Sarah “Tommie” Lunsford Bumgarner passed away on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, one day shy of her 90th birthday.
Tommie was born Dec. 18, 1932, in Andrews, the 11th of 14 children of George W. Lunsford and Ora Thomasson.
She excelled as a student and loved school, attending Mars Hill College and earned an education degree in Math and Religious Education from Mercer College in Macon Ga. Along the way, she won many academic medals, speech awards, and was valedictorian of her high school class, which she said didn’t count because there were only 12 students.
Tommie went on to teach for over 30 years in North Carolina starting in Raleigh, N.C., where she met Jerry, her love and husband of 53 years. From Raleigh she taught in Stanly County where students still invite her to the class reunions and frequently called. After several years at Harding High School in Charlotte, she retired from A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, where she taught for 20 years.
“Ms. B,” as she was fondly called, was loved by her students and respected by her peers. As chair of the Math Department she mentored many new teachers helping them become better and more confident. She started the Academic Olympics, ran the magazine sales, the prom, math club, radio show and countless other things that most teachers still do today in addition to teaching.
She leaves behind a legacy of public service that has carried through the generations with two daughters and two granddaughters serving as professional educators.
She leaves behind her children; Margaret Bumgarner of Sugar Mountain, Lynne Bryant (Jeff) of Tennessee, Sarah Bumgarner Major (Neil) of Pinehurst, Tom Owen (Pat) of Maggie Valley; and five adoring grandchildren: Neil Major, John Major, Ruth Major Farlow (Calvin), Rachel Moon (Griffin), Carson Bryant; and four great-grandchildren: Porter, Hudson, Silas and Stokely. Tommie is also survived by three loving siblings, James Lunsford of Pennsylvania, Lelia (David) Young of Canton and Loster Lunsford (Sue) of Robbinsville, along with a large extended family of nieces and
nephews.
A celebration of life is being planned for late January and will be announced when plans are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to your favorite charity in memory of mother would be appreciated.