Doris Elizabeth "Beth" Kennedy

Doris Elizabeth "Beth" Kennedy, 78, of Charleston, South Carolina, wife of John Linford Kennedy III, entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 26, 2024. Her memorial service will be held in Grace United Methodist Church on Friday August 30, 2024. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

Beth was born August 30, 1945 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, to the late Haskell Neville Wall and Theda Mae Wall. Beth was the youngest of three daughters and attended Berkeley High School. She began her baccalaureate degree at The University of South Carolina, pausing her education briefly after marrying Jack Kennedy in 1965. They started a family in 1966 with the birth of their first daughter, Kim, and later moved to Charleston where they welcomed their second daughter, Alison in 1970. Despite the demands of her young family, Beth picked up her education and completed her undergraduate work in psychology at The College of Charleston followed by earning her master’s degree at The Medical University of South Carolina in biostatistics.

After completing her education, Beth took a job at the South Carolina Allied Health Education Consortium where she worked tirelessly for 30 years and rose to the position of Assistant Director. Through the years Beth was instrumental in bringing health services and education to underserved populations throughout the state of South Carolina. She was also instrumental in writing and securing large scale grants to benefit the state, including a massive bioterrorism project providing training and education for front line health care professionals throughout South Carolina. In addition to her work at AHEC Beth also served as a member of the faculty at The Medical University of South Carolina.

Beth was the quintessential modern working woman- she built a successful career- breaking barriers and gaining the respect of her colleagues and students- all while balancing being a devoted wife to her husband Jack and their two daughters Kim and Alison. In later years she found boundless joy in being a grandmother to her two granddaughters, Sarah Mae and Charlie.

Many knew Beth as a brilliant person with a scientific mind, but she was also an accomplished painter, incredible cook and enjoyed gardening and interior design. Her family and her faith were at the center of her life and the world was made more beautiful with her in it. She will be greatly missed and is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jack; her oldest daughter Kim Kennedy and daughter in law Tina Davenport of Coxsackie, NY, her youngest daughter Alison Kennedy Keller, son in law Colonel Shawn Keller and granddaughters Sarah Mae and Charlie Keller of Tryon, NC. She is also survived by her sister Jeanette Barnes of Little Mountain, SC.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents Mr. & Mrs. Haskell Wall, and her eldest sister Ramona Murphree. 

Memorial donations can be made in Beth's memory to the ALS Society, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.