Bruce A. Connelly

Bruce Alva Connelly, 86 years old, of Prosperity, SC passed into his eternity on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at home surrounded by family. His life was one of a Godly man and Christian example that started with his grandmother we all called “Aunt Sis” teaching him to read and follow God’s Word. In his last months, he repeatedly told everyone who visited how blessed he felt and how he was ready for heaven. He was born March 21, 1939, in Prosperity, SC to the late Roy and Annette Shealy Connelly. Bruce was a 1957 graduate of Prosperity High School and worked in the sales business with television and appliance products for over 40 years. He also kept busy with woodworking and small appliance repair in his spare time in his workshop. He was a long-time active member of Zion United Methodist Church. In the past two years, he became a member of Wightman Global Methodist Church which he loved dearly. After retirement from his working career, he stayed active in local politics, in his home church and with the local American Legion, but his real deep love, time, and joy were invested in his four children, his ten grandchildren and his five great grandchildren.

Bruce was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Wicker Connelly. Their lifelong love affair began when they met in the third grade at Prosperity Elementary School and has been continued in his surviving three sons, one daughter, ten grandchildren, and five great grandchildren: Chad (Dana) Connelly, and their children, CJ, Leigha, Bennett (Alivia Grace) and Summer of Prosperity; Blake Connelly of Prosperity, Mandy (Tim) Ringer and their children, Hailea (Wesley) Carwile, Cassidy, Blake (Savannah) and Joseph of Hartsville; Brent (Deena) Connelly and their children Katie (Drew) Bunce and Emma Grace of Pomaria; and special nephew and his wife, Lynn and Fran Connelly of Chapin. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother, Larry Connelly and sisters, Patsy Connelly and Joyce Connelly Grayson.

Bruce lived a full and engaging life in his beloved hometown of Prosperity. He served on the Prosperity Town Council as a long-time councilman and as Mayor of Prosperity from 1998 -2005. In addition, he served on the Planning commission for the town’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1976. He was most recently honored as the Grand Marshal of the 2020 Prosperity Christmas Parade and served as the “Open Town Ambassador” for the Christmas tree lighting.

Bruce will be remembered as a passionate fan of all things Clemson, a lifelong resident and massive supporter of our little town of Prosperity, a man who could fix anything and if the fix didn’t exist, he’d create a tool to get it done and a man who loved spending time at the Connelly Cookout each year and having special time with his kids, grandkids and great grands! Bruce was most proud in his later years of the answered prayer to be caregiver to his wife Dorothy during her 22-year battle with cancer and the after effects of her stroke in 2009.

The family wishes to express our deep and heartfelt thanks to the caring and loving Staff and nurses on the MSA Home Health and Hospice team, his doctors and nurses at Chapin Family Practice and Lovelace Family Medicine.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at Wightman Global Methodist Church in Prosperity, SC on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The Family will receive friends from 9:45 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. prior to the service in the sanctuary.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.

Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic Batesburg-Leesville Chapel is assisting the Connelly family with arrangements.

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