Elizabeth Mary McCartney

Elizabeth M. "Liz" (Jackson) McCartney passed away on April 23, 2026, joining her beloved husband, Clayton H. (Clay) McCartney in heaven. Liz was born on March 4, 1935, in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to her mother, Barbara Jackson Strother and father, Brownlow Jackson, Jr. Liz is also the granddaughter of Liza M. Jackson. 

Liz lived a long life filled with adventure, humor, and love. She lived in Hendersonville with her parents until she-was 10 years old; and then moved to Pass Christian, Mississippi, in search of warmer weather. Liz loved her childhood years spent growing up in Hendersonville and spoke about them often. In 1949, she and her parents moved to Fort Walton Beach, where she has resided since then. By that time, her grandmother, Liza, had been living in Ft. Walton Beach for some time, and this allowed Liz to spend a considerable amount of time with her beloved grandmother who was her inspiration and guiding light throughout her life.

In 1950 and 1951, Liz attended the original Fort Walton High School for her freshman and sophomore years. In 1952, she enrolled in Virginia Intermont, an all-girls private boarding school located in Bristol, Virginia. Liz was quite popular and had many friends at Virginia Intermont. She graduated from Virginia Intermont in 1953. While there, Liz served as president of her senior class, president of the Beta Club, and she was a member of an equestrian club known as "Boots and Saddle". During this time, Liz became an excellent equestrian and developed a lifelong love of horses.

Upon graduating from Virginia Intermont, Liz enrolled in the University of Florida. She attended UF for two years before leaving college to pursue a carrier as a flight attendant for National Airlines. In the meantime, she and her best college friend traveled to Michigan for a summer vacation and while there, got summer jobs as singing waitresses at a popular dinner club. During her time in Michigan, she met her first husband, Robert "Bob" Bauman, who was a popular radio and television personality in southern Michigan. After a short courtship, they were married on the day she was to start her flight attendant training, thus ending her flying career before it began. Liz and Bob lived in Michigan and Georgia and in 1963, they moved from Michigan to Fort Walton Beach with two chickens, two young children, and four dogs in tow, to be close to Liz's family. As many marriages do, Liz and Bob's marriage unfortunately ended in divorce in 1978.

Liz worked as a first-grade teacher's assistant at Mary Esther Elementary School for many years.

Thereafter, she embarked on a career as a licensed realtor and worked with her beloved cousin, William B. Harbeson, III, at his real estate company known as the Harbeson Agency. As a realtor, she was a sales associate and rental agent for many rental properties throughout the local area.

After her divorce, Liz married the true and eternal love of her life, Clayton H. McCartney. To say that Liz and Clay were made for each other fails to capture the true love and devotion they shared for one another. Everyone who knew them would agree that they knew how to have fun and they lived life to the fullest. Liz and Clay were adventurous to say the least. They traveled extensively throughout the United States, and all over the world. Their travels included trips to, Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Australia, and Thailand, just to name a few. They also spent a lot of time at their second home located in a mountain and golf course community known as "Big Canoe" located north of Atlanta. Liz and Clay were very kindhearted and generous, sometimes to a fault. It can truly be said that they never met a person they did not see the good in. Many of her children's friends thought of Liz as their second mom.

Liz had a special place in her heart for all animals, especially dogs, cats and horses. She loved and adored all children, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

St. Simon's on the Sound Episcopal Church played a central role in Liz's life from an early age.

She would often tell stories about how her grandmother, Liza, her aunt, Frances Harbeson, and several other prominent women in the local community were instrumental in the founding and establishment of St. Simon's. She was proud that her grandmother donated the land upon which St. Simons is located to this day. She grew up in St. Simon's and remained an active member of it throughout her life.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents; her grandmother; her sister, Jo-Ann Winquest; her first husband, Bob; and her husband, Clay.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynda Barrett; her son, Steven B. "Moose" Bauman and his wife, Dr. Marianne McCain; her stepson, Craig N. McCartney; her grandson, Kyle S. Bauman and his wife, Heather, and their three children, Jackson, Maya, and Barrett; her granddaughter, Nichole Miller and her three children, Caitlin, Liza Lillie-Anne, and Faith; stepgrandson, Matthew McCartney; stepgranddaughter, Stephanie Griffith; stepgranddaughter, Winter Warchol; and stepgrandson, Wylie Warchol.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude to the staff of The Retreat at Fort Walton Beach, and all the private caregivers who provided incredible care, understanding and love to Liz and the family over the final months of her life. Without you, we could not made it through these difficult times.

A memorial service to honor and remember Liz will be held at St. Simon's on the Sound Episcopal Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow the service in the church parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Simon's in memory of Liz.