Jeanette Maria (Blanding) Bellinger

Jeanette Maria Blanding Bellinger was born on August 17, 1957 in Camden, SC to the late Alexander “Bubba” Blanding and the late Helen Dixon Blanding. She entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

Teny, as she was affectionately called, expressed her faith and belief in God at an early age. She was raised and nurtured in the church by her parents at Unity United Methodist Church and Mt. Prospect United Methodist Church. Upon marriage, she became a member of the Clement Road Church of God in Columbia, SC. Later she returned to her home church, Unity United Methodist Church, where she was an active member until her death.

She attended Kershaw County School District schools, graduating from Lugoff-Elgin High School in 1975. In 1979, she graduated from Benedict College in Columbia, SC with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business Administration. She furthered her education by receiving two Masters of Business Administration in Health Services Management and Security Management from Webster University and attended numerous military schools.

Teny was united in marriage to Rickie J. Bellinger in 1981.  this union was blessed with two children, Christopher and Maurice.

She was formerly employed with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a Ground Water Protection Manager. She enlisted in the United States Army in 1990 rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class before commissioning as a Second Lieutenant. During her illustrious career, she completed two deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, was assigned to the Pentagon, and received many honors, medals, and awards. She retired honorably in 2015 after 25 years of service at the rank of Captain.

She was a lover of all things good. She was very active in the church and community. She enjoyed running, cycling, bowling, horse back riding, reading, traveling, cooking, home improvement projects, working in her yard and garden, and spending time with her sons, grandchildren, family and friends.

Teny was preceded in death by her parents Alexander Sr. and Helen Blanding and two brothers, William “Chip” Blanding, and Richard “Ricky” Blanding.

She leaves to cherish her sweet, precious memories: her husband, Rickie J. Bellinger of Columbia, SC; two sons, Christopher Bellinger (Latisha) of Hinesville, GA and Maurice Bellinger (Shikira) of Columbia, SC; one sister, Janetta Blanding Giummo of Columbia, SC; three brothers, Alexander Blanding Jr. of Aberdeen, MD, Charles Blanding of Lugoff, SC, and David Roberts (Wanda) of Philadelphia, PA; five grandchildren, Marcus Bellinger, Kendall Bellinger, Brianna Bellinger, Brayden Bellinger, and Moriah Bellinger; two God children, Katana Maria Bradley of Columbia, SC and Theresa Maria Leo of Tacoma, WA; seven sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and battle buddies.

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