Mrs. Edna Imogene Bellot McDonald, 89, of Bonifay, Florida passed away peacefully December 14, 2017. She was born November 2, 1928, in Old Town, Florida to the late Maybelle Gunter and Julius Edward Bellot. In addition to her parents, Edna was preceded in death by her husband, John William (Mac) McDonald in May 1990 and son-in-law, Richard A. Beauchamp in December 2005.
During early childhood, her family lived in Jacksonville and Marianna, before moving to Bonifay in 1938. She attended Bonifay schools, where she played baritone in the High School Marching Band, founded the Devil Tales yearbook, and graduated in 1946. She and “Mac” married in July 1947.
Edna was baptized at the First Baptist Church, Bonifay, in January 1942 and began her life-long devotion to God and the church. Over the years, her Christian faith was displayed through her involvement in many aspects of church life. She had leadership roles in the Women’s Missionary Union Circle and the Prayer Ministry. She served on the Building Committee for the new sanctuary dedicated in 1969, taught various Sunday School classes for 65 years, founded and set up the Church Library and, in later years, worked tirelessly with Senior Adult Worship and Fellowship. Her Bible, always at hand, is full of her personal study notes in her ongoing quest for knowledge of Biblical history.
Her employment included babysitting, Evans Grocery Store, Schinebergs Women’s Clothing, 15 years at N.D. Miller Wholesale Grocer along with her father, The Bank of Bonifay, and 28 years for ASCS division of US Department of Agriculture before retiring in 1989. She was very proud of the fact that she never had to go looking for employment–it always came to her.
Edna was an avid reader, often reading 3-4 books per week. She maintained a file that attests to the hundreds of books she read over the years, reading many of them more than once. She had a love of travel, taking opportunities to visit and experience many places in the US, the Bahamas, Canada, England, Scotland, France, Austria, Greece, Italy. Her two trips to the Holy Land including Egypt, Israel and Jordan were, perhaps, her favorites.
She kept an active connection to many community organizations throughout the years including the Junior Bonifay Women’s Club, the Women’s Book Club; the Bonifay Community Planning Committee, the Board of Holmes County Public Library, and the Bonifay Garden Club, where she served as President for eight years and founded the elementary school Christmas flower arrangement program.
Over the years Edna displayed her warm and generous hospitality through breakfasts, luncheons, teas, coffees, showers and dinners that she hosted in her home. Her welcome mat was always out. Anyone entering would usually find a freshly baked pound cake, cookies, or brownies on the counter, most likely prepared to be shared with others. Her rose garden was a great source of joy especially when she could share them with home-bound friends and nursing home residents. She remained connected and involved in her high school class reunions. She also spent many hours researching her family ancestry–making efforts to connect with relatives from both sides of her family around the country.
Survivors include her two daughters, Carol Beauchamp Forrester and husband Nathan of Boca Grande, Florida and Julie Short and husband Dale of Bonifay, Florida; sister Sarah Bellot Urquhart and husband Larry (their children Mark, Nancy and Michael) and brother Forest (Buddy) Bellot and wife Ruth (their children Donna, Allen, and Jason) of Bonifay; grandchildren Clint Short and wife Sarah of Chipley, Florida and Lindsay Short Rowell and husband Robert of Holt, Florida; step-grandchildren Sarah Beauchamp Gonzalez and husband Roberto of Orlando, Florida and Bryan W. Beauchamp and wife Bonnie of Atlanta, Georgia; and six great-grandchildren: Sidney, Payton, Owen, Leslie, Max and Beau.
A funeral service was held Sunday, December 17 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Sheldon Chandler and David Lauen officiating. Interment followed in Bonifay Cemetery where she was laid to rest alongside her beloved husband “Mac”. Memorial donations can be made to: Friends of Holmes County Library, 303 J. Harvey Etheridge Street, Bonifay, Florida 32425.