Obituary of Bentham Walker Edmunds

Bentham Walker Edmunds, 80, husband of Tempe Austin Edmunds, died Friday, June 3, 2022. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Champion Moore Edmunds and Elizabeth Hayes Lucas Walker Edmunds. Mr. Edmunds was a member of The Church of the Holy Comforter. He was a U. S. Army veteran of Vietnam and he was a retired sales representative for 47 years with Educational Products of Columbia and Blankenship & Associates, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. His family was his most precious possession. His grandsons, Hugh, Austin, and Ben brought tremendous joy to his life. Even though his body was limited over the last years, it did not limit the quality time he had with his boys. He talked to them daily and knew every detail involving their lives. Surviving are his wife of Sumter; one daughter, Leigh Edmunds McLaurin (Hugh McLaurin IV) of Sumter; two brothers, deSaussure Davis “D.D.” Edmunds (Peggy) of Georgetown and Samuel Henry “Cricket” Edmunds (Randa) of Sumter; a sister, Mary Edmunds Reed of Sumter; three grandchildren, Hugh McFaddin McLaurin V, Austin Lucas McLaurin, and Bentham Edmunds McLaurin; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister Elizabeth Edmunds Messersmith and a brother, Richard Champion “Dick” Edmunds. Funeral Services will be held at 11 A.M. Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at The Church of the Holy Comforter with Rev. David Booman and Rev. Paul Fuener officiating. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the home of his daughter and also will greet guests from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. Monday, June 6, 2022, at 220 Haynsworth Street. Private graveside services will be held in the Sumter Cemetery. Memorials may be made to The Church of the Holy Comforter, 213 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to Wilson Hall, 520 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.