Beverly Stickel Herington

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Herington. She is survived by her daughters Nancy Wood and her husband, Chip; Mary Lou Blanton and her husband, Lynn; and her son David Herington and his wife Karen. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Joshua, Rachel, Micah, Adrienne, Emily, Jennifer and Kathy, and six great-grandchildren: Taylor and Dane, Jackson and Connor, Jude and Nora.

Born in Elwin, Illinois, on July 7, 1927, to Lloyd and Mary C. Stickel, she grew up on a farm and learned early in life the value of hard work. She graduated first in her high school class. She then attended Millikin University in Decatur Illinois, graduating with a degree in sociology. She was a proud sister of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

She met her future husband, Jack Herington, on a blind date, and they were married on June 13, 1948. She dedicated herself to becoming an exemplary wife and mother, building a home and family together with her beloved Jack. Jack pursued a law degree, built a 25-year career with the FBI, and later served as Director of Government Relations and General Counsel for the US Telephone Association. During their long marriage of 68 years, they lived in Champaign, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; Cresskill, New Jersey; Springfield, Illinois; Potomac, Maryland. After Jack fully retired, they moved to Pawley's Island, South Carolina, where they lived and played golf for twenty-three years before finally locating in Jacksonville, Florida and then later to Fleet Landing in Atlantic Beach, FL.

Besides working as a homemaker, Beverly also worked as a volunteer in local school libraries and was involved in teaching adult literacy. She and Jack enjoyed a wide circle of friends, including those within the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. Bev especially enjoyed playing bridge and playing golf, but golf became her passion, as it brought her much joy and a sense of personal achievement. They were members of Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, and Litchfield Country Club in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. They were both active in various civic, club and church affairs. One especially meaningful involvement in Pawleys Island was the annual Festival of Lights at Brookgreen Gardens, which raised money for Hospice. She and Jack were faithful members of the United Methodist Church in every community in which they lived.

After her children were grown and left home, she and Jack enjoyed traveling, both within the United States and overseas. One memorable trip was to England and then traveling home on the Queen Elizabeth II.

Starting in 1984, and for the next 25 years, Beverly and Jack hosted a two-week beach vacation for their children and grandchildren in Garden City, South Carolina, which became a focal point of the entire family. Many family traditions came out of these wonderful vacations, including "The “Doh-nut Run,” the special turkey, ham and macaroni salad supper that was always available upon arrival and lovingly cooked by Bev, Dixie cups filled to the brim with Gawee Mix, trips to Murrells Inlet, skit night, hunting for sand crabs, sand dollars and sharks teeth in the surf and fishing, after-dinner walks to "The Point,” Jack "Mooning" the world, giving Chip and later Lynn, the "3rd Degree,” hanging out on the porch, trips to the amusement and water parks, many Birthday and Anniversary celebrations.

Beverly was exceedingly generous with her time and was always available to her family for encouragement and sound advice. Even so, she did not intrude upon the lives of her children or grandchildren, but, when asked, would always seek to give the best advice and encouragement that she could.

It should be noted that Beverly's 50th birthday was 7/7/77! 40 years later, on her 90th birthday, a celebration was held in Jacksonville, Florida, attended by all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews from across the country.

Beverly was a woman of faith, of encouragement, of loyalty, of modesty along with a sharp mind and quick wit. She was always one to build up rather than to tear down, to look for the good in any situation rather than finding faults. She was dedicated to her husband and her family. She was long-suffering--one of her favorite phrases to encourage her family during difficult times was "This Too Shall Pass." She had great optimism for the future of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was full of grace and she will be greatly mourned and missed by her family.

In lieu of a funeral, the family is planning a private ceremony for children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at a later date at St. Paul's Waccamaw United Methodist Church in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. She and her husband, Jack, will be laid to rest together in the columbarium they helped develop while members of St Paul’s.

Any memorial gifts can be made to the Pi Beta Phi Foundation which supports scholarship and literacy initiatives, at https://www.pibetaphifoundation.org; or the American Heart Association, at https://www.heart.org.