Jerry Funderburk Obituary

Jerry C. Funderburk

December 15, 1935 - June 29, 2025

Eastover, South Carolina - Jerry died on June 29, 2025, at Baptist Hospital in Columbia after a scheduled surgery. He was born in Lancaster, SC, to Amos Carl and Francis Palmer Funderburk on December 15, 1935. Jerry graduated from Buford High School in 1953 and served in the US Army with the 8605 AAU, Army Security Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii as a cryptographer. Jerry maintained close ties with this elite Army group throughout his life and attended their annual reunions. The five remaining members of the group last met in 2023. In 1958, he met Ann Cunningham and they were married on May 10th after a mere 4 weeks of dating. Their marriage stayed strong for 67 years. Jerry attended the University of South Carolina which was the beginning of a lifetime love of all things Carolina. He and Ann spent every football season up until 2023 tailgating at home football games and traveling to away games whenever possible. This love of the Gamecocks and a good road trip took Jerry to two CWS tournaments in Omaha where the Gamecocks won national championships. Jerry was the epitome of a die-hard Gamecock fan and truly bled Garnet and Black. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus 724 and, served as Grand Knight for three terms. He was also active in Sandlapper Sertomans, American Legion Post 6 and the VFW. Jerry retired from The Columbia State Newspaper in 1986 after 30 years. Jerry is survived by his wife, Ann; and daughters, Susan (Jimbo) Murray, of Griffin, GA, Kelly Nash, of Columbia, SC and Allison Funderburk, of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Austin (Brooke) Gable, of West Columbia, SC, James (Kristine) Smith Murray III, of James Island, SC and Elinor (Carson) Hogge, of James Island, SC; great-grandchildren, Wyatt Jeffery Gable and James Smith Murray IV; brother, William Rick (Joanne) Funderburk. Jerry was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Bobby and Carl Funderburk.

Funeral services for Jerry Cleveland Funderburk will be held at 11 a.m., on July 7th, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, with a burial afterwards in the columbarium. Family will receive friends after the service in the St. Joseph's Administrative Building, and a light lunch will be provided by the St. Joseph's Women's Society. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Organ Project at St. Joseph's in Jerry's memory. COLE FUNERAL HOME 1544 UNIVERSITY PARKWAY 118 BY PASS AIKEN, SC, 29801. Please sign the online registry at www.colefuneralhomeinc.net.