Major James Maxwell Beckworth

Major James Maxwell Beckworth, US Army Retired, born on December 20, 1928, in Baxley, Georgia, went to be with the Lord on March 29, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 12:30 pm at Northeast Presbyterian Church, 601 Polo Road, Columbia, South Carolina with Reverend Eric Walter officiating the service. The family will receive friends one hour before the service in the church grand hall. The burial will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery following the service with Military Honors.

Major Beckworth was a supporting member of the Combats Veterans Group since it was founded by Reverend Bobby Farmer at Northeast Presbyterian Church to support and help combat veterans adjust with PTSD and other combat injuries. Major Beckworth was a Vietnam Combat veteran, a graduate of the Army Intelligence School and served as an intelligence officer in Vietnam from 1964 – 1965. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Marksmen, two bronze stars, three Army commendation medals, one joint service commendation medal, and other awards and certificates of excellence during his 25 years of army service. Thirteen years were served overseas in Korea, Japan, Vietnam (two tours), one year in Thailand as an infantry regimental advisor, and Germany (three tours). His service in Germany included an infantry platoon leader, company commander, Executive Officer and Commander and a tour at V Corps Support Command and finishing as an Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics Operations and Services in 1970. His Mac V duties while serving in Vietnam October 1970 – 1971 were as follows: a liaison staff officer working with Thai Army forces, Australian and New Zealand combat forces in Vietnam with Vietnamese and Thai languages capability. He completed Vietnamese and Thai language courses at DLIWC at Monterrey, California in 1963 and 1967. He also studied German in Frankfurt, Germany 1970, and became fluent in the German language. He was an expert rifle marksmanship officer and was officer in charge of the 7th Infantry Regiment 3rd Division Pre-Leclerc Nato marksmanship program winning both the 3rd Infantry Division and V Corps Championships in 1958 (2nd place) and 1959 (1st place).

Major Beckworth’s second career was as an insurance agent from 1972 to 1990 with Travelers Insurance Company. He was a graduate of the Travelers Insurance Financial Planning and Agent School and the Life Underwriters Council School. He was a million-dollar producer in life, health and investments. Major Beckworth also completed a degree in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University in 1982.

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Erna P. Beckworth and his son Michael Paul Beckworth. He leaves behind three children: John Paul Beckworth (Patsy), Patricia (Patty) Beckworth Lamont, and Cynthia (Cindy) Beckworth Cummings; and four grandchildren, Billy Beckworth, Catherine E. Woods (John), Emma C. Bauknight (Connor) and Maria C. Cummings (Tommy); and five great-grandchildren.

He enjoyed gardening, deer hunting, bowling and watching his granddaughters play sports.

Memorials can be made to your favorite veterans support group.