Geela Bopeep (Bo) Poteat Swicegood, 75, of Cayce, South Carolina passed away August 12, 2024 at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina. She was born on June 1, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri to Warren Poteat and Duna (Olah) Poteat.

Geela was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren. She dedicated many years of service to the National Alliance on Mental Illness before her retirement; serving on the board and advocating for clinical and legal changes in health care for many years while working and raising a family. She attended Dreher High School, then earned BS and MS degrees in ceramic engineering, one of the first women to receive a master’s degree from the Clemson University School of Engineering. She did pioneering research in artificial bones and teeth at Clemson and UNC at Chapel Hill, then worked as a ceramic engineer for Corning Glass Works in West Virginia and PPG in North Carolina. Geela later worked as an environmental engineer for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for nearly 20 years prior to retirement.

Geela's first marriage to Michael McGaughey ended in divorce. She married Stephen Swicegood on December 23, 2012 and remained devoted to him for the remainder of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen; two sons: Chris McGaughey (Eve), Ryan McGaughey (Kathryn); seven sisters: Duna Miller, Gherry Gottwals, Dawn Allen, Mona Reick, Gilda Bocock, Tammy Poteat, and Thena Poteat; eight grandchildren: Ethan McGaughey, Hudson McGaughey; Amber Yother, April Yother, Alexandra Wiley, Xavier Wiley, Zain McGaughey, and Sheldon McGaughey.

The family will receive friends from 2pm - 3pm followed by her memorial service at 3pm on Sunday, September 15 at Columbia United Methodist Church (pka Main St. UMC) at 1830 Main St. Columbia, SC. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, SC. 

Geela Swicegood was a long-time supporter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of South Carolina organization; memorial contributions to NAMI SC would be welcome.