Beverly Ann McCall Garrett

Beverly Anne McCall Garrett passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the early morning of November 20th, 2024 at the age of 72. Bev succumbed to a years long battle with lymphoma and leukemia. As one of her physicians put it, “she fought with grace, and grit, and elegance”.

“Bev” was the 3rd child of four born to Chester and Mildred McCall in Brookhaven, PA on October 4th, 1952. She was full of energy, a self-proclaimed tom-boy, who loved running the streets, creeks, and fields around the home her father had built. Her childhood was unique in that she lived on the same street as her grandparents, and nearly all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her childhood stories were legendary, and she told them often. At a young age she put her faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She told anyone and everyone, that this was the most important decision she’d ever made. She lived the rest of her life in service to Him.

She left Pennsylvania in 1971 to attend Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and graduated four years later with a degree in elementary education. For the next several years she taught at Hampton Park Christian School. It was during this time she met a gangly, goofy, fun-loving boy named Russell. They were married in 1978. Simply put, she was his everything and most agreed, including him, that he’d have been totally lost in life without her.

In 1981, they welcomed their first child, Aaron. Two years later Adam arrived, and 2 years after that, another boy, Will. Bev LOVED being a “Mother of Boys” and she was perfectly suited for it. In the summer of 1986, the family settled in Irmo, SC, and she spent the next 34 years building a life there. She let the boys run wild through the streets, the neighborhood creeks and cut-throughs. She was not afraid to let you fall, but she always picked you back up. She taught her boys that complaining was the most useless of activities, that responsibility was the key to a life well-lived, and that having fun and working hard were not mutually exclusive. She often said “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right”. She was a fixture at school, at church, at baseball fields and in the backyard. Anywhere her boys were found, she was there to support them. Most importantly, she introduced them to Jesus, and she displayed His sacrificial love and grace to them on a daily basis. She prayed for them incessantly. Whether they were sleeping in a room down the hall, or on some foreign battlefield, she prayed for their protection and trusted God to bring them home.

She was many, many things. A Sunday school teacher, an expert baker, an avid reader, and adventurer. On her 60th birthday, she went skydiving with her daughter-in-law Keli. She loved history, crafting, painting, playing the piano and throwing the frisbee. Her gift-giving ability was renowned, and her gift-wrapping was art, not function. She entertained often and if you attended one of her parties, you left with some hand-made favor and some thoughtful nick-nack you didn’t even know you wanted. She decorated her home beautifully and she was an impeccable housekeeper. She made every occasion special and she loved fostering her family’s holiday traditions. Her hands were never idle.

She welcomed three daughters-in-law, Maria, Keli, and Crystal, with love and a servant’s heart. She was a helper and a supporter. She was the proud Grandma to seven grandsons: Ian, Weston, Alex, Elijah, Ty, Ethan, and Chet. She had a unique and special bond with each of them and to them she was their angel on earth.

Her battle with cancer was hard, both for her and for her family. Though she was in pain, she rarely mentioned it. Though she was often weak and tired, she fought valiantly. She said that she would fight with all she had and trust God for the rest. In her last week, she told her family that she was “at peace with whatever happens, and if He wants me home, I’ll go home”. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her, but we know that our separation is only for a little while.

A memorial service for Beverly will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Morningside Baptist Church,1115 Pelham Rd, Greenville, SC 29615.