James Mcentire Beck

James McEntire Beck

James McEntire Beck, age 94, of Valdosta died on May 7, 2011, at home. Born in Eton, Georgia, on May 5, 1917, to Eugene Henry Beck and Edmonia Hopson Beck, he was the 5th of 6 children in the family. He moved to Valdosta in 1922 when his father became Superintendent of the Lowndes County Schools and his mother was the dietician at Georgia State Women’s College, now Valdosta State University.

Mr. Beck attended the training school at Georgia State Women’s College for grades one through five, then Valdosta public schools before graduating from Valdosta High School in 1934. Following the deaths of his parents, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked for the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and attended evening classes at George Washington University.

Mr. Beck enlisted in the army in early 1941, attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry in 1942. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 362nd Infantry Regiment of the 91st Division and saw 18 months of combat in North Africa and Italy, including the campaigns of Rome-Arno, Po Valley and the Appenines. He rose to the rank of Major and was awarded the Bronze Star for Heroic Achievement and the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action. Of the Silver Star, he wrote home in 1945, “Today an order was issued awarding me the Silver Star for something called heroic achievement in action. Frankly, I haven’t done anything others wouldn’t do under the same circumstances, and I feel foolish accepting such an award. After all, awards are of secondary importance – there are too many other things to consider in battle – primarily self-preservation. Nevertheless, I can say with a clear conscience that I have never hesitated to go where I felt duty called. It goes without saying that death has knocked on my door, but I was out. It wasn’t meant for me.”

Upon release from the service, Mr. Beck returned to Valdosta where he married Betty Mathis, the daughter of the late J. E. (Ed) Mathis and Ethel Johnson Mathis. He worked for a few years in the produce business with his older brother Henry before becoming manager of the Ashley Oaks Motel and Restaurant, which he successfully operated for 25 years.

Mr. Beck served on the Board of Directors of First Federal Savings & Loan in Valdosta from 1958 – 2001, serving as its Chairman beginning in 1993. He also served for 20 years on the Advisory Board of Citizens & Southern National Bank (now Bank of America).

Mr. Beck was highly active in community affairs. He was a member of the Valdosta Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years. He served five years as a member of the Lowndes County Planning Commission. He served as a member of the Hospital Authority and on the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation. He was a member of the Valdosta Kiwanis Club for over fifty years, a lifetime member of the American Legion, Elks, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served twice as President of the Valdosta Country Club. He was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church and the Seekers Sunday School Class.
A dedicated public servant, Mr. Beck served Valdosta three terms as Mayor (1966-1970 and 1972-1974) and then represented Valdosta and Hahira for 16 years in the Georgia House of Representatives. As a Representative, Mr. Beck served on the House Appropriations, the University System of Georgia and Banks and Banking Committees. Locally, Mr. Beck served as Chairman of the capital campaign to raise funds to construct the current YMCA facility on Gornto Road. His leadership was responsible for the building of the James M. Beck Overpass in downtown Valdosta, and he was given credit for saving the airport when a state group wanted to consolidate it with those of two other area cities. In 1984, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Mr. Beck and his father, Eugene Henry Beck, for being the only father and son to have served in the Georgia Legislature one hundred years apart. E. H. Beck served as a Representative from Lumpkin County from 1882 through 1883, Brooks County from 1911 through 1912, Murray County from 1915 through 1916 and the extra session in 1917; and as a Senator representing Gordon, Murray and Whitfield Counties from 1917 through 1918.

In his later years, Mr. Beck often began his day at Publix, discussing politics and world events with the June Norwood Coffee Club including special friend Randall Adams. He worked out regularly in a fitness class at the YMCA and spent part of each day emailing friends and reading the news. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, daily walks with his dog, and baking his special almond cream pies for friends and neighbors. In 2007, Mr. Beck was part of the first group of area veterans to make the Honor Flight trip to the WWII memorial in Washington, DC. In 2009, he was a recipient of the Lowndes County Historical Society’s Keepers of History Award.

Survivors are his wife of 64 years, Betty Mathis Beck of Valdosta; daughters and sons-in-law, Betty Gene and Gary Birdwell of Marietta; Jenny and Riley Howard of Valdosta; and Mary Jane and Al Rakel of Tucker; grandchildren Christina (David) Nimri of Franklin, Tennessee, and James (Melanie) Upchurch of Kirkland, Washington; his first great-grandchildren are expected in August and October. Several nieces and nephews also survive him. The family expresses much appreciation to his dedicated caregivers Debbie Nawolski, Annie Alderman, Christine Koon, Jacquelyn King, Carol Greene, Sarah Cain, Candy Williamsen, and Wanda Gonzales for making his final year more comfortable. Special thanks from the family to Laura Leonard, Dr. Thomas Hobby and his Hospice nurse, Stacey Brinkley.

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Valdosta. Dr. Bob Moon and the Reverend John McGowan will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 109 W. Valley Street, Valdosta, GA 31601; YMCA’s Youth & Teen Center Fund, 2424 Gornto Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602; or Hospice of South Georgia, 2263 Pineview Dr., Valdosta, GA 31602. The family will receive friends at Carson McLane Funeral Home on Monday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Carson McLane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com .



Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602