Geneva Elizabeth Beaty

Geneva Elizabeth Brock Beaty, 93, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2025 at Union County Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Born in Harlan County, Kentucky to a coal-mining family, she was the daughter of the late John Henry Brock and Samantha Huddleston Brock. Genny moved to Chicago to work in the early 1950s, where she met and married her husband, Gaines Hyatt Beaty of Alabama. The couple had one child, Keith, and subsequently moved to Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah, where Genny worked for Sunshine Biscuits. Desire to move back to the South brought them to Lilburn, Georgia.

A love of travel instilled in the Navy inspired Gaines to take the family on an adventure in the early 1960s, sailing from California to Hawaii to Australia aboard an ocean liner, where they made lifelong friends. They traveled by train to Mackay in Queensland, Australia, where they lived a simple life for a year in a small house with radio for entertainment and outhouse for relief. (Genny often recounted her fear of going to it at night, insisting on an escort.)

After returning to the U.S., Orlando, Florida became home. Genny’s greatest joy was being a homemaker, and she was talented at sewing and crochet. She worked at The Remnant Shop, a fabric store, before joining the administrative staff of Orlando Utilities, where she had a long career. A subsequent move took the Beatys to Resaca, Georgia, where they bought and ran a convenience store, the Pit Stop. Finally moving to Union County in 1994, they found the home of their hearts. Genny worked until 2002 at Pat’s Hallmark, again making wonderful friends.

Dedicated Christians, the Beatys attended a number of churches over the years, with favorites being Tabernacle Baptist Church in Orlando and Marble Springs Baptist Church in Marble, NC. Genny had a deep and abiding love for Jesus, and we rejoice now that she will be in His presence and reunited with Gaines, who died in 2022.

Genny was from a large, loving family and was predeceased by siblings Eva Roberta Thornsberry of Wheelwright, KY; John Henry Brock, Jr. (died as infant); Otha Mae Thornsberry of Martin, KY; Hilda Aileen Thornsberry of Shacklefords, VA; Charles “Bus” Brock of Shacklefords, VA; Geraldine “Gerry” Osborne of Mount Vernon, IL; Rosemarie Hall of Monee, IL; Orvil Thomas Brock (also died as an infant); James Edward “Jim” Brock of Newport News, VA; and William “Butch” Thornsberry Brock of Gordon, KY. She is survived by her son Keith and daughter-in-law Karen of Blairsville, along with one sister, Mary Adkins of Warner Robins, GA. She is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews across the country…too numerous to list, lest we inadvertently leave someone out (but know you were treasured by her).

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Union County Nursing Home for your attentive care of Genny during her final months, along with Dr. Karisny for helping her to thrive into her nineties.

Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home in Blairsville is trusted with arrangements. Following private family prayer time, the casket will be transferred to the military’s Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA on August 27, where Mrs. Beaty will be buried with her husband. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to one of her favorite charities would be appreciated, such as Mercy Ships (mercyships.org) or Christian charity of choice – or consider sponsoring a veteran’s wreath at wreathsacrossamerica.org (search GANCCA for this cemetery).