Beverly Walton McDonald Goff

Beverly Walton McDonald Goff died peacefully on March 30, 2017, following several hospitalizations and complications the preceding winter. Beverly was surrounded by her family when she died and lifted by the love of many in the Birmingham area and beyond. Beverly, a native of Waycross, Ga., was the daughter of the late Frank Bartow McDonald, Jr. and Georgia Ann Allen McDonald. She graduated from Waycross High School and the University of Georgia, where she majored in education, and was a member of Chi Omega sorority, Mu Beta Chapter, also serving as chapter president. Upon graduation, Beverly taught school for several years before finding her true calling as the best mud pie making, puddle stomping, swim team cheering, "may-i-see-you-for-a-moment" Mom in all the world. She still holds this position, as far as her children are concerned, and they will forever reach for the phone to call and let her know they got home safe. Beverly was tremendously loved by her family, and is survived by her husband of 60 years, John Hedges Goff, Jr., brother Frank (Jennel) Bartow McDonald III, daughter Georgia Goff Duke, son John Chandler (Courtney) Goff and four grandchildren she was pretty sure she would never get, John Campbell Goff, Addison Parker Goff, Hannah Walton Duke, and Oliver Miller Goff. Beverly took a piece of each of our hearts with her, but left a piece of her heart behind in each of us. Any send off for Beverly would be incomplete without mentioning her generosity of spirit and involvement in the community through South Highland Presbyterian Church, where she served as Elder and devoted great energy and passion developing and guiding the Flower Committee. Beverly was also a member of Service Guild (Past Active member and former President), Silhouettes, and Ballerinas Club. Beverly's love of floral design and all things flowers was well known and her skill highly regarded in the community. Beverly brought beauty to the world around her, and loved finding beauty in the world. She and John travelled extensively following his retirement, from Russia to China to Kenya to Greece and points across the globe. It would be easier to list the places John and Beverly have not visited than those they did. Beverly famously chose to ride a donkey down a mountain in Rhodes, Greece (this was not what she thought she signed up for), terrified her family by flipping a 4-stroke ski mobile in Jackson Hole, Wy, and made lifelong friends from across the world at dinner tables in Inns and aboard ships throughout their travels. A memorial service will be held for Beverly at South Highland Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 5 at 2:00 in the afternoon. The family welcomes guests to share memories of Beverly following the service in the courtyard behind the sanctuary. Memorials may be made in Beverly's name to the South Highland Church Foundation, Attn: Flower Guild.