Obituary of James Elliott Gunter

James E. Gunter “Jimmy”, born November 30, 1939, went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 6, 2018. Jimmy was a life-long resident of West Columbia, South Carolina. He passed away after a long illness.

He was a 1957 graduate of Brookland Cayce High School where he was a member of the track team and the football team’s manager. He was retired from Southeastern Freight Lines where he was a salesman and driver.

He is survived by his only child, Sharon Gunter Wilkinson; son-in-law, Brad Wilkinson; grandchildren, Nicholas and Addison; sisters, Joye Watson and Mary Anne Allread; and brother, Johnny Gunter. He is also survived by his former spouse, Rebecca Gunter, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A life-long member of Congaree Baptist Church, Jimmy was always active in the church and was a former deacon. He loved to sing, and his beautiful tenor voice could be heard in the choir and in the ensembles in which he participated. In 2010, he was named the Church’s Senior of the year. He took pride in his church and often maintained the grounds. He lent his cooking skills as a member of the kitchen committee.

Jimmy was a sports enthusiast and loved watching NASCAR, the Cowboys, the Yankees and the Reds. He often attended football games at Williams Brice Stadium and loved cheering for the Gamecocks in any sport they played. He also coached youth baseball for many years. He attended every game his daughter, Sharon, cheered in at Airport High School as well as every one of her gymnastics’ meets.

Jimmy’s favorite place to be was outdoors. He enjoyed taking long walks with his family and was often seen walking around the community up until the last two years of his life. He was an avid deer hunter and fisherman and was the proud owner of several award-winning hunting dogs. He had a large garden which gave him great joy. He grew everything from tomatoes to watermelons and cantaloupes. Jimmy took the vegetables he grew and distributed them to the seniors and home bound residents in the community. He loved the idea of farm to table and used his cooking talents to prepare delicious meals from all the food he had grown.

His family would like to thank the staff at Colonial Gardens for the love and compassion they showed Jimmy over the last two years.

A kind and gentle soul, Jimmy loved life, he loved and adored his family, and he loved his Lord. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington on Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2018 at Congaree Baptist Church.  Interment will be in Southland Memorial Gardens.  Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 140 Stoneridge Dr., Ste. 210, Columbia, SC 29210.