Rev. Joseph Daniel Beale was born Sept 27, 1923 in Hope, Arkansas, to the late Ernest Penny Beale, Sr., and Corrine Humphries Beale. He was the grandson of Rev. Daniel Wiesel Beale, a Presbyterian traveling evangelist and circuit rider, who Joe later emulated by centering his life on service to the Lord.
Joe's family moved to Georgia in the early 1920s, where they lived as sharecroppers in Americus (Buena Vista), until ultimately settling in Atlanta. Joe cherished growing up around Grant Park, listening to bands play for the Civil War Vets at the Old Soldiers' Home, and riding his bike to and from Stone Mountain.
The most important event in his life occurred when he and some friends stole figs from a neighbor's tree to make money for tickets to the new blockbuster, "King Kong". Despite making enough money from selling the figs, his parents instead forced him to attend a revival service; it was here, moments after stealing the figs, that he realized he was a sinner who needed a Savior. He accepted the Lord Jesus and was born again.
It was also at a young age that he knew the Lord was leading him into full time ministry. Joe sensed this calling through his mother's strong influence, and the encouragement of a beloved Sunday School teacher at Central Presbyterian Church. Joe loved piano lessons, so much so that he once silently sat through a lesson with a broken leg he sustained when he crashed his bike on the way to the lesson. Both his call to ministry and love of piano prepared him for the road ahead.
He was drafted for WWII in 1943 at the mere age of 17 and in the middle of 12th grade. Joe was initially denied entry after his physical exam revealed a back injury, but his love of country (and refusal to stay home while his two older brothers joined the war) led him to petition for a position as Chaplain's Assistant. He joined the 58th Air Service Group Air Force which took him all over the Pacific as his group fought the Japanese. They travelled first to Australia, where he learned to drive in Death Valley, then on to the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Dutch East Indies. He finally landed in Okinawa, in 1945, where he watched the Peace Envoy fly-over and end the war.
Upon his return to the Unites States, he graduated from Boy's High School in Atlanta, GA, Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Joe enjoyed creating and maintaining large gardens; he always left flowers and plants, often those original to the South Pacific, everywhere he lived, including at his college dorm.
While a student at Columbia Theological Seminary, Joe met and formed a great friendship with Rev. Hyung Mo Kim, from South Korea. In 1954, Rev. Kim's son, Sung Kyu Kim, age 15, traveled by cattle boat from South Korea to San Francisco, then by bus to Columbia to meet Joe who became Sung Kyu's guardian. Sung Kyu graduated from Davidson College and Duke University. He became a published physics professor at Macalester College, St Paul MN. Joe cherished being a part of God's plan for Sung Kyu and his wife Sherry's lives and loved them dearly.
Joe led a life of service to the Lord. He served as pastor at numerous churches, including, Trinity Church, Travelers Rest, SC (1949-51), Wee Kirk Church, Decatur, GA (1951-53), McDowell and Union Churches, Lane Church in Lane, SC (1953-55), Aimwell and Longtown Church, Ridgeway SC, (1955-65), Mt Olivet Church, Winnsboro, SC (1963-65), Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, Wrightsfull Beach, NC (1965-68), First Presbyterian Church Anderson, SC (1968-72), Antioch-Reidville Churches, Woodruff/Reidville SC (1972-82), Union Church, Abbeville, SC (1985-87), Lebanon Presbyterian, Winnsboro, SC (1987-91), where he was named Pastor Emeritus and Honorably retired. In retirement, he pastored the Concord, Blackstock/New Hope ARP, in Douglass, SC (1991-99). Additionally, he was a founding member of the Presbyterian Church of America (1973).
As a minister, Joe loved leading music, singing, and playing the piano by ear. His true passion as a young pastor was establishing Presbyterian Campgrounds where he could hold summer camps and share the gospel with young people. It was at Camp Longridge in Ridgeway, SC, that the campers insisted he go on a date with the camp pianist, Annette Crouch. They quickly fell in love and married in 1959.
Annette and Joe were married for 61 years. She faithfully supported his ministry and was often pianist at the churches they served. Together they raised four children and made many good memories with their kids and grandkids at their favorite home-away-from-home, Pawleys Island.
Joe shared Jesus with everyone he met. His favorite sermons were from John 14 where Jesus says, "I go to prepare a place for YOU"! He and his wife lived at the Benton House in Covington, GA, since 2016 where he continued to sing and preach to his fellow residents. He is undoubtedly currently enjoying the heaven he spoke of so frequently.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Penny Beale, Sr., and Corinne Humphries Beale; brothers, Penny Beale, Robert (Bob) Beale, Ray Beale; and sister, Frances Hamilton.
He is survived by his wife, Annette Crouch Beale; adopted son, Sung Kyu Kim (Sherry); daughters, Gwen Blount (Joe) of Conyers, GA, Cathy Bagley (Marcel) of Columbia, Ruthie Bloxham (Don) of Spartanburg; son, Dan Beale (Julie) of Columbia; grandchildren, Allison Bodin (John),Andrew Bloxham (Sarah), Joseph Bloxham, Bethany Blount, Will Blount, David
Bloxham, Ben Blount, Rebecca Beale, Olivia Bloxham, Emily Beale, Landon Bagley,
Liam Bagley and Nathan Beale; Brother Hugh Beale (Beverly); sister, Virginia
Kindred; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service for Joe will be held Saturday, January 25, 2020, 2:00 P.M., at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia, 200 State Street, West Columbia, SC 29169, with Rev. Brian McCullough officiating. Interment will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 West Dunbar Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. Family will receive friends at the funeral home, one hour prior the service, from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to,
Hebron Colony Ministries, 356 Old Turnpike Rd. Boone, NC 28607.
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