John Quintus Beckwith

The Venerable John Q. Beckwith III (Jack)

The Venerable John Q. Beckwith III (Jack) died Saturday, January 24, 2015. He was a descendent of Charles Edmondson, one of the early settlers of Charleston and was also a cousin of The Rev. Cary Beckwith, former rector of St. Philip's Church. He was the son of The Rev. John Q. Beckwith, Jr. and Margaret Cantwell Beckwith. His father is a former rector of St. Luke and St. Paul's Cathedral Church in Charleston.

The friends of Jack and Betty are invited to attend the Celebration of his Life on Friday, January 30, 2015 at St. Michael's Church, Meeting and Broad Street at 11:00 am. Following the service there will be a reception in the Parish House.

Jack graduated from The College of Charleston in 1955. He began his ordained ministry more than 50 years ago following graduation from Virginia Seminary in 1958. His ministry included: Assistant, St. James, McClellanville and the Church of the Messiah, Georgetown, SC; Assistant to the Rector of Trinity Church, Columbia, SC; Rector of St. John's, Marion, NC; Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, now St. Thomas Church; Rector of St. Matthews Church, Darlington, SC; and Archdeacon of the Diocese of SC from 1984-1997. He officially retired in September 1997, but continued to serve as a Priest Associate at St. Michael's Church, Charleston and at Holy Cross, Sullivan's Island.

While on the Bishop's staff of the Diocese of SC, he cared for the missions, was the executive secretary of the Diocesan Convention, he served as secretary to the Commission on Ministry and to the Episcopal Diocesan Housing. He was registrar at the clergy conferences, clergy deployment officer and chair of the clergy officers for the Fourth province.

He also developed a leadership training program which was widely used in this Diocese and other Dioceses as well as by the School of Theology at Sewanee, TN. He was known as priest, teacher, horticulturist, friend and mentor to many clergy in the Diocese of SC.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty, and their three children, John Q. Beckwith IV and his wife Lauren and their son Brandon Partrick of Lithia, FL; George W. Beckwith and his wife Pam of Charlotte, NC; and Mary Elizabeth Beckwith and her daughter Margaret L. Whitfield and her husband, Andy Whitfield. He is also survived by his two sisters Ann Beckwith of Sumter, SC and Catherine B. Feldman and her husband George.

Memorials of thanksgiving may be made in Jack's name to Respite Care Charleston, 405 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, an organization which provides several years of enjoyable respite day care for Jack and has support groups for family caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease.


A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.

Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.