Martha Jo (MJ) Beall, 83, of Columbia, died on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Born in Montezuma, GA, on October 2, 1941, she was a daughter of the late Clark Henry Langford and Mable Andrews Langford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Thomas Keller Beall.

Survivors include her daughters, Kendal Dameron (Charles) and Ashley Fakoury (Jack); grandchildren, Jordan Fakoury, Greyson Fakoury, Adam Dameron, and Emery Dameron; sister Alyce Wise (Bill); nephews Ross Wise (Christina), Brett Wise (Maggie). Ms. Beall is also survived by a large loving family brought into her life by her husband and her family of extraordinary caregivers: Linder Durham, Lisa Martinez, Andrea Rodriquez, Toina Durham and Willie Mae Durham.

She attended the University of South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.

She was very wise, intuitive, and kind, which led to short, sweet sayings that were really wonderful lifelong advice.

She loved to travel with Tom her "Cloud Man" especially to their treasured havens on Sanibel and Captiva Islands where she spent hours scouring the shore to add to her extensive seashell collection. In her later years, she enjoyed watching The Lawrence Welk Show and some of her favorite movies like Giant, Splendor in the Grass, and Dr. Zhivago. She loved reading her favorite books, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and To Kill a Mockingbird. She was an avid writer and always took pleasure in reading a good book. Some of her favorites include To Kill a Mockingbird and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

The family would like to express their profound and enduring gratitude to the kind, loving, and generous caregivers that provided exceptional care and devotion to MJ in her later years enabling her to remain in her home until her passing.

The service for Ms. Beall will be held at 3 o'clock, Saturday, April 5th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. The family will greet friends following the service at the funeral home. A private burial in Fort Jackson National Cemetery will precede the service.

Memorials may be made to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC or the Charity of your choice.