“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15).
This morning just before noon, Pastor Groff was able to share the above verse with Mrs. Pipa as he visited, read Psalm 116, and prayed with her at her bedside. She was awake and alert during the visit, with Dr. Pipa diligently and tenderly caring for her as he has been these past several weeks. Around 1 PM, Dr. Richard D. Phillips of the Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville visited and read John 14:1-3 before praying with the Pipas. By 4:30 PM, our beloved Mrs. Carolyn “Sissy” Pipa was “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). In His mercy, our Lord heard our prayers for Mrs. Pipa and called her to Himself. Our sister has finished her race which she ran with endurance, faith, and grace, “fixing [her] eyes on Jesus” and “desir[ing] a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 11:16).
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
OBITUARY
Carolyn “Sissy” Rae Pipa, 78, passed away August 18, 2025.
A native of Cleveland, Mississippi, daughter of the late Willie and Ellen Mallett Floyd, she was a homemaker and a member of Antioch Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr. of the home; a daughter, Sara Elizabeth Belden (John) of Woodruff; a son, Joseph Anthony Pipa III (Ronda) of Greer; a sister, Margaret Ann Turner of Lexington, Mississippi; and ten grandchildren, Joseph Pipa IV, Joshua Pipa, Jonathan Pipa, Jonah Pipa, Elizabeth Pipa, Abigail Belden, Jacob Belden, Caroline Belden, Nathaniel Belden, and Matthew Belden.
She was predeceased by a sister, Charlotte Clayton Gilley.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Antioch Presbyterian Church Graveyard (3600 SC-417, Woodruff, SC 29388) conducted by Pastor John Belden.
Pallbearers will be Joseph Pipa III, Joseph Pipa IV, Joshua Pipa, Matthew Belden, Jonathan Pipa, Jonah Pipa, Jacob Belden, and Nathaniel Belden.
Honorary escorts will be James “Sonny” Peaster, Sam Hutton, Jeff Danes, Rick Long, and Bill Johnson.
Visitation will be held 9:00–10:45 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Antioch Presbyterian Church (3600 SC-417, Woodruff, SC 29388). Please note that due to parking and space limitations at Antioch, visitation by families with small children will be very complicated, and it is incumbent upon parents to keep a close watch on their children.
Parking on Thursday, August 21 – Please note that we are severely limited in parking, and parking (for our guests) will be in the “upper field” on the west side of the worship hall. We will have at least two men serving as parking lot attendants. Also, due to a previously scheduled event slated for 1-3 pm, it is important that all funeral guests depart in a timely fashion following the graveside service.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 12, 2025, at Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church (2519 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681). Please note that ample parking and facility space is available at the Woodruff Road facility.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that gifts be made in memory of Mrs. Carolyn “Sissy” Pipa to either Antioch Presbyterian Church (information here) or Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Morton H. Smith Chair of Theology (information here). Of course, Dr. Pipa would love to hear from you by email, text, or post. For additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to the church office at info@antiochpca.com. Thank you.
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