John Sherrod Bumgardner

John Sherrod Bumgardner passed away on October 12, 2022. A graduate of Wofford College (‘11) and Lexington High School, he was known by his loved ones for his enthusiasm, his spirit, and the many talents he generously shared.

John had an enthusiastic, headstrong, and adventurous spirit he brought to everything he did. He was a true gentleman -thoughtful, considerate, stubbornly generous, and kind. John was a multi-talented musician: an exceptional drummer as well as a songwriter and vocal performer. In 2021, he wrote, composed, and released a solo country music EP entitled, "A Heart Breaks Slow" as the artist JB Redbeard on major streaming platforms https://open.spotify.com/album/6gtnTnqQPiS3bQd4WyjctS - his family hopes that his music continues to be enjoyed as part of his legacy.

John was an avid outdoorsman. He loved scuba diving, earning advanced credentials and frequently explored SC’s inland and oceanic underwater landscape – seeing worlds most of us never see. He was also a skilled hunter and particularly loved to bow hunt; he was frequently out in the stands before dawn during different seasons.

John had a lifelong love of learning, particularly through traveling, and experiencing new cultures, customs, and geographies. He undertook post-graduate studies in Arabic at the University of Jordan. Beyond this formal learning, he was an accomplished chef and a Black belt in Taekwondo. He was a loyal friend, a pun-perfecter and dad-joke master. One of his favorite joys in life was a good, post-holiday-meal nap. 

John is survived by his parents, Charles & Leslie Bumgardner, sister Keller Anne (Blake Ruble), grandmother Keller Barron, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, and his much beloved dog Goose. He is predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Sherrod L. Bumgardner, DDS, and maternal grandparents, Lester and Roberta Ferguson. He will be missed tremendously by all who were blessed to know him in this life.

Services will be held at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington, SC on Monday, October 17th at 4:00 in the afternoon. John’s family will receive friends at the Columbia Sailing Club following the service to celebrate John’s life and his love of music.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to SAFE Harbor of the Upstate https://www.safeharborsc.org/

“Be nice everywhere you go cause you never know whose heart breaks slow” - JB Redbeard

Please see the link below for the service:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iplx6lodzbjxd1j/John%20S.%20Bumgardner.mp4?dl=0

Barr-Price Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, is assisting the family.

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