It is with great sadness we share that Homer Bedette Hanberry, Jr. died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Born on February 3, 1947 in Carthage, Missouri, he was the son of the late Homer B. Hanberry, Sr. and Grace Stufano Hanberry.
Homer attended Dreher High School and graduated from University High School in Columbia, SC. He then entered the Navy and served during the Vietnam War with the Tridents, VP Patrol Squadron 26. After six years of active duty, Homer earned his BS and MEd degrees from the University of South Carolina. He then became a popular educator in the Florence, SC school system before his retirement from North American Van Lines in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Homer was a gregarious personality and enjoyed many friends made through his years as a neighbor, serviceman, teacher and businessman. He never met a stranger. During his retirement years, he especially enjoyed living at his home at Lake Wateree. He developed strong ties to his Windy Cove community and was able to devote many hours to his love of gardening, nature and pretending to fish. Homer cherished his time with his big Italian family filled with numerous aunts, uncles and many cousins. He also enjoyed loving ties to Gwen's family, especially Ann, Elizabeth and Lee, who gave him all their love and support.
Surviving are his loving partner Gwen Cox Rankin; children Laurel Isleib (Kevin) and Jason Laird (Jodi) and three grandchildren Jayde, Ariel and Aaron; sister Linda Hanberry Longmire; niece Carole Neichin (Jeff) and nephew Bryan Longmire (Tamara) and their children Gracyn and Skylar; aunts and uncles Josephine and Louis Pareti and Eddie and Stella Stufano; first cousins, Orman Broadway (Carol), David Broadway (Mary ), Joe Broadway (Kay), Michael Pareti (Karen), JoAnne Pinsker (Mark), Carolyn O’Conner (John), Terry Murphy (Mike), Linda Bernstein, Bob Carr, Michael Carr (Kathy), Tina Ott (Michael), Eddie Stufano, Nancy O’Conner, Michelle Pennino (Frank) and Christine Stufano.
In addition to his parents, Homer was predeceased by his grandparents, Joseph and Teresa Stufano, Everette Hanberry and Alva Braddock; aunts Anna S. Broadway and Mary Carr-John; uncle Michael Stufano; and brother-in-law Ernest B. Longmire, Jr.
A memorial service will be planned for a later date. Contributions in Homer's memory may be made to the American Kidney Fund at www.kidneyfund.org or a charity of your choice.
Please sign the online guestbook to share memories of Homer at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbia-sc/homer-hanberry-11324503
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