A love for the ages

Two years after meeting in Bible study,
couple find romance, companionship

December 10, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

It was supposed to be a small wedding — just a bride, a groom and their preacher.
That was until the happy couple’s family got involved. When their children found out, a guest list and a wedding cake got added to the list. When the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren got involved, the couple didn’t know what to expect.
“They got a hold of it and they’re just havin’ a ball. They’re having so much fun, we decided to just go along with it,” said Nelle Moore Wood Tate, the 80-year-old bride, the day before her wedding.
She and 78-year-old Talmadge Tate married Friday night at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Greenwood.
It’s a match made in heaven, family members say.
As weddings go, it was a small affair with about a dozen guests and a small reception afterward. Nelle and Talmadge were pleased with what their families had come up with, they said.
The couple met two years ago at church. The start of their relationship was a simple thing, Talmadge said. “I got lonesome and wanted a companion to do stuff with,” he said.
When the couple started talking in Bible study, Nelle said she told Talmadge she would be his friend, “but it’s not going any further than that.” Talmadge wasn’t having any of that, though.
“He just kept coming up here all the time,” Nelle said. “Now we’re spending the rest of our lives together.”
Nelle was widowed seven years ago, and Talmadge was widowed three years ago. Both said they’d loved their spouses dearly and had no plans of ever marrying again.
“That was before the old love bug got a hold of me,” Talmadge said. “She’s a good companion and I love her.”
Of her new husband, Nelle said, “I think we’ll do just fine. We have a lot in common. We were both raised on farms and brought up during the Great Depression.”
Nelle’s granddaughter, Michelle Bundrick, said she thought the union was “absolutely wonderful,” as did the rest of the family. “To find true love again at such an age as this is really a joy,” Bundrick said. “The Lord knew they were supposed to be together.”
Now that the couple is married, Nelle is blessed with a much larger family, she said. Joining her own two children, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild are Talmadge’s four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The couple said they had no honeymoon plans, but they expected at least a couple of the grandchildren would be staying the night with them.

James H. Coggins

ANDERSON — James Herbert Coggins, 80, of 212 Huntington Drive, formerly of Abbeville, widower of June S. Coggins, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 at Anderson County Memorial Hospital.
Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Evelyn Harvley Degeeter

Evelyn Harvley Degeeter, 63, of 117 Glenhaven Circle, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of Mrs. Shirley Harvley, 107 Circle Street, Ninety Six.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

George Hudson

TROY – Lloyd George Hudson, 73, of 2540 Puckett Town Road, Troy, SC, beloved husband of Loretta Watson Hudson and beloved father, died Thursday, December 8, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Albany, NY, he was a son of the late George William and Alice Elizabeth Lloyd Hudson. He was employed by the McCormick Correctional Institute and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving is his wife; three daughters, Miriam McAllister of Troy, Karen Shugerts and Nancy Herron, both of Greenwood, SC; two sons, Brady Lloyd Hudson of the home and Michael Culbertson of Chappells, SC; 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Connie Maxwell Baptist Church, Greenwood, with the Rev. Douglas M. Kauffmann officiating.
The family is at the home, where they will receive friends on Saturday and Sunday.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials may be made to American Heart Association, Memorials & Tributes Processing Center, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.
Harley Funeral Home of Greenwood, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Helen M. Kite

ORLANDO, Fla. — Helen M. Kite, 77, widow of S.E. “Red” Kite, formerly of Ninety Six, S.C., died Monday, Nov. 28, 2005.
Baldwin-Fairchild Cemeteries & Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel, was in charge.

Steve Drury Reeves Sr.

NEWBERRY — Steve Drury Reeves Sr., 87, widower of Aliene Amick Reeves, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 at Wesley Commons in Greenwood.
Born in Saluda, he was a son of the late George W. and Amelia H. Reeves. He was retired from Hamm and Morris Grocery, a member of Epting Memorial United Methodist Church and a World War II Army veteran. He was also a Shriner, Mason and a member of American Legion Post 24.
Survivors include a son, Steve D. Reeves Jr. of Greenwood; two sisters, Mildred Harmon of Newberry and Sara Spears of Wauchula, Fla.; and four grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Epting Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial is in Rosemont Cemetery Pallbearers are Jim Harmon, Mike Harmon, Clyde Reeves, Jimmy McEntire, Allen McEntire and Doyle Spears Jr.
Honorary pallbearers are members of the Men’s Sunday School Class of the church.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Epting Memorial United Methodist Church Maintenance Fund, 1401 Milligan St., Newberry, SC 29108.
McSwain-Evans Funeral Home is in charge.
Condolence notes may be sent to the family at www.mcswainevans.com

Terry Dempsey Smith

SILVERSTREET — Terry Dempsey Smith, 47, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Newberry, he was a son of the late Woodrow Dempsey and Frances Coats Smith. He was an employee of American Fiber and Finishing, a member of Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church and an associate member of Grace Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Wendy Lester Smith and a brother, David Gillion of Newberry.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Eric Fink. Burial is in Newberry Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, PO Box 188, Prosperity, SC 29127 or American Heart Association, PO Box 6604, Columbia, SC 29260.
McSwain-Evans Funeral Home, Newberry, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcswainevans.com

James Arnold Witt Sr.

Services for James Arnold Witt Sr. are 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Otis Cunningham, assisted by the Revs. Curtis Bowman, Ricky Oliver and Jonathan Green. The body will be placed in the church at 11:30. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Daniel Baylor, Eddie Yeldell Jr., Bruce Harrison, Chuck Morgan, Tommy Melson and Willie Brown. Flower bearers are cousins.
Honorary escorts are deacons and deaconesses of the church and Solutia co-workers, Ernest Donaldson, Chester Fisher and John Tolbert.
The family is at the home, 110 Ridgemont Drive, the Willows.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Emerald boys remain perfect
as Eagles’ last shot bounces off

December 10, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Robin Scott didn’t want to see any late-game heroics.
When Greenwood’s A.J. Lomax launched the possible game-tying 3-pointer with seconds remaining, the Emerald High School boys coach couldn’t watch. Not after what Lomax did in hitting a desperation 3 to beat Saluda in overtime Tuesday.
But this time, Lomax’s 3-point shot rimmed out.
Emerald senior guard Matt Herring caught the long rebound with 3 seconds remaining and tossed up court to teammate Peferio Strong, preserving the Vikings’ 54-51 win Friday at Finis Horne Arena.
“I closed my eyes because it was Lomax that shot it and all I was thinking about was what I read Wednesday morning,” Scott said. “I didn’t look at it.”
Strong scored 15 to lead a balanced Emerald (5-0) attack. Starting forwards Demarco Anderson and William Taylor chipped in nine points, while Herring added all eight of his in the second half.
“All I have to say is ‘Greenwood’ and that gets them up for this game, and I’m sure it’s the same for them,” Scott said. “We were up and wanted to play for this one. It’s been a while since we started this series that we haven’t won the first game. It’s important to us to get off to a good start against them.”
The Vikings needed that balance to weathered a fourth-quarter Andre Day storm.
While Emerald’s Dan Wideman was in Conway for the North-South All-Star game, the Eagles (2-2) also had a starting senior absent from this rivalry game. Armanti Edwards was also in Myrtle Beach, taking part in the Mr. Football banquet.
With the team’s leading scorer gone, it was up to Day and Lomax to provide the scoring.
Day, who finished with a game-high 18 points, took charge in the final quarter, scoring 10 of the Eagles’ 12 fourth-quarter points.
It was Day’s penetration in the lane with seconds remaining that set up Lomax’s final 3-point attempt.
“The other night in Saluda, we were making the 3s we needed late in the game, but tonight, it just didn’t fall for us,” Greenwood coach Hob Chandler said. “Down the stretch, they made the plays they needed to. It’s tough, but we just didn’t get it done in the end.”
The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the first half. The game saw six lead changes and three ties in the first 16 minutes.
The Vikings took the largest lead of the first half, at seven, thanks to a 10-2 run. Anderson got the run going with five straight points, following his baseline drive with a 3-pointer.
Nick Lanier’s finger roll layup off a steal capped the run to give Emerald a 21-14 lead with 4:30 remaining in the half.
Greenwood answered with a 9-0 run of its own. Lomax’s layup reclaimed the lead for the Eagles, at 23-21.
But the Vikings scored back-to-back field goals for the 25-23 halftime lead.
The Eagles opened the second half with seven straight points, five from Lomax, and eventually took a 32-26 lead. The team’s largest of the night.
But the Vikings fought back with a 9-3 run, getting five from Strong. Herring’s 3-pointer tied the game at 35.
The 5-foo-10 Day answered with a layup high off the glass over the outstretched arm of 6-5 Taylor to up Greenwood up 36-35.
However, that was the last time the Eagles enjoyed a lead.
Herring went down the court and matched Day’s layup with one of his own.
It was followed by a three-point play from Strong for a 40-37 Emerald advantage.

Pressure helps Lady Eagles
earn 15th win in row vs. EHS

December 10, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood High School girls basketball team used its pressure defense in the first half to continue its dominance over crosstown rival Emerald.
The Lady Eagles turned to a suffocating full-court press early in the first quarter that led to 23 points off 14 turnovers in the first half.
Greenwood then fended off a second-half adjustment by the Lady Vikings to earn its 15th straight victory over Emerald, 47-42, Friday night at Lander University’s Finis Horne Arena.
“That’s our new motto, ‘Defense feeds the offense,’ ” Greenwood coach Susan Thompson said. “We’re going to full-court press. Our motto is to fight, fight, fight in the first half and see where it leads us.
“We’re doing a great job with that.”
Ashly Chandler led the Lady Eagles’ defensive frenzy. The senior guard came away with 10 steals, which led to 12 of her game-high 20 points to come from layups.
Chandler was two rebounds shy of a triple-double to go along with four assists.
Sophomore Vijya Corbett and freshman Syteria Robinson each added three steals, with Corbett scoring nine and Robinson four. Tenesha Middleton added eight points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Eagles.
Emerald got the bulk of its scoring from senior Elizabeth Nicholson. But she had to work extra hard for her 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Vikings’ next leading scorers were Trice Riley and starting small forward Brittany Connor, the team’s second leading scorer, with five points.
In the first half, the Lady Eagles employed a collapsing 2-3 zone defense to clog the middle against Nicholson. The result saw the Emerald senior come away with three of her team’s 12 first-half points.
“All week we had somebody practicing in her position,” Thompson said of Nicholson. “We didn’t want her to touch the ball. We didn’t want the ball in her hands. That was our objective.”
Nicholson’s first basket, a 10-foot jumper, tied the game at 2.
However, the Lady Vikings would only manage one more field goal for the rest of the quarter.
The scoring drought came as a direct result of the Lady Eagles’ full-court press. Greenwood followed a Corbett 15-footer by forcing five straight turnovers, which led to 10 unanswered points.
Chandler’s layup off a steal put Greenwood ahead 14-2 with 3 minutes, 55 seconds left in the first, and the Lady Eagles never looked back the rest of the half.
The Lady Eagles stretched their lead to 17 after Chandler dropped in back-to-back layups to make it 27-10 with 1:50 remaining in the half, causing Emerald coach Anarie Duckett to immediately bring in a new five on the floor.
Reserve Shanteria Hill knocked down a short turnaround jumper to make it a 27-12 game at the half.
“I don’t know why, but we played scared to start with,” Duckett said. “We had too many turnovers in the first half.”
But Duckett made two key adjustments in the second half that almost allowed the Lady Vikings to overcome the 15-point deficit.
First, Emerald switched to man-to-man on defense, which caused the Lady Eagles problems offensively. Secondly, the coach brought Nicholson out on the wing to get away from the Greenwood 2-3 zone.
The effects were almost instant. The Lady Vikings opened the second half on with a 10-0 run, keyed by six points from Nicholson.
But Emerald couldn’t get any closer than five points at any point in the second half.

Former governor gave all positive political example

December 10, 2005

It was good to see former South Carolina Governor and U. S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley honored recently as “2005 Citizen of the Carolinas.”
Riley was cited by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Duke Energy for his “integrity, principled leadership, commitment to children and passion for education.”
Dick Riley has devoted a lifetime to public service and has always done it with the highest respect for the offices he’s held and the people he’s served. He has been a strong but honorable opponent for those “on the other side” of the issues of the day. His principles have stood him, his constituents, and his opponents well.

HE HAS BROUGHT A SENSE of dignity, honor, and appreciation to the art of politics that often gets lost in the antagonism that marks too much of today’s government, whether in Columbia, Washington, or on the campaign trail.
This soft-spoken public servant has never run from a political battle, nor has he “played the game” in the gutter, contrary to so many of his contemporaries. You don’t have to be of like mind to respect Dick Riley. You can have a different political philosophy, but that has never ruptured his spirit of service or his ability to agree to disagree, and yet maintain the friendships that have too often been lost in the rancor of the political moment.
His friends include members of all political persuasions. That, alone, says all that needs to be said about a good man. Others could learn from his service. All of us could.