Sterling Edward Beale

COLUMBIA - Funeral services for Sterling Edward Beale, 79, of Dawsonville, Georgia, formerly of Columbia, South Carolina, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. A visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. and a reception will follow the service. Afterward, the family members will hold a private Interment. Mr. Beale passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 21, 2015, at his Dawsonville home with his wife, Priscilla Harrison Beale, by his side. Mr. Beale was born on November 11, 1935, in the old Columbia Hospital. He was pleased that his two sons were also born in that same hospital. He lived most of his life in Columbia, graduated from the University of South Carolina with a major in accounting, and was a loyal Gamecock fan. His career included service in the South Carolina Army National Guard at the Pentagon, accounting work with large national firms and the local private firm of Kight, Beale, & Montgomery, in which he was a partner. He enjoyed a 22 year career with Seibels, Bruce & Company, serving as their Chief Accounting Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and ultimately Chief Executive Officer before retiring from Seibels in 1994. Mr. Beale was active in his community, serving on the board of both business and charitable organizations. In 1994, Mr. Beale received the Order of the Palmetto from then Governor Campbell for his love, work, and support of the State of South Carolina and her people. Mr. Beale is survived by his wife, Priscilla Faith Harrison Beale; his son and daughter-in-law John Edward and Beth Beale of Greenwood, and their four sons: John Edward (and wife Kayla), Zachary, Chandler, and Chase. He is also survived by step children and grandchildren, all of the Atlanta area: Lutricia, Ewing, and Trey Barnett; Chuck and Beverly Harrison; and John, Kirsten, Tyler, Laura, and Mary Grace Harrison. There was no greater honor for him than being known and loved as “Papa”. He was preceded in death by his younger son, Charles Sterling (Chuck) Beale; step-daughter, Debra Faith Harrison Nichols; brother, John Hollie Beale, Jr., and his favorite Auntie, Anne Cox Llewellyn. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you honor Mr. Beale’s memory by supporting one of his three favorite charitable organizations: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 2786, Columbia, SC 29202; Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231 or Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.