Local residents honor slain civil rights leader

MLK Jr.’s life celebrated as youths help keep his dream alive

January 17, 2005

By TASHA STEIMER
Index-Journal staff writer

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’”
More than 600 people gathered Sunday to honor the man who spoke those words – Martin Luther King Jr. – with a celebration of young talent at Greenwood High School.
Jesse Varnado-White, president of the Coalition of Concerned Organizations (COCO), said the group wanted to get children involved in the celebration so it could continue for years to come.
“We thought we needed to bring the youth into it,” she said.
“It’s multi-faceted. We want them to be a part of an organized activity, and we want to expose their talents to the community while recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. and learning about what he did.”
Varnado-White said the organization met with local youths last year, and “The Dream Lives On: The Next Generation” Youth Explosion is what came out of the meeting.
“This is our second annual youth explosion,” she said. “It’s grown from last year. I’d say it was a success. It is a positive way for them to be a major part of the community, and they’ll have to continue what we started.”
More than 18 groups performed, including those from local churches or schools, such as Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Morris Chapel Baptist Church, Center of Hope, Macedonia Baptist Church, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Brewer Middle School and Westview Middle School.
Other performers included R.L. Stevens Steppers, Amirah and Ajani Burton, Lagroon Family Ensemble, Shirea Scurry, Ashley Williams, Darren Jones, Dream Catchers, Dejami Thomas and the 2005 Debutantes.
Several children also read monologues of speeches written by Martin Luther King Jr., including his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Mayor Floyd Nicholson thanked COCO and guests for passing along the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. to children.
“I want to thank you for continuing what we started years ago,” he said. “We have to make sure we paved the way for them to continue to be successful. It is our responsibility to tell children to be the very best you can be.”
Evelyn Taggart Rice, of Greenwood, said she loved the performances since she enjoyed doing the same things as a girl.
“It’s very important to keep the dream alive,” she said. “We have to remember what happened in the days of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. He’s gone, and I read in the paper that she isn’t doing very well. When we think about what happened in their time, we need to pass that (history) along to the youth so no one forgets.”

Following his dream

Lander grad Jeff Whitfield heading west to play pro baseball

January 17, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

Jeff Whitfield always had big dreams.
That’s why the former Lander University catcher and T.L. Hanna High School standout never let them go.
Whitfield became the second Bearcats player to sign a professional baseball contract when he agreed to terms with the yet-to-be-named Golden Baseball League, which is considered Class A, team in Yuma, Ariz.
Patrick Hakey, who was a pitcher for Lander, signed last May with the New York Mets’ minor league team — the St. Lucie Mets — in St. Lucie, Fla.
Whitfield batted .270 with nine doubles and one home run his senior year. During his four seasons at Lander, Whitfield hit .254 with 22 doubles and 10 homers.
For Whitfield, signing with a pro team was a dream come true and the completion of a long process to get a chance to show his skills.
“After the season, I talked with a few scouts and had tryouts with the Braves and Reds,” Whitfield said.
“From there, I got recommended to go through an independent agency. I got several e-mails about tryouts from across the United States, but the one that really stood out was for a new league in California.”
Whitfield, living on the East Coast, knew he would have a hard time getting to the West Coast for the tryout. In fact, he kept the tryout a secret from his parents.
For a couple weeks, Whitfield e-mailed Benny Castillo, who was going to manage one of the teams in the new league.
Castillo spent the past two seasons managing the short-season Single A affiliate for the Florida Marlins and has five years of managerial experience. In 2000, he won the Northern League Championship and was named the league’s manager of the year.
After the personal phone call from Castillo, Whitfield told his parents about the tryout.
“After I told them about it, they said, ‘we’ll find a way to get you there,’” Whitfield said.
Whitfield got to California by going with a few players from the state who were also heading to the tryout.
The tryouts were at Cal State Fullerton, the team that won the 2004 Division I national championship.
Whitfield was one of 45 catchers among the 350 players, some former major- and minor-leaguers, taking part at the tryout.
“The best of it was that catchers didn’t have to run the sixties,” Whitfield said.
The first day ran from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Whitfield went next to last in the final event for catchers, which was throwing to second base. He had six throws and was told to sit down after the fourth one by Ozzie Virgil Jr., a former major league player.
“Virgil said I had nice throws and good accuracy,” Whitfield said.
The first cut came in the opening day, with the catchers trimmed from 45 to 20. Around 5 p.m., the tryout shifted to a game situation, and this time Whitfield had to bat.
Whitfield had three at-bats during the two days and went 2-for-3, which was a double and a single. After a long first day, Whitfield went back out on the second day. The routine was the same, but around 3 p.m., the coaches broke to go to their draft.
“We were down on the field for about two hours after the tryout,” Whitfield said. “Coach Castillo wasn’t even down there (on the field) when the first selections were made. Everybody had selected except Yuma. I said I was glad that Yuma’s the only team left, but at the same time, I said that this is my only chance.”
Then the announcement came that Whitfield had made the team.
“I was so shocked,” Whitfield said. “It was funny in a way, because the guys that had bonded when the managers were making their decisions, were the ones that were going to play for Yuma.”
When it came time for Whitfield to sign on the dotted line, he didn’t wait long to do it. Instead of reading the contract, Whitfield just signed.
But the best part came before he signed, when his parents phoned to find out if he made it.
“My dad was very confident that I would be selected,” Whitfield said. “He couldn’t sleep and he was so excited about it.”
Whitfield will report to spring training May 1, and will consist of two weeks of practice before the start of the league’s 90-game schedule.
“Coach Castillo loves the game and loves winning,” Whitfield said. “He wants me to compete for the job against a veteran catcher, with the opportunity for me to come in a start on a regular basis.”

Opinion

Observations ... on the Legislature

January 17, 2005

When the South Carolina Legislature kicks off this year it’s sure to have several left-over items from previous years. One, particularly, will be whether to mandate use of seat belts in automobiles. There are reasonable objections to seat belts. At least some have been presented by opponents in the past.
There is, however, one overriding factor that ought to take precedence over everything else, no matter how reasonable. That’s life and death. Too many people have been killed on the state’s roads because they were not wearing seat belts. Wearing seatbelts may be an annoyance to some. How bothersome, though, is being dead? Or having a loved one die because no seat belt was used?

* * * * *

There’s another left-over subject that will be back. That’s the time for schools to start. In fact, three coastal county senators have pre-filed bills that would push the start of school across the state back to at least August 25. A similar bill was shot down last year; however, a more recent survey shows that four out of every five parents of South Carolina school children want classes to start later in August than they have.
Coastal area officials say starting school later would be helpful to their tourist-supported economies and would allow youngsters to work and earn more for a longer period. That reason may not have the same appeal for upstate parents, but there have been enough complaints from Greenwood area parents to leave little doubt that a later start would be welcome.

* * * * *

As usual, taxes and funding education will consume legislative time. Governor Mark Sanford and a recent lawsuit have assured that.
That lawsuit, which went on for years, was brought by several poorer school districts that objected to the state’s policy of providing an “adequate” education. They feel they are not getting enough state aid to help them provide the same quality education that richer districts can better afford.
Regardless of that lawsuit, education funding will be a main consideration, as it always is. That, naturally, will have an effect on taxes, one way or another ….. not to mention debate.
Governor Sanford has already proposed an income tax cut of about $7 million. That, in the overall scheme of things, is not much. But, Sanford’s proposal to spend $400 more per student in funding education will add millions. That money, if approved, would have to come from somewhere. Taxes?

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Esther Q. Kinney

Esther Quarles Kinney, 87, widow of William Roy Kinney, died Sunday, January 16, 2005 at the home of her son, 150 Valley Road.
Born in Lincolnton, GA, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Quarles. She was a seamstress and was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Kinney Mabrey.
Surviving is her son and daughter-in-law, Marshall and Harriet Kinney of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Wanda Witt, Marcia Brock, Susan Kittles and J. J. Moffitt; and nine great grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frank Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Robin Brock, Corey Brock, Dale Kittles, Chase Kittles, Scott Witt and Adam Witt.
Honorary escort will be Scotty Moffitt, Ted & Pat Mabrey, Alice & Clyde Cooper, Brian Witt, James Witt, Carl Merritt, Billie Ray Hodges and Robert Fulmer.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. James W. Johnston

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Rev. James W. Johnston, 86, died Sunday, January 16, 2005, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
Rev. Johnston was born Jan. 19, 1919, in Decatur, GA, a son of the late Will and Oma Williams Johnston.
Rev. Johnston was a retired Methodist Minister serving the S.C. United Methodist Church Conference. Rev. Johnston was called by the Pelion Charge for his first church, he also served as Senior Pastor with Epworth Children’s Home Church, Main Street United Methodist, Mount Pleasant-Pisgah Charge, Saluda Charge, North-Limestone Charge, Ware Shoals-Hodges Charge, Suber Marshall United Methodist Church. He served two terms at Shiloh Methodist and retired from the Ministry at Pond Branch United Methodist Church in 1986. He was an Army Veteran of World War II.
Surviving is his wife of sixty-three years, Florence N. Johnston, a son, Rev. James W. Johnston Jr. and wife Kathy Ann of Greenwood, SC; three daughters, Rendy Howle and husband Bill of Orlando, FL, Shirley J. Livingston and her husband Don of Webster, NC and Sara J. Melton of Myrtle Beach, SC; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at Pond Branch United Methodist Church in Gilbert, SC. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church following the services.
The family would appreciate memorials be made to Pond Branch United Methodist Church, 1913 Pond Branch Road, Gilbert, SC 29054 or Epworth Children’s Home, PO Box 50466 Columbia, SC 29250.
An online guest book is available at www.msfh.net.
McMillan-Small Funeral Home is serving the family.
PAID OBITUARY

Henry Mitchell

ABBEVILLE — Henry “Shorty” Mitchell, 75, of 1029 Highway 72 West, widower of Maeline Graham Mitchell, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Iva, he was a son of the late Manning and Annie Belle Poole Mitchell. He was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and was a retired employee of Rocky River Mills.
Survivors include five daughters, Sue Mitchell, of the home, Ann Pressley of Abbeville, Sheryl Fleming of Donalds, Judy Powell and Dianne Todd, both of Tignal, Ga.; a son, Tony Major of Abbeville; a sister, Shirley Turner of Abbeville; and 14 grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Jimmy Alewine. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Ann Pressley, 125 Moore St., Abbeville.
Memorials may be made to the Elizabeth Mitchell Scholarship Fund, at Due West Retirement Center, P.O. Box 307 Due West, S.C. 29639 or to the Shriners Hospital for Burned and Crippled Children, 950 Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Carl E. Perrin

McCORMICK — Carl E. Perrin, 63, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005 following a brief illness.
He was a son of the late Will and Lois Cowan Perrin. He lived in Detroit for many years and after his retirement returned to McCormick. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a son, Carl Perrin Jr. of Detroit; four brothers, James Perrin and Charles Perrin, both of Detroit, George Holloway of McCormick and Harry Holloway of Pittsburgh; seven sisters, Doris Perrin, Virginia Johnson and Evelyn Liddell, all of McCormick, Lois Bennett and Nellie Burwell of Washington, Lucille Perrin of Anderson and Louise Franklin of Pittsburgh.
The family is at the home of a sister, Evelyn Liddell, 507 Calhoun St., McCormick.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Charlie N. Ward

CHARLESTON — Charlie N. Ward, husband of Emma L. Ward, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005 in the Veterans Hospital.
He was a son of Florence Ward.
Survivors include his wife and mother; two stepsons, David Fields and Ernest Fields; a brother, Ernest Ward; four sisters, Janie Hill, Ruby Barnes, Mary Alice Kinard and Louise Self; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 180 Romney St., Charleston, S.C. Burial is in Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, S.C.
Viewing is 12-5 Monday, January 17 at the William M. Smith Memorial Chapel, 2 Radcliffe St., Charleston, S.C. and at Gethsemane Baptist Church from 6-8, with visitation from 7-8. W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home Inc., Charleston, is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.