About

Many of you, our loyal customers, have been around for long enough to know a bit of our story, but for those who don't, welcome to Beckley Candles (formerly Beckley's Best Blends). We are now a second-generation, small-town, family business, established in 1999. My name is Amanda, my daughter Cecelia (CeCe) is always by my side helping, mostly by bringing in customers with her adorable little smile that no one can pass up. 

My parents, Joe and Marie, began making candles when I was 11 years old, so I grew up helping with parts of the candle process and going to shows. I knew that one day I wanted to eventually take over my parents' business once they were ready to retire, unfortunately, that isn't how it happened.

On June 26, 2020, my family's world changed when my dad, Joe, died by suicide at the age of 55, after a long battle with depression, caused by the surfacing of repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse by a family member. He fought his battle privately for many years before sharing with Mom, who kept his secret until his death. We all knew Dad was going through something, but we had attributed it to the death of his father, he was very good at keeping us from seeing the extent of his pain and suffering. His death shook our world to its core. If only he could have known the impact of his life on so many people.

I had been living in a van on the beaches of Maui when I woke to the news. I immediately returned home to help care for Mom, who was hardly functioning with the weight of her grief. When she was ready to open the candle business back up after Dad's passing, I was by her side helping run the business. It took the help of many family members and friends to try and fill Dad's shoes, especially in those first months. Over the next few years, I helped Mom run the business, making candles and going to shows.

Mom began not feeling well in the second half of 2022, though I believe it began long before that. Grief can wreak havoc on your body, causing many illnesses, and in my heart, I know that to be my mom's truth. When we were able to convince her to see a doctor, she was diagnosed with cancer. We lost her 6 brutal months later on December 29, 2023 at the age of 55. 

I find some peace in believing that Mom and Dad are together once again where they belong, but the pain of missing them is too large to soothe. We have just learned to live with the hole in our hearts. Unfortunately, Mom was not able to stay with us long enough to meet my daughter, who I was pregnant with at the time. I have been able to find comfort in the belief that both Mom and Dad were able to know my sweet girl, to hold her and love her, before she came to me. I named her Cecelia Joelene after them both (Mom's first name was Cecelia). She will grow up in the candle shop just like I did, and maybe one day she will carry on the family business as the 3rd generation.

If you are interest in reading about how Mom and Dad got started in the candle world go to "Our Story" at the top of the page.

After Dad's passing Mom made it her mission to spread awareness about childhood sexual abuse and suicide. She teamed up with the kNot Today Foundation and created a candle in Dad's memory, the Unbreakeable candle, where 100% of the proceedes are donated. Since the candle was launched in June of 2021, Beckley Candles has donated nearly $20,000 to the kNot Today Foundation. I will continue to sell the Unbreakable candle in the memory of both Mom and Dad. Your support is very much welcomed and appreciated.

You can learn/watch about the Unbreakable candle we created in Dad’s memory and the cause it’s supporting here.