Mary Bultman DeLay

COLUMBIA - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church for Mary Bultman DeLay, 97, on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow in Donor Hall after the mass. The interment will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Columbia, SC.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Mary was the daughter of the late Charles F.J. Bultman, Sr. and Jessie Stulb Bultman. Her parents and siblings Louise, Eleanor, Loyola, Lucius, Stulb, Charles and Anne were serving members of Saint Peter‘s Catholic Church where Mary attended grade school and was crowned Queen of the May.

A 1945 graduate of the Ursuline School for Girls, 19-year-old Mary responded to the Lord’s call to a vocation to the religious life and, in 1946, entered the Carmelite monastery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1957, she received an invitation to transfer to Savannah, Georgia to help found a new Carmel, where she served faithfully until 1965.

With prayer and the approval of the Bishop, she returned to regular life to assist in her ailing mother’s care. Returning to her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, Mary met and married George S. DeLay in 1970. They were married 43 years until his passing in 2013.

She was a member of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church where she served on the Women’s Guild and was devoted to Christ, the Blessed Mother, and a life of prayer.

The family also honors the life and service of Mary’s caregiver and companion, Laura Taylor, who lovingly cared for her for more than 10 years. Mary is survived by her sister, Anne Bultman of Jacksonville, Florida, 25 nieces and nephews, 41 great nieces and nephews, and 27 great-great nieces and nephews.

For those who wish to, donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to Catholic Charities at 6 E. Bay St, Ste 301, Jacksonville, FL 32202 or online at ccbjax.org, or St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 3512 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 or online at www.stjosephcolumbia.org.