Mrs. Helen Smith Beckham, age 94, passed away peacefully at her assisted living home in Little River, South Carolina, on March 17.  A service will be held at a later date in Molena, Georgia, where she spent most of her life. 

Helen was born on June 15, 1930, in LaGrange, Georgia, an only child to the late Anderson Smith and Helen Ridley Smith.  They moved to Manchester, Georgia where she grew up and graduated from Manchester High School. Helen attended Sullins College before the University of Georgia.  At UGA Helen made lifetime friendships as a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. 

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in business, Helen returned to Manchester.  It was then that she attended a community dance and met Charlie Beckham, who she wed in the months that followed.  Helen and Charlie built a home in Molena beside the Flint River where they raised two children, Andy and Angela.  Helen was an active member of the Molena Civic Club, helping to organize fashion shows and oyster dinners among other activities put on by the club.  She had dear friends there who played key roles throughout her life.  Helen worked as the Molena City Clerk for many years and as the bookkeeper for Beckham Brothers Lincoln-Mercury in Manchester.  Helen loved gardening and spent most of her free time planting, weeding, and loving her yard and garden. 

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Beckham was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William Beckham.  She is survived by her children Anderson Beckham (Jan) of Greensboro, North Carolina and Angela Brown (Gordon) of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and five grandchildren Hayes Brown, Amy Beckham, Ryan Brown, Brian Beckham, and Davis Brown. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Beckham may be made to Jones Chapel, PO BOX 624, Woodbury, Georgia 30293.  Graveside services will be held in the months ahead at Molena Cemetery, Molena Georgia. Loved ones will be notified after plans are finalized. 

Cremation Services Direct (843-651-1194) is serving the family.