Obituary of Henry Clarke Bynum

Henry Bynum, 82, the husband of Patricia “Pat” Ann Lanius Bynum went to his heavenly home on May 7, 2015. Born October 10, 1932 at Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, SC, he was the third of four children born to the late Adelaide Esther Clarke Bynum and William Edwards Bynum. Mr. Bynum grew up at 131 Church Street in Sumter and his first job was delivering the Sumter Daily Item. Mr. Bynum graduated from Edmunds High School in 1950. He received a B.S. degree from Wofford College in 1954 where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and the Tennis team. It was while working at Lake Junaluska Assembly in North Carolina that Mr. Bynum met his future wife and they were married on April 17, 1955 in Shelbyville Tennessee. While serving two years in the US Army, the Bynum’s lived in Nuremberg Germany. Mr. Bynum began working in the insurance business in 1959 and was later the owner of Bynum Insurance Company. His two sons, Clarke and Edward, joined him in the insurance business. Mr. Bynum was a devoted, lifetime member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and a member of the Boyle Bible Class. He served as Chairman of Finance, Chairman of Administrative Board, Chairman of Staff Parrish, Chairman of Long Range Planning and Building Committee and Delegate to Annual Conference. Mr. Bynum was a summer resident of Lake Junaluska, NC for over 40 years. He served as a Trustee of Lake Junaluska Assembly and a Board member of Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska. He served also as Projects Chairman of Junaluska Associates and received the Chief Junaluska Award in 2001. Mr. Bynum served as president of the YMCA Board of Directors and Chairman of the Wilson Hall School Board. He was a member of the National Bank of South Carolina Advisory Board, a board member of Sunset County Club and a former member of the Sumter Rotary Club. He served as President of the Sumter Independent Insurance Agents. Mr. Bynum has been a member of Mount Vernon Coffee Club for forty seven years. He enjoyed playing golf with his friends and family members. Mr. Bynum was preceded in death by his son Henry Clarke Bynum Jr. in September 2007 and by his two brothers William “Billy” Edwards Bynum Jr. and Alvis Jesse Bynum. He is also predeceased by his sister May Clarke Bynum Sharp and his brother-in-law, Robert Glenmore Sharp. Mr. Bynum is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Pat, and his daughter Louise Lanius Bynum Mitchum and her husband Robert “Eddie” Mitchum of Warrenton NC. Also, surviving are his son Edward Kennedy Bynum and his wife Yvette Dibrell Bynum of Sumter and daughter in law Mary Lynn “Sissy” Satcher Bynum of Columbia, SC. Survivors also include his sister–in-laws Anna Shuler Bynum and Marjorie Fleming Bynum. Eight grandchildren survive Mr. Bynum: Kellie Mitchum Davis and her husband, Jeremy, Satcher Bynum Armstrong and her husband Branford, Henry Clarke Bynum, III and his wife Stephanie, Ann-Lanius Bynum Noblitt and her husband Matt, Benjamin Wright Bynum, Edward Kennedy Bynum Jr., Ellis Roberson Bynum and Lottie Marie Bynum. Two great-grandchildren also survive Mr. Bynum: Mary Clarke Morgan Armstrong and William Branford Armstrong Jr. A memorial service celebrating Mr. Bynum’s life will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Steve Holler officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be the staff of Bynum Insurance whom he so enjoyed working with and the Mount Vernon Coffee Club. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. A private interment will occur prior to the service at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials made to Trinity United Methodist Church 226 W. Liberty Street, Sumter SC 29150 or Lake Junaluska Associates, PO 67 Box Lake Junaluska NC 28745. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of arrangements (803) 775-9386.