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For all the saints, who from their labors rest...  


Annette B. Crumley

 

Annette Crumley, wife, mother, teacher, and musician, died September 9 at Pickersgill retirement community in Towson, Maryland. She was 86.

 

Annette Bodie was born September 23, 1928 in Batesburg, South Carolina, the daughter of Henry Duane Bodie, Sr. and Corine Culbreath Bodie.

 

After graduating from Batesburg-Leesville High School as valedictorian at the age of 16, she attended nearby Columbia College, studying music performance and composition. She excelled in school, performing at receptions in the governor's mansion and as piano soloist with the Southern Symphony Orchestra; again, graduating with honors.

 

In 1950, she married the Reverend James R. Crumley, Jr., a recent graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia. Over the next twenty-five years, Mrs. Crumley served as the organist and choir director in her husband's parishes in Tennessee and Georgia. She also gave private lessons in piano and organ, a practice she continued well into retirement.

 

Pastor Crumley served as Secretary of the Lutheran Church in America before being elected to the office of President and then Bishop, a position he held for nine years. Mrs. Crumley was his faithful traveling companion, accompanying him to the Soviet Union, South America, and throughout the United States, Asia, Europe and Africa. She loved recounting those adventures to her grandchildren, laughing about surprises encountered at formal receptions and dinners while also marveling at the vastness of the world and its fascinating people. She considered the opportunity to travel and serve the Church a great blessing and a chance to put faith into action.

 

In 1988, the Crumleys retired to Batesburg-Leesville. Mrs. Crumley served as the organist and choir director at Wittenberg Lutheran Church in Leesville. She enjoyed gardening, community and church activities, and doting on her grandchildren. Later moving to the Heritage at Lowman in White Rock, the Crumleys became members of Bethel Lutheran Church.

 

Pastor and Mrs. Crumley were married for 64 years, until his death in April. They had three children: Frances Holman, of Towson, MD; James III of Savannah, GA; and Jeanne Lindemann (deceased). Mrs. Crumley was also a grandmother to eight and great-grandmother to nine. She is also survived by her brother, William C. Bodie, of Lexington.

 

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3 at Bethel Lutheran Church, White Rock, with the Reverend Roy M. Butler presiding. Visitation will follow at the Heritage at Lowman. Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic Batesburg-Leesville Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

 

Memorials may be made to The James R. Crumley, Jr. Archives, 4201 N. Main St., Columbia, SC 29201; or to Lenoir-Rhyne University (designated for the Jeanne Crumley Lindemann Scholarship Fund), P.O. Box 7467, Hickory, NC 28603.

 

 


 
Almighty God, source of all mercy and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

- Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship

 

 


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