr.B, and children.