Sarah Beckwith McDonald

Sarah Grace Beckwith McDonald, 96, died peacefully on Friday, July 28, after a brief illness. Throughout the four days of her transition, she was surrounded by her family and cared for by the medical professionals of Prisma Health Richland Hospital.

Sarah was born in Fayetteville, N.C. on August 17, 1926. The defining event of her early life was the death of her mother in 1930, when Sarah was 3 years old. The absence of her mother during her formative years became a significant factor in her life path and in her decision as an adult to embrace motherhood as a sacred calling.

She attended Mars Hill College and graduated from Flora MacDonald College with a degree in education. After her marriage in 1950, she adopted the name Becky and began her life as a wife and mother. Her husband’s frequent job transfers led them to live in six different states in twelve years, and their five children were born along the way in Jacksonville, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and Meridian, Mississippi. With the final job transfer to Columbia, South Carolina in 1962, they put down roots and purchased a home in Cayce.

In the mid-1960’s she began her working career as a Case Worker with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Later she worked in Fairfield County as a supervisor in the AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) program. Her career of over 20 years with the S.C. DSS became her vocation and the expression of her compassionate nature. It was where she was able to make a difference in the lives of others, based on her belief that all children are worthy and deserving of care and protection.

She became a grandmother at age 50 and requested that all her grandchildren call her “Granny.” She embraced the new phase of her life with great joy as she became a babysitter, taxi service, and teacher of life wisdom. Swim parties and sleepovers at Granny’s were legendary and became favorite activities of her growing number of grandchildren. In recent years, her chief source of happiness was keeping up with her grandchildren as they grew to adulthood and began lives of their own.

Throughout her years living in Cayce, she remained active in her church and served in various capacities, particularly through her involvement in the United Methodist Women. She believed that the priorities of the church mission and programs should be in providing food, clothing, and shelter for those in need, and in teaching and nurturing children and young people.

“Granny” was a beloved matriarch and source of wisdom and inspiration to the generations of her family that knew and loved her. Her life was characterized by gratitude, compassion, and strong devotion to duty. Her care for others, particularly her family, was expressed daily in her words and actions.

She was predeceased by her husband, Neal McDonald, and by her daughter Lynn Eakins. She is survived by her children: Sally Wietecha (Scott); Lex McDonald (Lee); Bryan B. McDonald (Elaine); and Monnie Gabriel (Geoff).

She is also survived by her twelve grandchildren: Grace Eakins Cameron, Rebecca Eakins, Amy Wietecha Watts, Beth Wietecha Sullivan, Ben Wietecha, Bryan J. McDonald, Elizabeth McDonald, Alex McDonald, Parker McDonald, Sarah McDonald, Lauren Gabriel Tapp, and Beau Gabriel.

She is survived by her eight great-grandchildren: Bella Cameron, Emmie Cameron, Owen Watts, Hamp Watts, Bridget Sullivan, Henry Sullivan, Sally Sullivan, and Mary Margaret McDonald.

The Memorial and Celebration Service for Sarah B. McDonald will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Cayce United Methodist Church, at 2 p.m. The family will receive visitors prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m.

The family requests that memorials be given to the general budget fund of Cayce United Methodist Church, or to Epworth Children’s Home of Columbia.