Lucy Garrett Beckham

Lucy Garrett Beckham, of Mount Pleasant, 66, entered into eternal rest Sunday, December 13, 2015. Lucy was a native of Fountain Inn, South Carolina and attended Presbyterian College and the College of Charleston where she earned a BS in mathematics. She continued her education earning her Master's and Specialist's degrees from the Citadel in school administration.

Raised by her mother, a high school math teacher, and her father, a South Carolina State Legislator, Lucy learned the value of education and the importance of strong leadership. Upon her college graduation, she became a math teacher at Bishop England and was later named the Teacher of the Year at Stratford High School where she first became a school administrator. In 1998 she was named the principal of Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina where her vision and extraordinary leadership helped Wando become a highly successful high school earning numerous state and national awards.

Lucy's career was defined by excellence and an unwavering passion for her students. She was relentless in her determination to do the right things for students and staff and worked every day to make Wando the best it could be. Her most recent accomplishment was the development and opening of the Wando Center for Advanced Studies, a state-of-the-art career and technology program. Lucy was currently leading the effort, as Executive Principal of East Cooper Schools, to develop the curriculum and program for a second East Cooper High School. Some of her awards include State and National High School Principal of the Year, the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto, and Mt. Pleasant's Order of the Gavel. As wonderful an educator as Lucy was, she was an even better daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Lucy is survived by her mother, Martha J. Garrett; sister Sally G. Turner, brother C. Glenn Garrett; children Susan Antonelli (Michael) and Bill Beckham (Katie); grandchildren Bella and Christopher Antonelli and Lucy Kate, William, and Shephard Beckham; nephews Jon G. Turner and John Pope, nieces Elizabeth Massey (Ian) and Janie Pope; grand-niece, Livia Massey and grand-nephew, Theo Massey. She is also survived by her ex-husband and friend, Glenn S. Beckham and longtime dear friend, Susan J. Davenport.

The family will receive visitors at Wando High School Friday, December 18 from 5:00- 8:00 PM. The funeral is Saturday, December 19, 2015, at 11:00 AM at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church with a private burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the DreamWeavers Fund at Wando High School, 1000 Warrior Way, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29466. This is an outreach that Lucy founded to support low-income students. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.