Georgetown

Geneva Riva McCracken Baumeister, age 93, of Georgetown, SC, died peacefully Saturday the 13th of June, 2026, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Julian Port.

Geneva was born in Horry County, SC to Walker McNeal and Elabel Graham McCracken. She was the fifth of seven children, who all helped on the farm and filled their waking hours with song and music. Brother Vaughn played the guitar, and the sisters played the piano, sang hymns and pop music - in harmony. Geneva and her sisters Virginia Lee, Evelyn, and Lois performed as the McCracken Sisters for radio and community events. They all continued singing in their respective churches and whenever they and their families got together, which was often.

Geneva graduated from Centenary High School in Marion County before the Rains-Centenary merger and after retirement, took courses at Coastal Carolina.

She raised three daughters while working full time, living in Georgetown and for several years in Columbia. She was also a devoted wife, choir member, music director, avid gardener, accomplished oil painter, and a dachshund lover. In keeping with her upbringing, she, as her mother did before her, took great joy in preparing meals for friends and family.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Wilbur McCracken and James Vaughn McCracken (Carolyn); sisters, Reba Richardson, Virginia Lee Jordan (Wiliam Blee), and Frances Evelyn “Elbo” Majar (Joe); her husbands, William H. Jordan of Marion, the father of her three children, and Gert Dietrich Baumeister of Pawleys Island, her loving husband of 26 years; her daughter, Riva Lynn Jordan; and grandson, Avery Horton.

Her surviving descendants include her children, Ella Kay Jordan Port (Julian) of Georgetown, Jennifer Ruth Jordan Mills (James “Jay”) of Chattanooga, and Oliver Baumeister (Gaby) of Marl, Germany; grandchildren, John Horton (Stephanie) of Pawleys Island, Kelly Mason of Charleston, Leila Rabon of Myrtle Beach, Amanda England Wright (Al) of Macedonia, SC, Megan Caroline England (Philip) of Chattanooga, Levon Scott Port (Jessica) of Pleasant Hill, Justin W. Jewell of Chattanooga, Danielle Coker (Ryan) of Pleasant Hill, William Clayton Sikes (Mindi) of Georgetown, Kevin Baumeister of Germany, Dennis Baumeister (Jill) of Germany, and Hannah B. Mills of Brooklyn NY; great-grandchildren, John Ingram Horton IV (Harley), Parris Byars, Kayla Collins (Cody), Maria Rabon, Mary Catherine List (Jack), Ella Foy, Lucas Rabon, Rylee Port, Milo Baumeister, Lacey Port, Cherry Foy, Scottie Port, Kinley Coker, Maisyn Sikes, Hanna Baumeister, Isabella Wright, and Leni Baumeister; great-great-grandchildren, Koah Collins, Delilah Collins and Colt Tanner; her sister, Lois Eleanor Haselden (Ranford) of Biloxi, MS; and many devoted nieces and nephews.

The family expresses their deep appreciation for the kindness and care given Geneva by Betty Collins, Jeanette Edwards, Shonda Jenkins, Betty Knowlin, Abigail McKnight, Frances Simmons, the staff of Tidelands Hospice, and her long-time friends, Friedhelm and Irene Deetjen.

Donations in Geneva’s memory may be made to The Saint Frances Animal Center in Georgetown, SC (https://www.sfanimals.org), or a charity of your choice.

A service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday June 27 at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 558 Black River Road, Georgetown, SC. A reception will immediately follow the service.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Maryville Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home, 843-546-4184.