The Rev. Everette Lewis Lineberger, age 93, of Inman passed peacefully into eternal life on February 11, 2023. Pastor Lineberger served 27 years as pastor of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Spartanburg, SC. He was named Pastor Emeritus of Saint John’s in 1992.
He graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia in 1954, where he received the Bachelor of Divinity and later his Master of Sacred Theology Degrees. He served the South Carolina Lutheran Synod for thirty-six years as pastor of the following congregations: Grace Lutheran Church in Rock Hill, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Charleston, and Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Spartanburg. He was also a member of the Synodical Executive Board for six years and was a state delegate to four national church conventions.
He was born on February 16, 1929, near Dallas, NC. He was predeceased by his parents, Graham and Sarah Lineberger and siblings, Margaret Troutman, Eleanor Flowers, and Ervin Lineberger. Also predeceasing him was his wife of sixty-five years, the former Elizabeth Ann Dry of Albemarle, NC whom he met when they were both students at Lenoir Rhyne College.
He is survived by three children, Deborah (David) Miley, Stephen (Karen) Lineberger, and John David Lineberger; eight grandchildren: Matthew (Danielle) Galli, Stephanie (Christopher) Rice, and Michael (Stephanie) Galli, Hollis Lineberger, Hayden Lineberger, John David Lineberger Jr., Annie Lineberger and Emily Lineberger; four great-grandchildren: Jillian Rice, Noah Galli, Micah Galli and Everette Rice. Surviving brothers are, Harold Lineberger, Paul Lineberger, and Daniel Lineberger.
A former president of the Spartanburg Men’s Garden Club, Pastor Lineberger had many interests but was perhaps best known for his irises and daylilies which he and his wife grew and sold from Quail Hill Gardens in Inman from 1986 to 2009. He hybridized, named, and sold fourteen new iris cultivars and served as Board, and/or Committee member, of the American Iris Society for twelve years. In 2012, he was named Emeritus Member of the Men’s Garden Club Board of Directors after previously being named an Emeritus Judge of the American Iris Society.
He was also a charter member and Past President of two Civitan Clubs: the Rock Hill Club and the Sunrise Club of Spartanburg. He became a Civitan in 1955, eventually attaining 50 years perfect attendance. He served two terms as S.C. District Chaplain and received the District and Club Honor Keys. In 2011 he received the District award for “Outstanding Overall Service” and in 2012 the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
In the Spartanburg community, he was active in many civic efforts and served as President of the Ministerial Association and an initial member of the Board of Directors of Greater Spartanburg Ministries and the Shepherds Center.
A celebration of life for Pastor Lineberger will be held at Saint John’s Lutheran Church at 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Memorials may be made to Saint John’s Lutheran Church, 415 S. Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or Spartanburg Regional Hospice-Foundation, Attn: Deanna Smith, Spartanburg Regional Hospice, PO Box 430, Drayton, SC 29333.
The family would like to thank the Spartanburg Regional Hospice team that cared for Everette, especially Arielle and Emily.
