Robert Bernard "Bob" Cherry Sr.

Robert Bernard (Bob) Cherry, Sr., age 83 died Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Carlyle Senior Care in Kingstree, SC. His Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Alice Drive Baptist Church officiated by the Rev. Travis Pruden, followed by burial beside his late wife at Sumter Cemetery. The family will greet attendees from 2 to 3 P.M. Sunday, one hour prior to the service in the Fellowship Hall. Pallbearers will be Cody B. Cherry, F.T. Cherry, Jim Cherry III, David Stone, H.D. Stone, Lance McKinnon, David McKinnon, Marvin Burress, and Robert Burress.

Born September 20, 1941, in Augusta, GA, he was the twin of George William Cherry and a son of the late Anne Dyer Cherry and Jim Marion Cherry, Sr. He was married to Diane Player Cherry from January 26, 1968, until her death in July 2007. Survivors include his son Robert Bernard (Rob) Cherry, Jr., and his wife Caroline of Cayce, SC, his grandson Robert Bernard (Trey) Cherry III, of Greenville, his three brothers and their wives-Jim Marion Cherry, Jr (Rosa) of Kingstree, George William Cherry (Debbie) of Lake Wylie, SC, and Charles Maurice Cherry (Sharon) of Greenville, plus many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A 1959 graduate of Dreher High School in Columbia, Bob was on the football team and in the Dreher Band. Bob then played football and graduated from Furman University in 1963 and later earned a master's degree from Clemson. He taught at several South Carolina high schools, including Brookland-Cayce, Edmonds High and Sumter High, where he was a football coach and later officiated at high school football and basketball games in SC public schools. One of his career highlights was coaching Freddie Soloman, who later was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl ring. Another was being one of the assistant coaches in 1969, when Edmonds High won the 4A State Championship under head coach Steve Satterfield.

As identical twins, both teaching public school in Sumter, Bob and Bill were frequently spoken to by former students – of one or the other! If Bob didn't recognize the student, he would answer nicely, assuming it was one of Bill's students! The confusion was real: once at Furman when Bob couldn't make it in time to the photographer for the yearbook picture, Bill sat for the shot. When the yearbook was published, their mother exclaimed what a great picture of Bob it was –- only be corrected by her oldest son, "No, Mother, that is Bill in the picture!" Bob is also remembered by fellow Furman classmates as the guy who broke the ice to swim in the Furman Lake in response to a dare and reward!

A lifetime member of the Baptist Church, Bob was an active member and a choir member of a church in the towns where he resided, including First Baptist in Columbia, First Baptist in Sumter, Crosswell Baptist Church in Sumter, and most recently Alice Drive in Sumter. Also, throughout his life, he enjoyed participating in sports. He was a favorite uncle and attended many of the games of his great nephews.

A long-time resident at 7 Curtiswood in Sumter, Bob spent his last years in Assisted Living at The Gardens of Sumter and, when he needed more care, at Carlyle Senior Care in Kingstree. The family appreciates the kindness of the caregivers at each of the two facilities, as well as the compassionate care from the Amedisys Hospice team in recent days.

Memorials may be sent to Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150, or to a charity of one's choice.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.