Miriam "Annette" Crouch Beale

Miriam “Annette” Crouch Beale was born July 19, 1936, to Bill and Gwen Crouch in Batesburg, SC. Annette was the middle of three children, Charles Crouch her older brother and her younger sister Kathleen. She grew up in Cayce, SC (M Ave), the place she always thought of as home.  At a young age Annette learned and developed a love for playing the piano which led to many opportunities throughout her life.

Annette graduated from Brookland Cayce High School and Columbia College, where she majored in education and minored in music. She was a fourth-grade schoolteacher for her brief career.

While playing piano at a youth camp, she met her husband, Rev Joe Beale. They married in 1959 and served the Lord together for many years, Joe preaching and Annette playing piano, in churches across South and North Carolina.  She was very active in children ministries and choir.

While raising their four children, Annette enjoyed teaching piano lessons and making a happy home. Her kids, and later 13 grandkids, remember her as someone that would truly play with them. She kept her home comfortable and welcoming - kids didn’t fear breaking things, they could be themselves with her.

Annette always kept a cup of coffee in her hand and Chico her chihuahua in her lap. Being an active member of Edwards Memorial Presbyterian Church and attending the women’s church circle meetings along with spending time at Pawleys Island with her family were among her favorite things in life.

While her final years were challenging, as she dealt with dementia for over a decade, she always made things lively and she kept a “half smile” as Joe referred to her warm, meek demeanor.

Mom’s devotion to the Savior as seen by 61 years of faithful marriage, selfless devotion to family and church, and hopeful endurance through suffering - we, her children, and grandchildren, rise up and call her blessed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Joseph Daniel Beale; parents, William E. and Gwendolyn Crouch; brother, Charles Crouch.

Survivors include her daughters, Gwen Blount (Joe), Cathy Bagley (Marcel), Ruthie Bloxham (Don); sons, Dan Beale (Julie); adopted son, Sung Kyu Kim (Sherry); grandchildren, Allison Bodin (John), Andrew Bloxham, (Sarah), Joseph Bloxham, Bethany Morse (Matthew), Will Blount, David Bloxham, Ben Blount, Rebecca Beale, Olivia Peters (Brian), Emily Beale, Landon Bagley, Liam Bagley, Nathan Beale; great-grandchildren, Hannah Bodin, Timothy Bloxham; sister, Kathleen Howard (Jack); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give a special thanks to loving and wonderful caregivers: Quitta Thomas, Jo Cornell, Adisah Tassare, Carol Wheeler Along with the wonderful nurses and staff at Longleaf Hospice.

A Funeral Service for Mrs. Beale will be held Sunday, June 26, 2022, 2:30 P.M., at Cayce Presbyterian Church, 1600 Summerland Drive, Cayce, South Carolina, with Rev, John Rogers officiating and interment following in Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 West Dunbar Road, West Columbia, South Carolina. Friends are invited to the visit with the family at the church, one hour prior to her service, from 1:30 – 2:30 P.M. In lieu flowers, donations may be made to Cayce Presbyterian Church, 1600 Summerland Drive, Cayce, South Carolina 29033.

This obituary was prepared with love and affection by Annette’s family.