Sara Swygert Buck

COLUMBIA - Sara Swygert Buck entered this world April 2, 1928 in Laurens, SC, third of four daughters born to Martha White and Thomas Irwin Swygert. She grew up in Columbia, where friendships formed on South Saluda and Enoree Streets would last her entire life.

Her A. C. Moore first grade class continued to hold reunions beyond their eighties. She graduated from Columbia High and the University of South Carolina. At Carolina, she met William Gilmore Simms Buck, and they married in 1949, beginning a sixty year adventure that included such trials as sailing through a hurricane and hunting in rattlesnake infested territory. She handled it all with grace.

As her mother before her had modeled strength, so Sara did the same for her three daughters. She had a tender heart for the downtrodden, especially children and animals.

She was frequently collecting essentials for the families of some of her Burnside students, and she rescued numerous abandoned pets, notably Traveler the cat, and dogs Nicky, Buddy and Dali.

She was an extraordinary reading teacher, and countless students at Satchel Ford, Heathwood Hall, the Timmermann School and Burnside Elementary were introduced to the magic of reading by Mrs. Buck.

After raising their three daughters, Sara joined Billy in another adventure: yearly trips to Alamoosook Lake in Maine, where he had spent childhood summers. There she found a whole new community, as people naturally gravitated toward her genuine interest in them and their families. She even learned a new craft: rug hooking.

For all the joys of her life, none surpassed the role of grandmother. Her first five grandsons were born in a five year span, and the fun and games at “the Swamp House” in Bamberg will never be forgotten. Then another grandson and a granddaughter extended the blessings for further years. As her mother had been before her, Sara was a force in the lives of her grandchildren.

Her faith was her solid ground, and she loved worshipping at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where she was baptized as an infant and married in 1949.

She is survived by her daughters: Anne (Gary) Davis of Signal Mountain, TN, Martha (John) LaRoche of Ravenel, SC, and Sally (Bill) Short of Columbia; seven grandchildren: Allan, Lee (Julie) and Mark Davis, Bucky and Henry DaVega, Clay (Emmeline) Short, and Emma (Taylor) Bell, as well as four great granddaughters, and one sister, Jane Wrigley.

All four of the “Swygert Sisters” lived into their nineties, Betty Coggins and Mary DesChamps having predeceased Sara.

The family would like to thank the staff at Alexian Village Memory Care for their loving care of Sara.

Memorials may be made to dannyronsrescue.org. Or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 pm on December 12, 2022 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1715 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. Burial will be private.