Ernest Calvin Faulkenberry

COLUMBIA - Ernest Calvin Faulkenberry died peacefully at his son’s home on Sunday, February 12, 2023. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, and a friend. He loved his Lord. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He is now with his loving Savior, Jesus Christ, hearing the words, “Well done thy good and faithful servant! Enter into your rest.”

A life-long South Carolinian, he was born on November 4, 1928, the son of Ernest Walter Faulkenberry and Mattie Blanche Thorne Faulkenberry. He grew up in rural Kershaw County, graduated from Midway High School, and attended Berry College and the University of South Carolina. A model in perseverance, he finished his degree at USC in 1997 at the age of 68. He worked in the Columbia area in the field of accounting for over 50 years.

He met Ann Eleazer, the love of his life, at a dance in Columbia and the two were married on November 8, 1958. They remained together until her passing in May 2002. They had three children together, Ernie (Lisa) of Irmo, Kathie Figgins (Mitchell) of Summerville, and Marc (Catherine) of Newberry. He remarried to Lyall Juanita “Nita” Greening in 2008 until her passing in 2012.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Grace Fail of Lenoir, N.C. He was also predeceased by his stepfather, Henry Watkins of Cassatt and his stepbrothers, Ernest, Roy, Walter, and Jack. He is survived by his younger brother, Walter Lemuel of Houston, TX; his children and grandchildren, Nathan Calvin of Brunswick, GA, Ashley of Tacoma, WA, Abby of Jacksonville, FL, Rachel Jennings (David) of Cullowhee, NC, and Rebecca Grace of Newberry, and great-granddaughter, Ava of Irmo.

He was a member of Columbia’s First Baptist Church, joining in 1956. He sang in the choir for 53 years, served as the church’s business administrator and as the church moderator. He taught the “Open Door” Sunday School class for more than 20 years and served as a deacon for decades. He was an Honorary Life Deacon.

In his last days, he was greatly assisted by nurses, ministers, and aids through Prisma Hospice. The family is also grateful for the care assistance of Angel Care, LLC, especially David Henley and Richard Agnew, who provided care and companionship for him this past year.

Visitation will be held at Columbia’s First Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023, followed by a Celebration Service in Boyce Chapel at 2:30 p.m. The interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens at 4:00 p.m. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Columbia.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.