Coach Gunter Sweat, 73, husband of the Rev. Ethel Whack Sweat, died Monday, April 20, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born May 25, 1941, in the Live Oak section of Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Tommie "Big Tee" Sweat and Almetta Brown Sweat. He was a 1960 graduate of Manning Training School and a 1966 graduate of Morris College and earned his master's degree from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Vietnam War.
In his youth, he joined Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent for 40 years and as a member of the Board of Deacons. His coaching career began during the 1965-66 school year at Scott's Branch Middle School in Clarendon School District 1. He later worked in Clarendon School District 2 for more than 30 years, until his retirement in 1996.
During his coaching tenure, he was named Region Coach of the Year seven times and served as assistant coach for the North-South All State basketball games. In 1988, his team won the lower state championship, the first and only time the Manning High School boys' basketball team to advance to the state finals.
Upon his return to Scott's Branch High School, he won two Regional championships and was named Regional Coach of the Year twice. His team also played in the Lower State Finals in 2002.
Coach Sweat was inducted in to the Clarendon County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
He worked several years teaching at the Wateree Correctional Institution. Upon his retirement, he became a successful entrepreneur as owner of Sweat's Driving School.
Survivors besides his wife of the home include two sons, Tracy (Michelle) Sweat of Acworth, Georgia, and Sedrick (Talmahjia) Sweat of Kennesaw, Georgia; a special niece raised as a sister, Marie Sweat Dingle of Warner Robins, Georgia; four grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; three sisters-in-law; and two brothers-in-law.
A public viewing will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2015, at the funeral home.
Celebratory services for Coach Gunter Sweat will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2015, at Manning High School gymnasium, 2155 Paxville Highway in Manning, with Pastor Major Lloyd presiding, the Rev. Odessa McCoy as eulogist and Minister Willie Davis, Elder Keith Smith, and the Rev. Charles Linnen assisting.
Coach Gunter Sweat will lie in repose for an hour prior to funeral time.
The family will receive friends at the home, 2392 Mallette Road in the Sugar Hill section of Manning.
Services for Coach Gunter Sweat have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
