Faith Caroline Bunger Connelly, 91, formerly of Lexington, SC, died on April 16, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, she was born June 16, 1932, and was the daughter of the late Diedrich and Lena Bunger. She was baptized and formed in faith at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Thunderbolt, GA. Growing up in the shrimping/fishing village of Thunderbolt, she loved taking off in the “bateau” (with her best friend Miriam) exploring the tidal river, streams, and marshes, crabbing in the creeks, and jumping off the local shrimp boats.
She was a graduate of St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah, Ga., and was a 1954 graduate of Newberry College where she received her BS degree in Secondary Education. She taught school in Savannah, GA, Richland and Lexington Counties, SC, and Birmingham, AL, with most of the years spent as a middle school English teacher.
She served on the Board of Visitors of Newberry College for many years, was active in synodical and congregational leadership of LCW/WELCA (Lutheran Women’s circles), and served in a variety of congregational, educational, and service ministries in Lutheran congregations in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, always supporting and sharing in the pastoral ministry with her husband. In her retirement years, she was an active member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and enjoyed volunteering at LICS in Lexington.
Faith was a loving wife, mother, aunt, “Oma” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and sister, sister-in-law, and friend. She enjoyed traveling and cruising with her husband and close friends, sharing in summer beach trips with her family, and attending her children and grandchildren’s special events.
Preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, (Rev) James R. Connelly, Faith is survived by daughters, Kathy Anderson (Lee) and Karen Pierce (Mark) of Birmingham, AL, and the Reverend Dr. Rachel Connelly (Mike Goyne) of Walhalla, SC; 8 grandchildren: Jessica Partin (Paul), Jason Pierce (Lauryn), James Pierce (Lindsay), Jared Anderson (Heather) and John Anderson, Jacob Goyne (Lara), Jesse Goyne (Mary Katherine King) and Faith Goyne; and 8 great-grandchildren: Halle, Ben and Thomas Partin, Charlotte, Hayden, Olivia, Avett, and Eleanor Pierce, Aribella Anderson; and sisters-in-law, Mary Brueggemeier (Garry) and Ellen Hall (Ron) of Tampa, Florida, along with a host of beloved nieces and nephews. The Family is thankful for her special caregiver and friend, Tamara Ridgle, who was with her the last four years.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at her St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 4:00 pm followed by burial in the St. Stephen’s cemetery. Visitation will follow in the church social hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 119 N Church Street, Lexington, SC, 29072 or Newberry College, “James and Faith Connelly Scholarship Fund”, Newberry, SC 29108.
