Elizabeth R Reid

Elizabeth R. Reid of Winnsboro passed away on Oct. 19. She was 59.

She was born to William T. Reid Sr. and Alice Reid in Winnsboro in 1958. Beth was a scholar and accomplished athlete who earned a degree in Physical Education from the College of Charleston, where she played on the women’s basketball team.

She went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling from Winthrop University.

Beth was an educated woman who believed in and fought for education for all and made that the central theme of her life.

She served dutifully and passionately as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor at Great Falls High School before returning to her native Winnsboro as a guidance counselor and later Head of School at Richard Winn Academy.

Beth was also director of Elementary and Middle School Education at the South Carolina Virtual Charter School.

She served as the chairwoman of the Fairfield County School Board. Under her leadership, the school board opened the Fairfield Career and Technology Center, providing a valuable resource and investment in the future.

While school and student advocacy was her passion, adventure was her pastime.

She operated a canopy tour and designed mountain biking trails at Carolina Adventure World, completed three marathons (Chicago, Kiawah Island and Mount Desert Island), hiked, kayaked and spent as many moments as possible on the beach at Sullivan’s Island.

She will be remembered by all as a warm and caring woman who gave her time to others and cared deeply about her friends, family, colleagues and students. Beth celebrated life and lived by the motto “Keep Going.” She was and will remain an inspiration to those who were lucky to surround her.

Beth is survived by her husband and partner in life, Hubert M. Rentz; her stepdaughter, Jennifer Rentz and her children, Taylor and Tripp, who serves in the US Army; her nephew, Lindsay Reid, his wife, Chris, and daughter, Alice, of Durham, NC; her niece, Kathleen Reid, of Covington, KY, and her grandniece, Savannah Pruitt, of Columbia, SC; her daughter-in-law, Lori Favors Epps, her husband, Damion, and their daughter, Emma, of Chatsworth, GA; her granddaughter, Kaitlin Rentz Powell who serves in the US Air Force and her husband, Jarred Powell who serves in the US Army.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William T. Reid Sr. and Alice Reid of Winnsboro, her brother, William T. Reid Jr. of Winnsboro, her stepson Matthew Rentz and Tom Petty.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elizabeth R. Reid Memorial Scholarship Fund and sent to the Fairfield County School District Office, 1226 US Hwy 321 Bypass South, Winnsboro, SC, 29180.

There will be a private memorial to honor Beth’s life at a later date. 

“I won’t back down"