Henrietta Connor Tindal “Hennie” Rickenbaker, affectionately known by her family as “Mimi”, passed into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on Monday, February 25, 2019. Mimi was full of grace and courage, always a source of strength for her family.
Born June 18, 1925, in Pinewood, she was a daughter of the late David Leslie Tindal and the late Lela Norris Tindal. Hennie graduated from Pinewood High School and went on to attend Furman University, graduating with honors and a degree in Elementary Education. She was chosen by the student body of Furman to serve as their May Queen her senior year. Furman was dear to her heart because of the many lasting friendships she made there. Upon graduating from Furman, Hennie married the love of her life, Henry Burchell Rickenbaker, on November 9, 1946, at Calvary Baptist Church in Pinewood. They spent 64 wonderful years together before Henry passed away in August of 2010. She exhibited a strong faith in her Lord during this difficult time, which was a beautiful witness to her children of God’s infinite love. Hennie loved children and she spent the first few years of her married life teaching kindergarten in Summerton. She was a strong woman of faith. Growing up as a Baptist, she served many years in the Summerton Baptist Church teaching Sunday school, children’s mission groups, and using her beautiful singing voice in the church choir. Her love for the Lord was evident in all that she did. One of the accomplishments in her life that meant most to her was helping found and grow a mission church of the Summerton Baptist Church. That mission church is now Lake Marion Baptist Church. She spent years there teaching Sunday school, organizing events and singing in the church choir. As the years passed, she eventually left the Baptist church to attend church with her husband, Henry, at his old family church in Summerton, St. Matthias Episcopal Church. She loved this old church and the church family as well. She worked with them to help build a beautiful new Family Life Center/ Parish Hall and to help start a new Montessori school at the church. Hennie was also civic minded and she served on the Summerton Downtown Development Board helping to organize events that would help raise funds to better the downtown area of Summerton.
Hennie was loved beyond words by her children and the family she has left behind. Hennie and Henry had four children, Lela Rickenbaker Lance (Art) of Florence, Mannie Wilson “Rick” Rickenbaker (Carla) of Summerton, Connie Rickenbaker Bell (Lester) of Sumter and Henry Burchell Rickenbaker, Jr. (Julie) of Summerton; nine adoring grandchildren; and sixteen precious great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews that she loved very much.
A celebration of Hennie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at her beloved childhood home church, the historic Calvary Baptist Church, 17972 Panola Road, Pinewood. Interment will follow at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 6205 Camp Mac Boykin Rd., Pinewood. The service will be officiated by Dr. Chad Rickenbaker (grandson), Father David W. T. Thurlow, and Father Denman Isgett. Noel Lance (grandson) and Kipper Ackerman will be providing the beautiful music that Mimi so loved and appreciated.
Pallbearers will Baker Bell, Gill Bell, Ray Mouzon, Bryan Rivers, Benji Haney, and Jay Livingston.
Visitation will be held at the home, 1004 Ackerman Drive, Summerton.
The family would like to especially thank her wonderful, compassionate and loving sitters, Betty Conyers, Della Lee, Ernestine Canty, Helen Canty and Sara Wall. The family would also like to thank Dr. Hugh Stoddard for his many years of devoted and compassionate caring of Mom.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Calvary Baptist Building Trust Fund, 1463 Les Tindal Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 or to St. Matthias Church Building Fund, PO Box 336, Summerton, SC 29148.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory, 304 N Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803)435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
