Judd Dupont Beckwith Jr.'s Obituary
Judd “Chip” Dupont Beckwith, Jr. passed away peacefully on March 19th, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida surrounded by his family.
Chip was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 5th, 1957 to parents Judd “Bo” Dupont Beckwith, Sr. and Roberta Diane Mansfield Beckwith. Chip is a descendant of the Abraham Dupont Family who lived south of Marineland, FL before Florida’s statehood. As a Jacksonville native, Chip graduated from Samuel Wolfson High School, Class of 1975 of which he was the most photographed student in his senior yearbook, somehow joining clubs he was never a part of until picture day. Chip then attended Tallahassee Community College and was a beloved Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brother. After attending college, Chip worked for the family at Tompkins-Beckwith as a project manager. He eventually made a career out of being who he was, a southern salesman. After Tompkins-Beckwith, he started his own company by selling pump parts with Beckwith Sales Group up and down the state. Later in his career, he worked for various waste management firms by providing waste disposal systems to a multitude of clients. Chip knew how to meet his clients right where they were, and do his best to fill a need in a gentle way.
Chip lived in San Marco for most of his life and was known around town for his time with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, being Chairman of the American Heart Association, being chairman of the construction team for the Players Championship and for haunting his favorite local establishments. He was featured and photographed in the Florida Times Union in his favorite cigar shop in San Marco Square. As an avid fisherman, Chip loved to visit Summer Haven Island south of Matanzas Inlet to catch some redfish, flounder and some mullet when they were biting. Over the years, Chip became a beloved member of the Summer Haven community, and was titled the unofficial “Mayor of the Island.” Everyone knew that the porch was always open and no one was a stranger to him; just a friend he hadn’t met yet. Chip’s love for his friends and family was shown in the time he spent on the porch with them, listening, advising, and always laughing with them.
Chip is preceded in death by his parents Judd “Bo” Beckwith, Sr. and Roberta Beckwith and his brother, Richard Noble Beckwith, Sr. Chip is survived by his pride and joys, his children, Lauren Ann Beckwith Squillacote (Steven) and Judd Dupont Beckwith, III (Julie); his grand daughter, Eloise Marie Squillacote; his favorite nephew, Richard Noble Beckwith, Jr. (Emily); sister Suzanne Beckwith Haley (Kent); his uncle, Henry Hopkins Beckwith, Sr. (Madeleine); his aunt, Norma Hansen along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, FL on May 30th, 2026 from 1pm to 3pm. Island attire is requested.
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