Saved

Fearless feline rescued

January 20, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

After a four-day balancing act atop a 30-foot utility pole on Trakas Avenue, a Greenwood cat is now safe and sound at the Humane Society of Greenwood.
The cat, which was discovered perched on the pole Sunday morning by a Trakas Avenue resident, spent at least three nights in sub-freezing temperatures before it was rescued by CPW workers about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Workers used a bucket truck to lift electrical lineman Anthony Jackson to the top of the pole, where he was able to place the cat in a cage and safely bring it back to solid ground.
Humane Society of Greenwood Director Karen Pettay transported the brown, black and white female cat to the animal shelter, where it was examined by a veterinarian and offered food, water and a warm bed.
Although the cat was hungry and thirsty, shelter manager Annie Reed said it seemed to be in great condition.
“She’s slightly dehydrated, but not as dehydrated as we would have suspected,” Reed said, adding that the cat’s healthy weight and friendly demeanor suggest that it is likely not feral.
“She’s very tame and plump,” Reed said. “At some point this was somebody’s pet.”
The cat, which was named Fiona (a character in the “Shrek” movies) by shelter staff, will remain at the shelter for at least five days, giving her owners a chance to claim their now-famous feline. If no owners step forward during the five-day waiting period, Fiona will become available for adoption.
“We’re sure she belongs to someone, but if no owners show up, she’ll easily be adopted,” Pettay said. “She has a story attached to her.”
Pettay said she and the shelter staff are delighted the cat’s four-day high-rise horror had a happy ending.
“We’re very happy she’s safe. We want to thank CPW with all of our hearts – we are so glad they stepped up to the plate,” Pettay said. “Without CPW and the neighbors’ help, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

William Bobo

William Norman Bobo, 89, of 216 E. Laurel Ave., died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at his home.
Visitation is 7-9 Friday at Blyth Funeral Home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Ralph Brewer

Ralph Brewer, 73, widower of Fannie Mobley Brewer, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at the Hospice House in Anderson.
Born in Abbeville, he was a son of the late Harry A. and Nellie Davis Brewer. He retired from Bloomsburg Mill in Abbeville and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a sister, Seppie Brewer Mobley of Abbeville.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville, conducted by the Rev. G. Thomas Cartledge.
The family is at the home of a nephew, Ronald Bratcher, 2208 Montague Ave., No. 108, Greenwood. Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Elizabeth Chapman

Martha Elizabeth Lewis Chapman, 85, of 506 Kirksey Drive, widow of Allen O. Chapman, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at National Health Care in Clinton.
Visitation is 6-8 Friday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Bobby Clanton

Elbert Bobby Clanton, 55, of Houston, Texas, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenville, he was a son of Louise Bice Clanton Hunter and the late Elbert B. Clanton.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; a sister, Denise Butler of Ninety Six; and a brother, Larry Clanton of Greenwood.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. James Boling. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Jimmy Burton, Darrin Burton and Chuck Burton.
Visitation is 7-9 Friday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of his mother, 1701 E. Durst Ave.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

William B. Hallman

McCORMICK — William Blake Hallman, 70, of 305 Pine View Drive, husband of Ann Mosley Hallman, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 at his home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Lonnie Higgins Jr.

HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Lonnie Higgins Jr., 83, widower of Julia Mae Gilliam Higgins, formerly of 215 Cannon Drive, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at 5108 Flint Ridge Drive, Hyattsville.
Born in Edgefield, S.C., he was a son of the late Lonnie Higgins Sr. and Fannie Mae Anderson Higgins. He was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield and retired from Greenwood County Highway Department Road Maintenance.
Survivors include two sons, Clarence Higgins Jr. of Greenwood, S.C., Odell Higgins of Washington, D.C.; two daughters, Myrdis Jackson of Greenwood, Alberta Pierce of Hyattsville; two brothers, Howard Higgins and Herbert Higgins of Greenwood; a sister, Amanda Battle of Honea Path, S.C.; a stepsister, Barbara Parks of Edgefield; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home of Clarence and Linda Higgins, 106 Holmes Road, Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Flore Johnson

HODGES — Services for Flore Johnson, of Queens Village, N.Y., are at 2 p.m. Friday at Macedonia C.M.E. Church, conducted by the Rev. Ida M. Shipman. Assisting are the Rev. Seyvelle Parks, pastor, Elder Larry Phillips and the Revs. Jerry Aiken and James Williams. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in The Evening Star.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
The family is at the home of the Rev. Ida M. Shipman, 1060 Flatwood Road.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

Sharon MacDonald

SENECA — Sharon Diane Marcengill MacDonald, 53, of 305 Rochester Highway, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at her home.
A native of Oconee County, she was a daughter of Frances Wynn Marcengill and the late Robert Clifton Marcengill. She was a nurse at Cannon Memorial Hospital and was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors include her mother of Westminster; a son, Robert O’Kelley of Seneca; a daughter, Rebecca Myers of Columbia; two brothers, Felix Marcengill of Seneca and Joe Dennis Marcengill of Greenwood; a sister, Deborah Woods of Walhalla; and two grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. today at Davenport Funeral Home. Burial is in Heritage Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 3-4 today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Foothills, Hospice House Building Fund, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.
Davenport Funeral Home, Walhalla, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.davenportfuneralhome.com

Walter Morgan Jr.

McCORMICK — Walter Morgan Jr., 56, husband of Alice Seigler Morgan, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood after a short illness.
Born in McCormick, he was a son of the late Walter T. and Janie Holloway Morgan. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Felicia Morgan of Greenwood; two sons, Kelsey L. Morgan and Aaron W. Morgan, both of McCormick; two brothers, Tommy Morgan of Albemarle, N.C., and Robert Lee Morgan of Melbourne, Fla.; a half sister, Tinnea Jackson of McCormick; eight grandchildren.
The family is at the home, Cannady Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Alfred Parker

PHILADELPHIA — Alfred “Man” Parker, 77, of 3923 Park Ave., died Monday, Jan. 17, 2005 at the home of a sister Annie Lee Parker Ryans.
Born in Abbeville County, S.C., he was a son of the late Willie and Lillie Patton Parker. He was a retired mechanic and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include three sisters, Annie Lee Parker Ryans of Philadelphia and Willie Lee Parker Gray and Lois Parker Belcher, both of Greenwood, S.C.
Choice Funeral Home, 2330 Broad St., is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.

Carl E. Perrin

McCORMICK — Services for Carl E. Perrin are 2 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Roderick Cummings. Burial is in Overbrook Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Paul Dennis, Russell Lord, Harry Walker, Wayne Perrin, James Moton and Joseph Wardlaw. Flower bearers are Tameika Coachman, Aleicia O’Neal, Melissa Timpson, Monica Perrin, Barbara Smith, Nerissa Perrin and Tomassina Timpson.
The family is at the home of a sister, Evelyn Liddell, Clayton Street.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Bennie Reynolds

Bennie Melvin Alexander Reynolds, of 518 Maxwell Ave., wife of Cornell Reynolds, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late William and Mamie Culbreath Alexander. She attended Greenwood County public schools and Brewer Normal and worked as a seamstress for factories and independently. A member of Trinity United Methodist Church, she was a church choir member, a former Sunday School teacher, treasurer of the United Methodist Women and a member of Rochelle Chapter No. 2980 of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a brother, Allen Alexander of Greenwood; and a cousin reared in the home, Lee Arthur Aiken of Atlanta.
Services are at noon Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Ronnie Jeffcoat and Johnnie Waller. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park. The body will be placed in the church at 11.
Pallbearers are George Greene Jr., Ronald Greene Sr., Winfred Greene, Quentin Daniel, Christopher Daniel, all nephews, and Boyce Pearson.
Visitation is 6-8 Friday at Robinson & Son Mortuary, Greenwood.
Friendly Funeral Home, Calhoun Falls, is in charge.

Sydney B. Ryan

RIVERDALE, Ga. — Sydney B. Ryan, 45, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005 at University Hospital.
A native of Edgefield County, S.C., he lived in Riverdale and was a member of Body of Christ Church International USA and a 1978 Strom Thurmond High School graduate. He worked with Delta Air Lines.
Survivors include a son, Sheldon Fitts of Hephzibah; his mother, Mae Bell Ryan of Edgefield; four sisters, Mrs. Oscar (Pearlie) Brooks, Mrs. Larry (Freada) Ryan, both of Edgefield, Virginia Ryan of Hephzibah, Mrs. Frederick (Shirley) Thompson of Trenton, S.C.; two brothers, James Ryan of Greenville, S.C., and Hillary Ryan of Edgefield; a stepbrother, James McDaniel of Philadelphia.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, conducted by Pastor Ertha Bowman.
Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is at the home of a sister, Mrs. Frederick (Shirley) Thompson, 49 Academy Estate, Trenton.
Viewing is after 2 today at G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield, is in charge.

John David Scott

McCORMICK — John David Scott, 80, of 501 Cambridge Drive, husband of June Bryan Scott, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., he was a son of the late Robert L. and Bertha P. Scott. He was an employee of Winn-Dixie Stores, Atlanta Division, for 40 years and served four years in the Army during World War II. A member of Lutheran Church by the Lake, he moved to Savannah Lakes Village after retirement.
Survivors include his wife; three children, Kathie George, Lesa Fields and David Scott; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services are at noon Friday at Lutheran Church by the Lake, conducted by Pastor Dick Albert.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or Lutheran Church by the Lake, 100 Twelve Oaks Drive, McCormick, SC 29835.
Rees Funeral Home, 195 Peachtree St., Lincolnton, Ga., is in charge.

Allen C. ‘Red’ Sullivan, Jr.

DONALDS – Allen C. “Red” Sullivan, Jr., 60, of 23 Sullivans Circle, the husband of the late Janice Faye Mabry Sullivan died Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at his residence. He was born in Anderson County to Mary Wertz Sullivan and the late Allen C. Sullivan, Sr.
Mr. Sullivan served in the National Guard, he was a self- employed plumber and attended Gilgal United Methodist Church.
Surviving Mr. Sullivan is his mother, his companion of the home Ms. Linda H. Newton, two sons, Johnny Sullivan and his wife Karen of Greenwood, and Jeff Sullivan and his wife Lori of Honea Path, two step-daughters, Jami Newton and Candi Brown both of Donalds, a brother, Joseph Humbert Sullivan of Donalds, two grandchildren, Janice Sue Sullivan, and Peyton Bryce Sullivan, and two step- grandchildren, Kinsley and Mikila Fendley.
The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Thursday, January 20, 2005 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 3:00PM Friday, January 21, 2005 in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Sullivan to the Mt. Bethel U.M.C. Cemetery Fund, c/o Dot Sullivan, 1081 Dairy Rd., Ware Shoals, SC 29692. The family is at the residence.
Online condolences may be sent to the Sullivan family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Sullivan family.
PAID OBITUARY

Nathaniel Walker

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — Nathaniel Walker, 70, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 at Prince Georges County Hospital.
Born in McCormick County, S.C., he was a son of the late Josephus and Estelle Dixon Walker. He was a former member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, McCormick, and a retired cement construction worker.
Survivors include two sons, Johnny Walker and Larry Walker, both of Capitol Heights; a daughter, Shelia Walker of Maryland; four sisters, Seafie Sibert, Annie Tucker and Nellie Wray-Harmon, all of Columbia, S.C., Mary Elizabeth Freeman of McCormick.
The family is at the home of a sister Mary E. Freeman, Pine Street Extension, McCormick.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home, McCormick.

Opportunity knocking

GHS’ Dula has chance to take over executive director of SCHSL

January 20, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

It was a door that rarely opens, and Shell Dula decided to take a shot at walking through it. Since 1948 when the position was created, there have only been five executive directors at the South Carolina High School League.
So, when current executive director Ronnie Matthews announced his intentions to retire at the end of the 2004-05 school year, Dula saw the opportunity.
“This position doesn’t come open very often,” the Greenwood High School athletic director and football coach said. “Since I’ve been at coaching, and that’s been 36 years, there’s only been four people to be executive director.
“It’s something that only comes open every 10 or 15 years. This is a chance for me to continue in high school athletics, but maybe in a different light. It would be a new challenge.
“I feel very fortunate to be a finalist for the position. When the job came open, Mary (Shell’s wife) and I talked about it and decided it was a position that we wanted to see where it goes.”
Dula, who was the coaches’ representative to the SCHSL executive committee from 1990-94, found out Tuesday just how far it’s gone when Matthews announced that he was one of two finalists to be the league’s next executive director, along with current associate director and one-time GHS assistant coach Jerome Singleton.
Dula and Singleton, who has worked in the league offices for the past 11 years, were whittled down from a list of six potential candidates.
“There are and were a lot of very qualified people and that’s why we feel very honored about to be a part of this,” Dula said. “Jerome Singleton is a very qualified person. Jerome was in Greenwood at one time. He’s very respected around the state, and he does an outstanding job.”
Dula and Singleton will be interviewed by the league’s full executive committee Feb. 16 with a final selection to be made March 1.
Regardless of how things turn out, Dula looks upon his decision to try to step through the seldom-opened door as a good one.
“It’s a win-win situation for us, because it’s a job that is intriguing, but we have a great job in a great community,” he said. “I think this is a new challenge, a new opportunity, a chance to make a difference, but at the same time, we’ve got a great job.
“The key thing that this has done regardless of what happens is that it’s made me a better athletic director. So, that’s been a very positive experience for me.”
Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ronc@indexjournal.com

American Dream helped by Habitat for Humanity

January 20, 2005

It may not always be perceived as such, but the American Dream is alive and well in Greenwood.
The American Dream, of course, is the historic and symbolic representation of someone who has worked hard and become successful. While the pursuit of success might well be defined as the little man – or woman – starting on a shoe string, it can also be said success comes because of a willingness to work and take chances. All that, to be sure, has been possible because of opportunities created where freedom is the number one facilitating factor.
Perhaps the most recognizable facet of the American Dream is home ownership. That’s as true in Greenwood as it is anywhere.

THERE HAVE BEEN AND ARE opportunities for anyone, regardless of financial circumstances, social standing, or any other measure of humanity to share home ownership, something that millions of Americans can relate to.
With home ownership being one of the most visible reflections of the Dream that most Americans aspire to, it’s notable and laudable that one organization does so much to make home ownership a reality for so many. That, of course, is Habitat for Humanity. Its work was never more evident in Greenwood than on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity and many volunteers celebrated on that occasion by dedicating one house and working on others. That makes all of those volunteers from all groups involved a viable and valuable part of helping others achieve their part of the Dream that defines America as much as anything.

NEW OWNERS THANK THEM, naturally. But, then, all of us owe them a debt of gratitude. Success begets success, and the more houses built, the more owners there are. The bottom line is that the American Dream applies to more people. That encourages others ….. those who build and those who benefit. In the end, though, we all benefit. Nothing contributes to the stability of families any more than home ownership. And that’s what they are, of course. They start off as houses but quickly become homes.
That calls for one more piece of advice: dream on! Without dreams, not much happens. Fortunately, because of people and organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the American Dream is indeed alive and well in Greenwood.