Elizabeth Ann Walton of Cataula, Georgia passed away peacefully at Columbus Hospice on April 1, 2021. The middle child of the late Bob and Jo Walton, Beth is survived by her brother Robert Walton (Mitzi Oxford), her younger sister, Brenda Hall and her adoring brother-in-law, Ken, with whom Beth resided, nephews James Hall (Lisa) of Augusta, Brian Hall (Heather Hollstein) of Upatoi, John Maxwell, Jr (Merian) of Columbus, Robert Maxwell of Helen, and Robert Walton, Jr, of Columbus, ten great nieces and nephews (Natalie, Garrett, Khloe, Garrett, Madilee, JT, Henry, Memphis, Caroline, and Walton), her aunt Tabitha Pope of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and many loving cousins.
Born on April 29th, 1958 in Spartanburg, South Carolina with oxygen deprivation at birth, Beth’s life began at a time when disabilities in newborns almost always meant a life of institutionalization. Despite this, Beth’s parents had big plans for the daughter they cherished. Through their relentless political efforts in the middle 1960s as leaders in two organizations called the Columbus Association for Retarded Children and the Georgia Association for Retarded Children, special education was established in Georgia. The first classroom in Columbus for special ed was at Edwina Wood School where Beth and eight other children were students. She continued attending special education classes until graduating in 1982 from the neighborhood high school, Hardaway, marking one of the proudest days in not only Beth’s life, but the lives of her parents.
Beth had an active life in Columbus participating in gardening, bowling, pottery, Special Olympics and Therapeutic Recreations at Pop Austin with her special friends whom she loved, especially "Harry Jack" and Margaret Burrus. During more than 40 years of Special Olympics participation, Beth won hundreds of medals. Although each medal was important to Beth, in the eyes of her sister Brenda and her brother-in-law Ken, the most memorable were the silver medals they won playing together at the Georgia games as Beth’s unified partners in bocce.
Beth loved with her whole heart and her goal each day was to make sure the people around her were happy. There were two places that brought Beth the most joy, her house and the beach, and through her many trips to Florida, Beth had an extended family of friends who helped her to feel unconditionally loved as the beautiful soul she was. Beth was a social person and loved to be around people, especially at church. Her understanding of God and Jesus began at home and grew as a young girl as she attended services at Edgewood Church of Christ. During the Covid pandemic, Beth wasn’t able enjoy the fellowship at Hunter Road Baptist Church but she watched on Facebook. She loved that Pastor Brad Parker and his wife Amy were Auburn University graduates, and she even gave a “War Eagle” shout once in church during a sermon.
Beth especially loved The Price is Right, The Andy Griffith Show, and all comedies from the 1960s and 70s when television was charming and had a great message. She never watched a scary movie or damaged her body with life's vices. Her clean living and child-like mind were major factors in her total purity of mind, body and soul. Services to honor the love in Beth’s heart will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Edgewood Hall, on Macon Road in Columbus at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation in Beth’s memory to Columbus Hospice at 7020 Moon Road in Columbus, Georgia 31909.
