Betty Bruner

COLUMBIA - Betty Livingston Bruner of the Episcopal Home at Still Hopes died August 25, 2010. Burial will be private in Elmwood Cemetery. Her great nephews will be her pallbearers. A memorial service will be held at noon on August 27, 2010, at Shandon United Methodist Church with visitation afterwards at the church. The family will be at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Bruner, 226 Saluda Avenue, Columbia, S.C., at 6 p.m. on August 26, 2010.

Born in Columbia, S.C., on January 6, 1923, Betty was the daughter of the late Robert Raysor Bruner and Bessie Mae Livingston. She was secretary of the first class to graduate from Dreher High School in 1939 and then graduated in 1944 from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, where she majored in Psychology with a double minor in History and Religion. After college, she returned to Columbia and attended Draughon""'s Business School. After a short stint at Shandon U.M.C., she attended Union Theological Seminary in New York and studied Christian education. On her return home, she worked for the South Carolina State School Book Office and the Girl Scouts until she was approached in 1954 by the new minister at Shandon U.M.C., Bob DuBose, about coming back to work for the church as Christian Education assistant.

Dr. DuBose was a very persuasive fellow. Betty accepted his offer and began what became her life""'s work as Director of Christian Education at Shandon U.M.C. She started the church""'s kindergarten and daycare programs, the Shandon U.M.C. Day Camp and was a charter member of the Good Will Sunday School Class. For more than 50 years, Betty touched, and was a part of, the lives of the young people who grew up in Shandon U.M.C. After she retired, Betty remained a constant and valuable resource for Christian Education and workshops for the Methodist Conference.

Music was always an important part of her life. She sang in choirs at Shandon U.M.C. her entire life and was a member of the first adult handbell choir. She continued to direct the kindergarten/children""'s choir after her retirement and taught Sunday school until just before her death.

Betty was a member of the Columbia College Board of Visitors, the Lilac Garden Club, the Riverbanks Zoological Park, the Camps & Retreats Board of the United Methodist Conference, the Board of the Bethlehem Community Center, the P.E.O., the Covenant Group, the S.C. Christian Educators Fellowship, the Columbia Choral Society, the Shandon U.M.C. Kindergarten Board and Forest Lake Club.

Betty was honored by the Shandon U.M.C. Churchwomen in 1972 and received the """Woman of the Year""" award from them in 1994. Columbia College inducted her into its Heritage Society and The James Milton Ariail Society and awarded her The Columbia College Medallion in 2002. Shandon U.M.C. named its education building in her honor in 1994 and rededicated it in her honor and to the service of God in 2009.

Betty is survived by her nieces and nephews, Robert Raysor Bruner III (Dianne) of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Thomas Waddell Bruner of Columbia, Betsy Bruner Taylor (Wallace) of Augusta, Ga., and James Livingston Bruner (Diane) of Columbia, Mrs. William. W. Bruner Jr. and Bonnie Truesdale Bruner; her sister-in-law, Harriet Bowers Bruner of Newberry, S.C.; her great nieces and nephews, Harriet Leanne Griffith, Hon. Eugene Cannon Griffith Jr. (Beth), Laney Bruner-Canhoto (Alfredo), Robert Raysor Bruner IV, Robert Wallace Taylor Jr. (Beverly), Harriet Taylor Clement (Mark), Peyton Bruner Sasnett (Rich), William Wallace Bruner III, Henry Middleton Bruner (Alicia), Thomas Waddell Bruner Jr., John Downs Bruner, Michael Truesdale Bruner (Evelyn), James Livingston Bruner Jr., Benjamin Clement Bruner (Caitlin) and Jessica Grace Bruner; and 18 great-great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Robert Raysor Bruner Jr. and William Wallace Bruner; an infant sister, Mildred Louise; her niece, Anne Bruner Griffith Utley; and her nephew William Wallace Bruner Jr.

The family thanks Dr. Bill Butler, the staff of the 11th floor Palmetto Health Richland and the staff of Senior Matters for their care and support of Betty. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Betty""'s memory to Shandon United Methodist Church. Dunbar Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.