Ronald Leroy “Ronnie” GROOMS

• Name	Ronald Leroy “Ronnie” GROOMS  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina are his parents in the correct place? jkh 'Hello, Sue!' New book details story of friendship of Ranger Ronnie and swan Sue at Swan Lake Iris Gardens Sue the Whooper swan spends time with Park Ranger Ronnie Grooms at Swan Lake Iris Gardens. CAL CARY / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2022 6:00 am HOW TO PURCHASE 'RANGER RONNIE AND SUE' BOOK? - "Ranger Ronnie and Sue" is locally sold at The Elephant Ear, 672 Bultman Drive, Sumter. - It is also sold on Amazon. On the home page, click on "Books" and then in the Search bar, type in "Ranger Ronnie and Sue." (It should be the first listing.) The author is Laurice Prince of Sumter. Cost is $11.99 and it is only sold in paperback. The book is written on a child's level. PSALM 71:5 "For You are my hope, O Lord God. You are my trust from my youth." 'SUE' BY THE NUMBERS 20 to 22 Her approximate weight in pounds 13+ Her age - 13 years old, maybe older 5 Total number of Whooper swans at Swan Lake Iris Gardens Source: Ranger Ronnie Grooms and Swan Lake Iris Gardens BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com Swan Lake Iris Gardens offers up many sites and stories for visitors, but this story about the park is about a special friendship. Or maybe it is more a story of hope. It's the true story of the park's full-time ranger, Ronnie Grooms, and a swan named "Sue," and it has grown in popularity in the Sumter area since a book was published in November last year on their unique friendship and their routine walks together through the gardens. Now, some frequenters to Swan Lake know them by name. When they spot them together, you will hear a "Hello, Sue!" greeting. As the story goes, know this: Swans mate for life, and Sue, a Whooper swan and long-time Swan Lake resident, lost her mate years ago. Grooms began working at Sumter's well-known family friendly park in March 2017. Within just a few weeks, he met and befriended Sue. "I was walking the lake one day after I started working here, and I noticed this swan over on the side in the bushes," Grooms said. "I came by and looked at her, and she looked at me. About the third day, I was walking, and she came out, and she was following me. I stopped; she stopped. "Then, the next day, she started following me, and that is the way it's been ever since. For the people out here, it was entertaining for them to see a swan walking beside a ranger." Observers can see them walking side by side on the sandy paths around Swan Lake, or at times Sue is paddling alongside Ranger Ronnie's path in the water. Grooms is the only full-time ranger on the Swan Lake staff, and he initially thought it was the uniform he wears or his jangly keys kept near his belt that drew Sue to him. (She also befriended the three part-time rangers, he said.) Things stayed the same for about two years, but in June 2019, Grooms left for about 1.5 years to do contracting work through an engineering firm, he added. About one year into that time away from being a ranger, Grooms walked the Swan Lake path one day with his grandson. As the book, "Ranger Ronnie and Sue," written and illustrated by Grooms' niece Laurice Prince, details, his grandson asked him that day if Sue would remember him? Grooms said he was not sure, especially because he was not in his uniform. They went to the back side of the lake where Sue generally stayed in a quiet spot. He called, "Hello, Sue!" She came right up to them. "I think it's the uniform," Grooms said. "But then, the main thing is when I was not in uniform she came to me. Staff here could not get over that, that she remembered me. I say now, 'I think it's my voice that she remembered.'" One might ask just how Ranger Ronnie can identify Sue among all the swans at the lake. That is a good question, Grooms said. Swan Lake is home to all eight species of swans and more than 100 total. But there are only five Whoopers at the gardens, he said. Sue is also a little more petite in size than the others, he added. Also, there is at least one more identifiable physical trait that makes Sue unique, but for some general protection of privacy, we leave that one out. In addition, another characteristic makes Sue stand out from the other swans. "She comes to me," Grooms said. "The other Whoopers don't attempt to come to me." In his years at the park, he has never seen another swan be friendly with people. "Sue is my favorite," Grooms said. "She is unique and different." THE STORY OF HOPE As Grooms' contract work was winding down at the end of 2020, he said, his hope was - one day - to get back on as the full-time ranger at Swan Lake. He said he dreamed one night back then that his former boss with the City of Sumter, Lynn Kennedy, called him and asked for him to come back on staff. He called Kennedy about the dream, but knew someone was currently in the position. Two weeks went by, and then Kennedy texted him that the ranger had retired. He started in January 2021. A dream was fulfilled. What about Sue's hope? As the book details, Sue lost her swan mate. Then she met Grooms, a friendly park ranger with a "kind, soft voice," who she would walk and talk with daily "swan talk" and "human talk." Later, she lost Grooms and was down on her hope again. But he eventually did return. In the bigger picture with his job, Grooms said he loves meeting visitors to the lake from all over the world and just people in general. He considers his job a gift from God. He can rattle off visitors to the gardens from about a half-dozen countries and thinks he has probably met people from all 50 states. Grooms said sometimes he is asked how he got the job at the picturesque park. "I say to them, 'You really want to know?'" "They say, 'Yeah, I want to know.'" "I say, 'My Lord, Jesus Christ, gave me this job.'" "'Well, how you figure that?' they ask." "'Well, in God's word, it says, 'All good things come from above,' and this is a good thing. I love this job. "So, the Lord put me here, and when I get the chance I talk with people about the Lord." Grooms then added to just consider everything that is going on in the world right now. "I love people, and as I am walking the park, I get to talk with people from all over the world that come here," he said. "I don't beat anybody over the head with the Bible, but at the same time, I ask the Lord every morning to give me wisdom. To know when there is someone there that I can speak to and that the Holy Spirit would give me the right words to say. "My job, I feel like, it's a job of hope," Grooms said. "People are searching, and I and others know where the hope is really at." ‘Hello, Sue!’ Swan Lake Iris Gardens offers up many sights and stories for visitors, but this story about the park is about a special friendship. Or maybe it is more a story of hope. It’s the true story of the park’s full-time ranger, Ronnie Grooms, and a swan named “Sue,” and it has grown in popularity in the Sumter area since a book was published in November of last year on their unique friendship and their routine walks together through the gardens. Now, some freqenters to Swan Lake know them by name. When they spot them together, you will hear a “Hello, Sue!” greeting. As the story goes, know this: Swans mate for life, and Sue, a Whooper swan and long-time Swan Lake resident, lost her mate years ago. Grooms began working at Sumter’s well-known family friendly park in March 2017. Within just a few weeks, he met and befriended Sue. “I was walking the lake on day after I started working here, and I noticed this swan over on the side in the bushes,” Grooms said. “I came by and looked at her, and she looked at me. About the third day, I was walking and she came out and she was following me. I stopped, she stopped. “Then, the next day, she started following me, and that is the way it’s been ever since. For the people out here, it was entertaining for them to see a swan walking beside a ranger.” Observers can see them walking side by sde on the sandy paths around Swan Lake, or at times Sue is padding (paddling) alongside Ranger Ronnie’s path in the water. Grooms is the only full-time ranger on the Swan Lake staff, and he initially thought it was his uniform or his jangly keys he dangles near his belt that drew Sue to him. (She also befriended the three part-time rangers, he said.) Things stayed the same for about two years, but in June 2019, Grooms left for about 1.5 years to do contracting work through an engineering firm, he added. About one year into that time away from being a ranger, Grooms walked the Swan Lake path one day with his grandson. As the book, “Ranger Ronnie and Sue,” written and ilustrated by Grooms’ niece Laurice Prince, details, his grandson asked him that day if Sue would remember him? Grooms said he was not sure, especially because he was not in his uniform. They went to the back side of the lake where Sue generally stayed in a quiet spot. He called, “Hello, Sue!” She came right up to them. “I think it’s the uniform, “Grooms said. “But then, the main thing is when I was not in uiform she came to me. Staff here could not get over that, that she remembered me. I say now, ‘I think it’s my voice that she remembered.’” One might ask just how Ranger Ronnie can identify Sue among all the swans at the lake. That is a good question, Grooms said. Swan Lake is home to all eight species of swans and more than 100 total. But there are oly five Whoopers at the gardens, he said. Sue is also a little more petite in size that the others, he added. Also, there is at least on more identifiable physical trait that makes Sue unique, but for some general protection of privacy, we leave that one out. ’SUE’ BY THE NUMBERS - 20-22 Her approximate weight in pounds - 5 Number of Whooper swans at Swan Lake Iris Gardens - 13+ Her age -Source: Ranger Ronnie Grooms and Swan Lake Iris Gardens HOW TO PURCHASE ‘RANGER RONNIE AND SUE’ THE BOOK - * “Ranger Ronnie and Sue” is locally sold at The Elephant Ear, 672 Bultman Drive, Sumter. * It is also sold on Amazon. On the home page, click on “Books” and then in the Search bar, type in “Ranger Ronnie and Sue.” (It should be the first listing.) The author is Laurice Prince of Sumter. The cost in $11.99, and it is only sold in paperback. In addition, another characteristic makes Sue stand out from the other swans. “She comes to me,” Grooms said. “The other Whoopers don’t attempt to come to me.” In his years at the park, he has never seen another swan be friendly with people. “Sue is my favorite,” Grooms said. “She is unique and different.” THE STORY OF HOPE As Grooms’ contact work was winding down at the end of 2020, he said, his hope was - one day - to get back on as the full-time ranger at Swan Lake. He said he dreamed on night back then that his former boss with City of Sumter, Lynn Kennedy, called him and asked for him to come back on staff. He called Kennedy about the dream, but knew someone was currently in the position. Two weeks went by, and then Kennedy texted him that the ranger had retired. He started in January 2021. A dream was fulfilled. What about Sue’s hope? As the book details, Sue lost her swan mate. Then she met Grooms, a friendly park ranger with a “kind, soft voice,” who she would walk and talk with daily “swan talk” and “human talk.” Later, she lost Grooms and was down on her hope again. But he eventually did return. In the bigger picture with his job. Grooms said he loves meeting visitors to the lake from all over the world and just people in general. He considers his job a gift from God. He can rattle off visitors to the gardens from about a half-dozen countries and thinks he has probably met people from all 50 states. Grooms said sometimes he is asked how he got the job at the picturesque park. “I say to them, ‘You really want to know?” “They say, ‘Yeah, I want to know.’” “I say, ‘My Lord, Jeasus Christ, gave me this job.’” “Well, how you figure that?” they ask.” “Well, in God’s word, it says, ‘All good things come from above,’ and this is a good thing. I love this job. “My job, I feel like, it’s a job of hope. People are searching, and I and others know where the hope is really at.” - Ronnie Grooms “So, the Lord put me here, and when I get the chance I talk with people about the Lord.” Grooms then added to just consider everyting that is going on in the world right now. “I love people, and as I am walking the park, I get to talk with people from all over the world that come here,” he said. “I don’t beat anybody over the head with the Bible, but at the same time, I ask the Lord every morning to gve me wisdom. To know when there is someone there that I can speak to and that the Holy Spirit would gve me the right words to say. “My job, I feel like, it’s a job of hope,” Grooms said. “People are searching, and I and others know where the hope is really at.” Ranger Ronnie got to say goodbye to Sue Former park ranger at Swan Lake visited beloved swan a day before she passed Former Swan Lake Iris Gardens park ranger Ronnie Grooms visits Sue, a Whooper swan, in an enclosed area at Swan Lake Iris Gardens on Friday, Aug. 8. Sue passed away the next day. PHOTO PROVIDED Posted Saturday, August 30, 2025 6:00 am BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com "Everybody knows Sue." That was the response of a little girl a few years ago at Swan Lake-Iris Gardens to Ronnie Grooms that he still remembers to this day. Grooms, better known as "Ranger Ronnie" to Sumterites, was a friendly park ranger at Swan Lake, and "Sue" was the popular swan who followed Grooms around at the family-friendly park. He worked a little more than four years at the gardens as a park ranger before stopping in January 2023. Grooms always spoke to her with a "Hello, Sue!" greeting, and she always responded to his voice, even when he was not in uniform. In the 2½ years since he left, Grooms said he visited Swan Lake about four or five times, and Sue still recognized him by his voice. As most frequenters of the gardens already know from a social media post from Swan Lake Iris Gardens that got heavy traffic, Sue passed away a few weeks ago. But Ranger Ronnie did get a final opportunity to say goodbye to Sue just one day before her death and shared the occasion with The Sumter Item this past week. A current park ranger called Grooms on Thursday, Aug. 7, and informed him that Sue was sick and likely near death, he said. The next day, Friday, Aug. 8, he went out to Swan Lake and visited Sue in an enclosed pen area where staff had placed her. A park official told Grooms that staff was able to get her off the lake before she died. If she had stayed on the lake and died there, she would have been subject to the turtles or an alligator, the staff member said. The park official and Grooms went into the secure area where Sue was, and he said she was not responsive. Then Grooms went around and spoke to her, and Sue again recognized his voice, he said. "I said, 'Hello, Sue. You're not feeling good, Sue? Are you sick?' Something like that," Grooms said. "And when I said that, she just came to life the best she could. "The staff member said, 'She recognized your voice.' "And that's true because I had done that before when I was not in uniform and called to her out there, and she came flopping up to us and carrying on. So, she knew my voice." Grooms received a phone call the next day, Saturday, Aug. 9, that Sue had died. "I am so glad that I got to see her one last time." He added Sue was more than 20 years old, possibly 21 to 25 years old, and she lived more than half her life at Swan Life, according to records. "She lived a long life," Grooms said. MORE ON RANGER RONNIE AND SUE The special friendship of the duo became popular after Grooms' niece Laurice Prince wrote and illustrated their true story in a book aptly titled "Ranger Ronnie and Sue" that was published in 2021. As of last week, the book had sold 711 copies, Prince said. Prince published a second book, more fantasy-based, the following year named "Ranger Ronnie and Sue and the Fantasy of Lights," based around Swan Lake's annual Christmas-themed showcase of lights held each December. That book had sold 126 copies as of this week. Both are still available on Amazon and at Elephant Ear Gallery, 672 Bultman Drive. Grooms said he has never benefited financially from the books in any way. He did add that people still recognize him occasionally out and about in town and call him Ranger Ronnie. Grooms said he does not consider himself a celebrity in any way from his time as a park ranger with Sue at Sumter's well-known park, and if anyone considered him in that light that "I would probably turn red to start with." "I would tell people that those were some good years at the lake, and I enjoyed that," he said. "It was some fun times. I loved watching the children and their excitement concerning Sue."  [2, 4, 7]
  _UID	9222E6EC74B441289D9054ADA74F05FD3D8D
  Person ID	I209571	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	13 Oct 2025

  
  

  Father	Manson Leroy GROOMS
  Mother	Unknown   d. Bef 9 Aug 2009
  _UID	A1A7ABAFB4074AB0AD4AEBB5A37ECCBF9ABD
  _UID	A1A7ABAFB4074AB0AD4AEBB5A37ECCBF9ABD
  Family ID	F169073	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Debbie FICKLING
  _UID	46CEBAF9E1BC4EF4A195D6FAD9186C7E8786
  _UID	46CEBAF9E1BC4EF4A195D6FAD9186C7E8786
  Children	1. Katie Leigh GROOMS   2. Megan GROOMS
  Family ID	F142040	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S9165] 60th Wedding Anniversary. [S13557] Grooms-Chisholm. [S13558] Grooms-Chisholm. [S29977] . [S30195] Ficklings celebrate 75 years. [S32148] Frank Walker Fickling Jr. [S32938] Ranger Ronnie got to say goodbye to Sue.