Emily Josephine "Jo" Beckham Thigpen

Emily Josephine “Jo” Beckham Thigpen, 80, wife of Johnny Cohen Thigpen, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at MUSC Florence.

Mrs. Thigpen was born on March 12, 1946, in Great Falls, South Carolina, daughter of the late William Reuben Beckham and Lizzie Griffin Beckham Sleigh. She was a 1964 graduate of Newberry High School. Mrs. Jo, along with her husband Johnny, owned and operated American Transportation. She was a member of Barrineau Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she enjoyed attending as long as her health allowed.

Surviving are her husband, Johnny Thigpen of Lake City; adopted great grandchildren, Payton and Liam Hanniford of Lake City; special niece, Michelle (Rhett) Beard of Lake City; sisters, Jean B. (Von) Hendrix and Helen B. (David) Mitchell, both of Prosperity and Nancy B. Bauknight of Anderson; granddaughter, Rebecca Infinger of Lake City; great grandchildren, Aubrey Holsenback and Demi Infinger, both of Lake City; daughter, Cassie Applewhite of Anderson; step-son, Johnny Cohen “Stig” Thigpen, Jr. of Durham, NC.

Mrs. Thigpen was preceded in death by her daughter, Kimberly Holsenback; sister, Margaret Herbes; brother, Donald Reuben Beckham and brother-in-law, Roger Bauknight.

Funeral services will be 3:00 PM, Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Barrineau Pentecostal Holiness Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Burial will be private.

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