Beulah Frieda Fosmire

Bea Fosmire returned to the Lord on June 13, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born 96 years ago at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Manford Green Metcalf and Friedel Katherine Kübler. She spent her childhood on the island walking the beach and wishing on the evening stars.

She graduated from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. She won a public speaking contest and scholarship to Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. She transferred to the University of Georgia, where she graduated with a degree in Education with a Major in History.

While at the University of Georgia she met her husband Bill, at the Wesley Foundation, the University’s Methodist youth group. They were married in 1951 at Baker Village Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

She was a woman of deep Christian faith, and if women could have been ordained at the time, she would have chosen the ministry as her profession. Instead, she did the next best thing and married a minister. Together, she and Bill served a circuit of five churches in the North Georgia Conference. Before starting a family, she taught history in high school to help Bill complete Chandler Seminary at Emory University.

In 1955, Bill became an Army Chaplain. Bea was thrilled to be returning to her roots, as she was raised in a military family. She loved the travel, the bonding with life-long friendships and the opportunities in ministry within the military family. Their thirty-year tour in the military took them to many places in the world.

After Bill retired from the Army, she enrolled at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois and received her graduate degree in Theology, majoring in Communications and the Bible. She is the author of two books, Growing Pains: The Risks and Rewards of Love and a children’s book, Sammy Smedley and the Power Within. She served in public relations with the Chicago Bible Society where Bill was the Director. In this role, she wrote the material for the booklet, Is This All There Is? for the Cook County prison ministry.

In 1980, she and Bill moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia, thus returning to her youthful days of walking the beach. She was active in Bible teaching and leadership roles at St. Simons United Methodist Church and later at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Along the way, it was her privilege and joy to have organized and led Girl Scouts in many parts of the world. She served as a leader and later as a Lay Director for The Walk to Emmaus in the South Georgia communities. She also served in the Christian Ashrams in Georgia and North Carolina.

After Bill died in an airplane crash in 1991, she left St. Simons Island and moved to Flat Rock, North Carolina. She became active with the First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, teaching the Bible and serving on various ministry teams.

She was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs.

She thanked the Lord daily for the blessings and love she received.

She is survived by her three daughters, Kathy Fosmire Griner (husband, Don Griner) of Athens, Georgia, Teri Fosmire of Horse Shoe, North Carolina and Susan Fosmire Davis (husband, Ron Davis) of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Stephen Griner (wife, Angela Griner) of Atlanta, Georgia, Allison Collins (husband, Jason Collins) of Macon, Georgia and Hunter Trombetta (wife, Jena Trombetta) of Hendersonville, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Will and Aiden Griner of Atlanta, Georgia and Whit and Ellee Bea Collins of Macon, Georgia; along with many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill Fosmire; her parents, Manford and Friedel Metcalf; sisters, Elsie McCloskey and Hedy Metcalf; and brothers, John Metcalf and Manford Metcalf.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 1:00. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Karen Easter-Bayne and the Rev. Allison Collins. She will be buried at St. Simons Island, Georgia beside Bill, with the Rev. Dr. Jerry Roe and the Rev. Allison Collins conducting the graveside service.

Memorial Gifts can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville (Marge Kahrer Scholarship) by clicking HERE, or to the Elizabeth House of Flat Rock, North Carolina by clicking HERE.

Church Street Funeral & Cremation is honored to serve the family, assisted by Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, Georgia.