Billy Beckham

PERRY – William Eugene “Billy” Beckham, Jr., 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 31, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Services will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in the sanctuary at Perry Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the Funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Perry Methodist Church, 1002 Carroll Street, Perry, Georgia 31069, or The Westfield School, P. O. Box 2300, Perry, Georgia 31069.

Billy was born on March 4, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late William Eugene Beckham and the late Fanita Cobb Beckham. A lifelong resident of Perry, he graduated from Perry High School in 1954. He was proud to be a varsity basketball player, one of “Fessor’s boys,” on the 1953 Georgia State Championship team under the leadership of Eric “Fessor” Staples and was also chosen to be an All-State Player. In 1958, Billy graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. For several years, he served on the Academic Scholarship Committee for Georgia Tech. 

After college, Billy returned to Perry to work in the family businesses. His father owned and operated W. E. Beckham Distributors, as well as the farm that was begun with Billy’s late grandfather, Edward Morgan Beckham. In 1964, the business suddenly changed with the unexpected passing of his father and the inheritance of a great deal of responsibility. Along with his brother, Edward M. Beckham II, Billy co-managed the farm, commercial properties, and the Gulf Oil distributorship. Soon after, Beckham Brothers Distributors was founded, and the two became lifelong business partners and remained best friends. Beckham Brothers eventually became a B.P Jobber and grew into a well-known conglomeration that continued to service many businesses around the state for over sixty years. Billy claimed retirement after the distributorship was sold, but continued “working” and going to the farm until his health would no longer allow it.

He was a long-time active member of Perry Methodist Church. Through the years, he served on the Administrative Board, the Staff-Parish Committee, and various financial committees. Mr. Beckham’s community involvement included The Houston County Hospital Authority where he was a member and former Chairman, The Bank of Perry where he was on the Board of Directors for a number of years, and the Perry Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee of which he was proud to be a member. Billy loved Perry and was pleased to serve on the Perry Housing Authority and the Perry Planning and Zoning Appeals Committee for several years.

One of Billy’s greatest passions in life was building and admiring models – cars, planes, boats – whatever was a gift or caught his eye as exciting. He began this hobby as a young boy and continued to enjoy this activity through the end of his life. 

Billy was preceded in death by his parents and his only brother and lifelong business partner, Edward Morgan “Ed” Beckham II.

He leaves behind a legacy and memories that will forever be treasured by his loving and devoted wife of sixty-six years, Claire Bradshaw Beckham of Perry; his children, Valerie Beckham Moore (Gary) of Perry, William Eugene “Gene” Beckham III (Melisa) of Marietta, and John Bradshaw “Brad” Beckham of Perry; his grandchildren, Summer Claire Roberts (Andy) of Savannah, William Beckham “Will” McWilliams (Megan) of Perry, Harper Beckham (Mary Belle) of Savannah, and William Eugene “Web” Beckham IV of Charlotte; a bonus grandson, Tre Freeman of Perry; his great-grandchildren, Sealey Claire Roberts, John Walter “Walt” Roberts, Amelia Joyce “Millie” McWilliams, and Macie Claire McWilliams; his sister-in-law, Ella Ann Beckham; a niece, Beth Beckham Henderson (Bill), and a nephew. Ed Beckham III (Tamatha), and their families. 

Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.