Clean Slate Reentry Program starts fundraiser for burial of Sumter mechanic who died following car wreck

A Sumter-based group is mourning a former employee after his unexpected death earlier this month.

Derek Gamble, executive director of Clean Slate Reentry Program, met Terrence "Terry" Tindal at Palmer Work-Release Center in Florence back in 2010. He said he knew Tindal as a "self-motivated and self-starter" person who passed away too soon, and he is doing everything he can to help Tindal's family in their grief.

Tindal was the mechanic for Clean Slate, a program that rehabilitates former criminal offenders by employing them to install air-conditioning units for the elderly and disabled in Sumter, Williamsburg, Lee, Clarendon and Darlington counties. It also helps rehabilitate ex-offenders by helping them get jobs and providing clothing and housing, giving them a "leg up" and stabilizing them in the community.

The Sumter Item has featured the program in the past during its annual AC unit donation drive and other community cleanup initiatives.

Tindal died on Jan. 20 from injuries he sustained in a car wreck in Camden in early January.

The 42-year-old also previously worked at Barnette's Auto Parts in Sumter before starting his own auto repair shop, Tripe M Auto Performance and Repair. He ran his shop for about three years.

Gamble has since started a fundraiser for Tindal's family to spend on the funeral. As of Thursday, it had collected $1,185 of a $7,500 goal.

"I'm just trying to give him a proper burial that he needs," Gamble said.

His campaign will last for two weeks, he said. People can make donations on the Clean Slate Reentry Program Facebook page.

Family members also launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and a plot.

"We want to give Terrence the memorial he deserves, to honor his memory and say our final goodbyes," the GoFundMe page states.

The campaign had collected $2,900 toward a goal of $5,000 as of Thursday. People can make donations to this campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/terrence-tindals-memorial-fund.

A memorial service will be held for Tindal on Feb. 1.