Mary Beth Carson

Mary Beth Martin Carson, 79, of Folly Beach, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on February 8, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Mary Beth was born in Charleston, West Virginia on June 11, 1945. She was the second daughter of Bill and Mary Martin, preceded by Carol and succeeded by Debbie. She attended Watts Elementary and Lincoln Junior High before graduating from Stonewall Jackson High School as a member of the class of 1963.

Having known she wanted to be a physical therapist since second grade, she attained a sociology degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro before attending the School of Allied Medical Professions at the University of Pennsylvania. She took her first job at CAMC General Hospital and stayed for eighteen years. Mary Beth took great pride in her work with her patients, particularly the children, amputees, and patients with head injuries. She founded the amputee clinic at CAMC General Division. She was a past member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Executive Board for the West Virginia Chapter of the America Physical Therapy Association, and Advisory Committee of the West Virginia University School of Physical Therapy.

She met the love of her life, Skip Carson, in an elevator in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and soon learned that they both lived in Charleston. They were married at Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church on July 9, 1983. Their only child, Megan Elizabeth, joined the family on January 10, 1985. Mary Beth was looking forward to returning to her vocation as a physical therapist but chose to care for her daughter and mother full time.

Mary Beth was a member of Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School and chaperoned ski weekends. She was a proud Youth Council Mom when her daughter served in the organization. The three Martin girls were well-known around Charleston for their involvement in a variety of organizations. They were lifetime members of the University of Charleston Builders, in which Mary Beth was a past Board member. They also belonged to the Pilot Club of Charleston, where she was also a past Board member. She enjoyed her time in the Edgewood Garden Club and serving on the Stonewall Jackson High School Class of 1963 Reunion Committee.

Mary Beth was an avid reader and needlepointer—two hobbies which she passed on to her daughter Megan. She enjoyed long phone calls with her lifelong best friend Marcia West and delighted in her grandsons, Carson and Landon, who called her “Mimi”. She spent a lot of time with her “very best boys” and traveled extensively with her family after moving to South Carolina to be near them in 2019. While her driver’s license said South Carolina, West Virginia was always home. An animal lover, she was “Mommy” to Pippi, an African Grey Parrot, and nine dogs, the latest of which are Lizzie Belle and Sassy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Mary Martin, sisters Carol Martin Montgomery and Debbie Martin Belcher, and brother-in-law Peyton Montgomery. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Skip, daughter Megan, son-in-law Edward Kilb, and grandsons Carson and Landon Kilb. She is also survived by those who called her “Bubby”: niece Pamela Lorensen (Charlie) and nephew Peyton Montgomery III, grandniece Kristen Heinlein (Andy), grandnephew Will Lorensen (Laura), and great nieces and nephews Eliza, Miles, Finn, Caroline, Madeline, and Annie.

A memorial celebration will be planned at a later date, and donations to the Children’s Therapy Clinic (113 Lakeview Dr, Charleston, WV 25313) would be most appreciated. We wish to extend special thanks for the excellent care and support of Dr. Andrew Schreiner, the staff of the Medical University of South Carolina, the caretakers of Home Instead (particularly Tamahqua and Delores) and Jennifer, Tim, and Patrick of Bayada Hospice. They brought great comfort to Mary Beth and her family.