Holly B. Wait

1960 - 2025

Mrs. Holly Beasley Wait, 64 of Columbus passed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Piedmont Midtown. Mrs. Wait will have A Celebration of Life at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at the National Civil War Naval Museum, 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus, GA 31901 according to the Charles E. Huff's International Funeral Home, Inc.

Mrs. Holly Beasley Wait was born on December 17, 1960 to the late William and Wilma Beasley in Waycross, Georgia. Holly Beasley has spent over 34 years working in museums and historic preservation. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Valdosta State University and a Masters Degree from Florida State University. She began her career as a museum registrar at the Jekyll Island Museum. Returning to Tallahassee, she worked for many years at the Museum of Florida History as a museum educator, then as grants manager for the statewide Historical Museums Grants-in-Aid Program. Holly left the Bureau of Historic Preservation, where she helped run this nation's largest (at the time) Historic Preservation Grants Program to become director of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. Upon returning home to direct the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Waycross, Holly raised the funds to complete the exterior restoration of five historic structures on the property. In 2003, she accepted a position as executive director of the Beaches Area Historical Society in Jacksonville Beach, FL where she helped complete a capital campaign to construct the brand new, state-of-the-art, Beaches Museum and History Center. Holly, and her husband John, moved to Texas in 2008 to be near his family. As director of the Pearce Museum, a Civil War and Western Art museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, she created a national western art show and sale, edited and published four volumes of original Civil War letters, and led the museum through its pivotal four year Sesquicentennial commemoration. Notably at every museum she has dramatically improved both visitation and revenue as well as upgrading their collections and facilities.

On April 15, 2025, Holly would have celebrated her tenth year as the National Civil War Naval Museum Director. Holly loved the museum and helped it recover from losing 30% of its budget when the City withdrew funding. The museum thrived under her leadership, but Holly was so much more. Holly was the kind of person everyone instantly loved. She brightened every room she graced with her infectious personality and distinctive laugh, which alerted everyone of her presence. Holly loved to get people to laugh, and it was hard not to given her instant wit and great sense of humor. Holly never met a stranger. She would start conversations with whoever was next to her, whether in a grocery store or DMV line, and she would always get them to at least smile if not laugh. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.

Surviving yet feeling a definite loss is her loving husband, John Wait, one brother, William "Bill" Beasley (Dolores), Clearwater, FL; one stepson, John Matthew Wait, (Veronica Huerta), Los Angeles, CA; one stepdaughter, Elizabeth Wait, Richmond, VA; and a host of other relatives, neighbors, coworkers and friends. In lieu of flowers the family would love for you to send donations to the museum through a special fund that will honor Holly's memory forever. Go to https://www.portcolumbus.org/support and click the Donate button.