PATRICIA ANN LANIUS BYNUM

Patricia “Pat” Ann Lanius Bynum, widow of Henry Clarke Bynum, went to her heavenly home on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.

Mrs. Bynum was the youngest child of the late Louise Paty Lanius Cooke and the Rev. Paul Fisher Lanius. She was born on Aug. 15, 1933, in College Grove, Tennessee. Her father was a United Methodist minister, and she grew up in Methodist parsonages throughout middle Tennessee.

She graduated from Central High School in Columbia, Tennessee, and received her B.S. degree in elementary education from Middle Tennessee State University. It was while working at Lake Junaluska Assembly that she met her future husband. Her father officiated at her marriage to Henry Clarke Bynum on April 17, 1955, in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

She was a loving mother and wife and was also active in the Sumter community. Mrs. Bynum was a devoted member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 60 years, where she served in numerous leadership capacities. Mrs. Bynum was a past president of the Junior Welfare League, a former member of the Daughter’s Book Club, and she served on the Friends of Swan Lake Advisory Board.
Mrs. Bynum loved her mountain home “Breezy Corner”, her hydrangeas on Snowden Street and everything pink. Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She adored her husband of 60 years, Henry, her children and her grandchildren. To many, she was affectionately known as “Mama Pat”.

Mrs. Bynum was preceded in death by her son, Henry Clarke Bynum Jr., in September 2007, as well as her sister, Mary Louise Lanius Smith, and her brothers, William Robert, Neal Frazier and Paul Fisher Lanius.

Mrs. Bynum is survived by her daughter Louise Lanius Bynum Mitchum and her husband, Robert “Eddie” Mitchum, of Concord, N.C. Also surviving are her son Edward Kennedy Bynum and his wife, Yvette Dibrell Bynum, of Sumter and daughter-in-law Mary Lynn “Sissy” Satcher Bynum of Columbia. Eight grandchildren survive Mrs. 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 and his wife, Lindsay, Edward Kennedy Bynum Jr., Ellis Roberson Bynum and Lottie Marie Bynum. Mrs. Bynum is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Adelaide Mitchum Davis, Radford Thomas Davis, MaryClarke Morgan Armstrong, William Branford Armstrong Jr., Oliver Henry Armstrong, Abigail Burke Bynum, Eliza Lyn Bynum, Charlotte Clarke Bynum, Willow Hope Noblitt, Naomi Grace Noblitt, Isaiah JaKori Noblitt, Emilia Elizabeth Bynum and John Edwards Bynum.

A graveside service celebrating Mrs. Bynum’s life will be conducted at Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery on Monday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Mark Yoder officiating.

Mrs. Bynum’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service at Lodebar Farm, 1501 Martinville Church Road, Sumter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Junaluska Assembly, 759 N Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745; Wilson Hall School, 520 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC 29150; Sumter Methodist Church 2751 S. Wise Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803-775-9386).