Beverly Carpenter Coates

COLUMBIA – Beverly Carpenter Coates went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, due to heart failure. She was born on September 6, 1937, in Culpeper, VA to Jesse Boyd Carpenter Jr., and Mary Boswell Inskeep. While attending Culpeper High School, she excelled in academics, varsity cheerleading and varsity basketball. After graduating high school, she attended Westhampton College in Richmond, VA and Longwood College in Farmville, VA. She would later earn her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Carolina in 1991 while continuing to work full-time.

Professionally, her first career began in 1957-1960 as the Executive Secretary for then President of the University of South Carolina, Robert Llewellyn Sumwalt. After a three-year hiatus to start a family, from 1963-1964, she was the Executive Secretary in the Columbia SC office for then Senator Olin D. Johnston. In 1964 she began a 35-year career as an Executive Secretary to the President of First National Bank, and through mergers, remained an Executive Secretary for SC National Bank and later Wachovia Bank. Upon retirement, she was given the “Wachovia, Appreciation for 35 Years of Meritorious and Loyal Service” Certificate.

After “retiring” in 1999, she started her second and most rewarding career, combining her administrative skills with her passion for Christ to serve others. As a full-time volunteer, she focused on serving law enforcement personnel and their families. For 25+ years she was associated with CAROLINA CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS (C.O.P.S.), a non-profit organization that provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line-of-duty. Here she served in several roles, including editor of the newsletter, Vice President, President, and Board Member. For 20+ years she was associated with the SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SCLEAP), part of the LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINCY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA (LECSC), a non-profit associated that serves to support the law enforcement community with faith-based counseling and related-services.

Suzie Sawyer, Executive Director Emeritus, C.O.P.S. wrote; “I had the privilege and honor to know Beverly Coates because of the tragic death of her son [Trooper Mark H. Coates, EOW 11/20/1992] who was a SC State Trooper. She took the grief and sorrow she experienced and reached out to other grieving law enforcement surviving families. She brought peace and comfort to many survivors not just in SC but across the nation. When people needed support, Beverly was there.”

Listed are some of the recognitions she received for her tireless volunteer service:

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division-Chief’s Award / South Carolina Department of Public Safety ( In Deep Appreciation For Your Many Years of Selfless Service, Devotion and Commitment to Our Law Enforcement and Their Families) / Carolina Concerns of Police Survivors - In Sincere Appreciation For Your Dedication And Service / State of South Carolina House of Representatives - Honor and Recognize Congratulating the Outstanding Citizen For Her Hard Work And Dedication To The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office / Member of Congress Special Congressional Recognition - Recognition of Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community / The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow.

She also served Columbia Free Medical Clinic as a Board Member, Chairman of the Board, and Chairman of the Building Committee.

Another passion was her love of her home-church – Virginia Wingard Memorial UMC – and her life-long membership with the United Methodist Church. At her church, she held numerous lay-leader positions including, President-United Methodist Women, Finance Chair, Fund-Raising Committee Chair, and member of the Church Council. At the Columbia District-level, she was a member of the Congressional Development Committee and Delegate to the Annual Conference (8 years). At the SC Conference level, she was Chair-Age Level & Family Committee, and Associate Lay Leader. She was recognized by the United Methodist Church with "The United Methodist Church-The Women’s Division General Board of Global Ministries, A Special Mission Recognition." She was also a long-time member of the church choir.

In her spare time, she was a voracious reader, including mystery, history, and “slice-of-life” novels, and would speed through Crossword puzzle books. She would also binge TV episodes of NCIS and various Britcoms, but only after her nightly ritual of watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.

She is survived by her brother Jesse Boyd Carpenter III (Missy) of Culpeper, VA, her daughter, Kelley Knotts (Jeff) of Greer, SC; son, John Coates (Amy) of Dunwoody, GA.; daughter-in-law, LuAlice Coates of Chapin, SC; granddaughters, Katie Indovino (Anthony) of Lexington, SC, Emily Muniz (Brandon) of Wendell, NC, and Mary Emma Coates of Dunwoody, GA; grandsons, Brandon Coates (Jessie) and Tyler Coates (Sarah) of Lexington, SC, and Hunter Coates of Dunwoody, GA; step-grandchildren, Jessica Baker (Jason) of Summerville, SC, Courtney Rauch (Karl) of Chapin, SC, Michael Knotts (Victoria) of Charlotte NC and Haylee Knotts of Greenville, SC; great-granddaughters Rynn Coates, Teale Coates, Tollie Coates, and Harper Indovino; great-grandsons Ridgely Coates, Tate Coates, Aiden Indovino, Luca Indovino, and Owen Muniz; step-great-grandchildren, Adilyn Aldridge, Riley Rauch, Reid Rauch, and Colman Baker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and son, Trooper Mark H. Coates.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday February 18, 2023, at Virginia Wingard Memorial UMC, at 1500 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends onsite after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “Virginia Wingard Memorial Methodist Church,” 1500 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. Or “Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina,” PO Box 6426, Columbia, SC 29260.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedutchfork.com for the Coates family.