Barbara Beam

Barbara Ann Beam

Barbara A. Beam, 52, of Columbia, S.C., died at 5:32 a.m. Friday, Oct.
14, 2016, at Palmetto Heart Hospital in Columbia, S.C.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, N.C. The family will receive visitors from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Barbara was born April 23, 1964, in Royal Oak, Mich., to Charles Edward and Vivian Marjory Beam. They preceded her in death. She married Karin Brockelman on Aug. 1, 2013, in Portland, Maine. She survives.

Other survivors include two sisters, Marjie Simms of O’Fallon, Ill., and Sallie Shaw of Marietta, Ga.; a brother, Ralph Beam of Punta Gorda, Fla.; nieces; nephews; and a great-nephew.

Barbara attended Asbury University, and later earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She taught math for four years, then earned an associate of applied science degree in fire protection technology from Central Piedmont Community College. She began her career as a firefighter with the Charlotte Fire Department in 1992, and retired from the department as a battalion chief in June 2016.

She was an acting elder at McGregor Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the following organizations, which were important to Barb: The Fire Prevention Foundation of Charlotte – designate “Fight2Extinguish”
(Barb was a founding member) or “Camp Ignite” – both are nonprofit organizations; The Salvation Army; or Habitat for Humanity.

Carolina Mortuary Service & Cremation has been entrusted with assisting the family in their time of grieving.

Memorial Service