Mr. Ernest (Ernie) Lawhorne, 91, died on October 7, 2014 at The Haven in Columbia, South Carolina.

Born May 13, 1923 in Parrot, Georgia to Marietta Copeland Lawhorne and Darling Lawhorne, Mr. Lawhorne grew up in the Methodist Children's Home in Macon, Georgia following the death of both parents when he was a small child. He championed the life he had at the Methodist Home with his siblings, saying it was the all the loving family he knew or needed and that it prepared him for all aspects of life after the children's home.

As a part of the Children's home family, all children were required to attend to daily chores and, therefore, they did not have the time to participate in most school activities. When the football coach recognized Ernie's athletic talents and approached him to join the team, Ernie appealed to the Home to let him complete his chores, beginning at 4:00 a.m., so he could practice in the afternoon with his team at Lanier High School. Ernie became the first occupant of the children's home to play high school football, which resulted in him receiving a scholarship to the University of South Carolina to play football, where he played four years and where he met his wife, Isabel.

Ernie's college career was interrupted by World War II and he served in the Army Air Force in Europe where he loved to say that "he and a fellow named Patton won the war!"

After completing his military service, Ernie returned to Carolina where he played two more years of football, baseball and ran track. During this time he married his sweetheart, Isabel, and they were married 53 years. After running Croft State Park in Spartanburg one year, Ernie and Isabel returned to Columbia where he was the head coach of the high school football team composed of University, Columbia and Eau Claire High Schools. After one year there, Ernie was hired to coach football at the University of South Carolina where he was an assistant coach for the next 10 years. USC also tasked him with serving as the Head Coach of the golf team. Although he had never played a round of golf before, he led his team…..

Following his coaching career, Mr. Lawhorne worked at Boyle-Vaughn Insurance Agency for 28 years. Ernie's passion for all things Carolina never ended and in 1965 he was the first President and one of the original founders of the USC Lettermen's Association.

Ernie and Isabel were among the founding members of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church where he also coached many champion basketball teams over the years and remained a member until his death.

Mr. Lawhorne was a long time member of the Columbia Sertoma Club and remained loyal and supportive of the Carolina Children's Home where he served on the Board of Trustees for many years. Eventually, as a member of the Columbia Sertoma Club, he began the club's yearly fund raiser for the Carolina Children's Home where, after more than four decades of fund raising, he raised more than 3.3 million dollars for the children's home. The fund raiser was named in his honor. In 2009, Mr. Lawhorne was awarded the State of South Carolina's highest volunteer award, the Order of the Silver Crescent. He rarely met a stranger and lived a life dedicated to helping others, consistent with his Christian beliefs.

Mr. Lawhorne was predeceased by his wife, Isabel Gooding Lawhorne; and his daughter, Marianne Durden Lawhorne. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Little (Bob); son, Ernie; daughter, Missy; grandson, Robert E. Little (Shelly); and great-grandchildren, Mason and Reese Little. Mr. Lawhorne was also predeceased by his sister, Martha Reynolds; and brothers, John, Stubby and Tinker Lawhorne.

The family expresses its love and heartfelt thanks to Ms. Doris Green who was Dad's caregiver and friend for eleven years. The family also extends heartfelt thanks to all of "Coach's" extended family at The Haven for their love and care of him during the past seven years of his battle with Alzheimer's.

His life was characterized by his unselfishness and caring for others. "Coach's" friends came from all walks of life and spanned the generations. His toughness combined with his kind and gentle spirit served as an example for so many and he will be dearly missed.

Memorials may be made to Epworth's Children's Home, 2900 Millwood Ave,
Columbia, SC 29205; Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC 29204; Harvest Hope Food Bank, PO Box 451, Columbia, SC 29202; the University of South Carolina's The Gamecock Club, 1304 Heyward St, Columbia, SC 29208; or the charity of one's choice.

Funeral service for Mr. Lawhorne will be held at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, on Friday, October 10th at 1:00 p.m. with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park following the service. Serving as pallbearers will be Bob Little, Mason Little, George Crawford, Jordan Gibbons, Jimmy Gooding, Ralph Williams and Bruce Williams; Members of the Columbia Sertoma Club are invited to serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will hold a Celebration of Big Ernie's life at the home of Missy Lawhorne, 3470 Northshore Road, after burial.