Gayle Brandt Faust

Gayle was born on June 27, 1940, to Karl Frederick and Lucy Beth McDonald Brandt in Rome, Georgia. After graduating from Spartanburg High School, she attended Coker College (1958-60) where she played on the basketball team. Gayle transferred to the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education (1962). She was initiated by Beta Delta to become a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

While attending Coker College, Gayle met J.P. Faust, where he was on the faculty instructing horsemanship in the Coker stables. Gayle and J.P. married on June 29, 1963, and have three sons, John Christopher, Stephen Scott, and Brandon Carr.

After graduating, Gayle began her teaching career at Brookland Grammar School in West Columbia, until she had her first son. She returned to teaching as a volunteer and tutor in math, English, and reading at Hand Middle and Dreher High Schools. She retired after many years of teaching first and second grades at Sloan’s School, serving as an Adult Basic Instructor for the LRADAC Staying Straight Program (primary through 12th grade and GED preparation), a substitute teacher for the Bright Futures program at Logan School, a Workplace Education teacher at Baptist Medical Center teaching vocabulary and reading skills for ADL’s and Heart Saver Manual to upgrade Nurse’s Aides to Nursing Technicians, and a teacher with Richland County School District One’s Adult and Community Education Summer Program.

The Faust family were members of Christ the King, Resurrection, and Incarnation Lutheran churches, where Gayle was involved with the Altar Guild, loved playing handbells, and taught 5th and 6th grade Sunday school.

Gayle was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team and was excited by their 2021 season and World Series title. She loved Gamecock football, mowing her yard, Elvis, her Boston Terrier “Boots”, watching her husband show horses, reading, Gunsmoke television Western drama series, and the Christmas and holiday season. Every year, she had her three boys decorating her tree the day after Thanksgiving and putting it away the day after Christmas!

Gayle was predeceased by her parents and husband. She is survived by her three sons, Chris and fiancée Alisa M. Rhodes, Scott and Brandon, her brothers and sister-in-law, Marcus Karl and Katherine H. Brandt, Frederick Nelson Brandt and the late Sarah F. Brandt, and seven nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the years of support from her dear friends Debbie Burris, Kay Hunter, and Welda McCullough.

Services will be held at Incarnation Lutheran Church, 3005 Devine Street Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 1:00 PM. Columbarium Services will be held directly afterward in the Memorial Garden beside the church sanctuary. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Incarnation Lutheran Church in Gayle’s memory.