Percival Thomas Beacroft, Jr.

Percival Beacroft Jr., age 91, of Woodville, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, surrounded by friends. Born in Freeport, Texas, April 21, 1935, Percival Beacroft, Jr., was the son of Pollye Maddox and Percival Beacroft, Sr. Known to many of his friends as simply “Perc,” he graduated from Brazosport High School in 1953, and enrolled at Southern Methodist University the same year. After earning a BA in history, Percival entered Southern Methodist School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree. Upon receiving his law degree, he moved to England where he pursued studies in International Law at University College, London England.

Returning to the U.S., Percival joined Chase Bank in New York working in the Special Development Program to the International Department. He soon discovered that he was not interested in a banking career and joined the New York law firm Weissberger & Frosch, a well-respected firm specializing in Literary and Theatrical Law. He always credited his aunt, Mrs. R. E. Stringfellow, for the opportunities she provided him in pursuing his life endeavors.

Percival obtained his New York real estate license while living in New York and launched a Manhattan firm with partners Ernesto and Leonard Caldeira. A West Side townhouse and a historic Hudson River estate were among the properties in their portfolio.

In 1970, Percival found a landmark property in Mississippi that had long been overlooked. Located in Woodville, Mississippi, Rosemont Plantation had been the family home of Jefferson Davis with five generations living there until 1895. Rosemont was unknown to most historians, but Percival remembered reading about it as a teenager. He went to Woodville, Mississippi, and after three days, found Rosemont, alone in the woods, with no electricity, no water, and the home had not been painted in over fifty years. He bought Rosemont in 1971 and completely restored the property. It is now a house museum and open to the public. In addition to Rosemont, Percival restored and saved historic structures in New York, New Orleans, and Texas, winning awards for each restoration.

Percival was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church, a member of National Society Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Military Order of the Stars and Bars. He was also a member of the University Club of New York. He was a trustee of the Papers of Jefferson Davis at Rice University, a trustee of the Texas Pioneers Art Foundation, a member of the Executive Board of Dedman College, Southern Methodist University, and a trustee of the Texas Historical Foundation.

He lived in his later years at Rosemont and will be interred in the Rosemont cemetery. His survivors are nephew, Stephen M. Loomis and wife Mary Kay of Naples, Florida, his nieces, Felicity Povoas of Frankby, England and Wendy Briggs of Wimbledon, England, his cousins, Stuart Cayer of Lake Jackson, Texas and Arthur Cayer of Friendswood, Texas, and his many friends who he considered as family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Rosemont Plantation, P.O. Box 814, Woodville, MS 39669, in support of its educational programs.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Woodville, Mississippi, on June 13, 2026, 11am.