Beth Keys
Posted: July 9, 2013
Elizabeth Ann Keys, age 75, died Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Baptist Memorial Hospital–Golden Triangle. Services will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation was held at the church Monday, July 8, 2013, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Mrs. Keys was born on Sunday, July 11, 1937, in Montpelier, MS to the late Ray and Nell Rose Moore Vail. She graduated as Valedictorian from Montpelier High School and she graduated from Mississippi University for Women. Beth’s active participation in the following civic organizations clearly shows her interest and belief in Columbus and Lowndes County: Belle Fleur Garden Club-Charter Member, 1992 President; Columbus Jr. Auxiliary-Life Member, past President; Civic Arts Council-Charter Member, Secretary Treasure; Columbus Symphony Association-Charter Member; Columbus Concert Association; Columbus Chamber of Commerce; GTR Medical Foundation Board; Pink Lady-GTRMC; First Baptist Church – teacher and Sanctuary Choir, Ladies Hand Bell Choir; American Heart Association-Industry Leader; MUW Alumni Association; Bacchus Pilgrimage Krewe; Columbus Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association-Charter Member; volunteer for The United Way, American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Contact Helpline and mentally handicapped individuals. She taught ballroom dancing and taught the court the Waltz for the Columbus Pilgrimage Ball. Beth also taught Bible and Elementary School at Columbus Schools. Her business accomplishments include being an Owner/Partner in one of the very first Real Estate Franchised Companies in Columbus/Lowndes County with 30+ years in real estate, Consistent Million Dollar (+) producer for 20 years, Charter Member and Life Member of Columbus Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club. Beth shared Top Honors with her husband, while affiliated with Century 21/Deep South Properties, as Regional Centurion and as the local top Sales, Listing and Referral Agent. Beth has been a guest instructor at MUW and CAFB in the Business and Economics Department on Real Estate Trends, the local market and conditions, and Real Estate as a career. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Kim Keys Dickey; her sister, Sue Jordan; and her brother, Ronnie Vail. Survivors include her husband, Bob N. Keys, Columbus MS; daughter, Kendyl Keys White (Mike), Albany, GA; son, Bobby Keys (Kimberly), Atlanta, GA; sister, Kaye Faulkner, Montpelier, MS; nine grandchildren, Rachel Reynolds Cox (Ben), Taylor Reynolds, Reed Reynolds, Max White, Zach White, Matt Dickey, Brad Dickey, Steely Keys and Evan Keys. The pallbearers will be Matt Dickey, Brad Dickey, Ben Cox, Kevin Faulkner, Ken Faulkner, and Reed Reynolds. The honorary pallbearers will be Frank Griffin, Sonny Richardson, Howard Fisackerly, Billy Swedenburg, Chris Dickey, Ben Chilcutt and Les Berry. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Second Mile, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703.