Rev. Robert G. Strother

ROBERT GARFIELD STROTHER  

August 7, 1927 – February 21, 2024  

Born to the late Myrtle White Strother and James Miller Strother, Robert Garfield Strother was a native of Plum Branch SC. He is survived by a daughter, Jane and son in law, George Petty of the home, a grandson, Michael (Brittany) Driggers of Richmond VA, a granddaughter, Melissa Lunsford, and a great granddaughter, Breanna Lunsford, both of Spartanburg. He is also survived by one brother, Duane Strother of Graniteville SC, and was predeceased by a brother, the late Hugh Strother of Mt Pleasant, SC and a sister, the late Dorothy Cooper. He also has several surviving nieces and nephews and some great nieces and nephews.  

Robert was a graduate of McCormick High School, Wofford College, and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta GA, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Theology. While earning a degree at Wofford, he sang in the Wofford Glee Club, and was a member of the Moyer Men. Much later, he became a member of the “50 Year Club” at Wofford College.  

On August 25,1951 he married the late Betty Jane Roper of Spartanburg SC. They were married for 62 years.  

During the years, he served as a United Methodist Minister to a number of churches in the SC Conference…Greenwood (Panola UMC), Drayton (Drayton UMC), Union (Green Street UMC), Cowpens (Cannons Campground UMC and Salem UMC), Inman (Inman UMC), Woodruff (Emma Gray UMC), Pendleton (Pendleton UMC), Duncan (Duncan United Methodist Church) and Rock Hill (Epworth UMC). After partially retiring in 1990, he still served several churches in the Spartanburg area, until he retired and began teaching two Sunday School classes at Bethel UMC, where he was still a member. 

Rev. Strother faithfully served as a mentor to “beginning ministers” from 1964-2008. He served on the United Methodist Conference Board of Trustees from 1960-1968 and again from 1979-1983. He served on the Committee of Ministerial Qualifications from 1963-1971, and was on the Clemson Wesley Foundation Board of Directors from 1981-1985. He served on the Spartanburg District Counseling Service from 1974-1981, and on the Rock Hill District Center from 1985-1990. He was a Trustee of the Greenwood Methodist Home from 1969-1972 and served as a member of the Founding Board.  

He loved fishing in his younger days but had a true passion for golf later in life.  

Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Bethel United Methodist Church, 245 South Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. A service to celebrate and honor the life of Rev. Strother will follow at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, in the church sanctuary. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 235 South Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306, Roebuck Baptist Church (Kingdom Investment Strategy), PO Box 490, Roebuck, SC 29376, or to Spartanburg Regional Hospice, PO Box 2624, Spartanburg, SC 29304. 

 Floyd’s North Church Street