JAMES E. BEAL

Retried Senior Master Sgt. James Ethridge "Jim" Beal, 86, husband of Brenda Kay Croft Beal, died on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at his home.

Born on Nov. 17, 1931, in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, he was a son of the late Eual Adolphas Beal and Myrtle Anthony Beal. Mr. Beal retired from the U.S. Air Force after 26 years of service. He was a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran. He built the Sumter County Flea Market and operated it from 1978 until 1999. He was a member of Green Acres Assembly of God. He loved God first, family second and country third.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Polly Jones Beal.

Survivors include his wife of 10 years; six children, James Michael Beal (Terri), Gay Nell Bessette (Richard), Linda Darlene Davis (Bobby), Steven Wayne Beal (Doris), David Ray Beal (Gina) and Cathy Lynn Knight; two stepchildren, Barbara Leigh Earles and Tracy Dwayne Bradley (Amy); 17 grandchildren; and six step-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Michael Bowman officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2018 Relay for Life at Sumter County, SC, team name "Fight for Cure," 200 Center Point Circle, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29210. Checks may be made payable to the American Cancer Society.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.