Meth a ‘growing problem’

Authorities: Greenwood, Lakelands no exception to rising drug ‘cooking’

May 2, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

In the last decade, production of methamphetamine has skyrocketed throughout the United States. While the more well- known areas for producing quantities of the drug include Mexico and California, more and more of the drug is being “cooked” right in the back yards of many rural counties — Greenwood and the Lakelands are no exception.
Methamphetamine is produced using various household chemicals. When finished, it varies in color and texture, but is commonly a shade of tan or white and usually made into a powder or rock form.
Just as people manufacture methamphetamine in many ways, so it also goes by many names.
In Chicago, meth is called 222. Hawaiian locals call it Batu, while in Atlanta the residents call it Redneck Heroin. In Thailand, Yaba is made from powdered meth and caffeine.
The most recognizable names of the drug are meth, crank, speed, ice, crystal, quartz. Other names are blizzard, chalk and eraser dust.
Methamphetamine, sold in pill form, capsules, powder and chunks, is a stimulant of the central nervous system giving the user a rush or intense feeling of pleasure.
Meth can be smoked, taken intranasally or “snorted,” injected intravenously or ingested orally. The practice of “eating” meth by putting it on paper or food and chewing it also has been reported.
Methamphetamine was developed early in this century from its parent drug amphetamine, and was originally used in nasal decongestants, bronchial inhalers and in the treatment of narcolepsy and obesity.
Meth labs have been set up in many different buildings including abandoned barns, basements, houses, apartments, mobile homes, hotel and motels.
Though infrequent, some labs have been found in vehicles.
“It’s safe to say that most labs are mobile. That’s frequently what happens, they will move around,” said Sgt. Brandon Scott, supervisor of the narcotics division with the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office.
In small labs, cooks employ manufacturing processes using ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as the main ingredient.
In this process, over-the-counter cold and allergy tablets, such as Sudafed, are placed in a solution of water, alcohol, or other solvents for hours to remove buffers and produce ephedrine. Then, by using common household products, equipment and a learned recipe, the ephedrine is converted into meth.
“Much like crack was in the 1980s, meth is a growing problem,” Maj. said Jeff Miller, who is with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
To combat the increasing problem, federal funding has been used to train 80 South Carolina officers to respond and recognize hidden meth labs.
The surrounding counties either have technicians or are in the process of training officers to identify meth labs. However, most law enforcement agencies rely on certified personnel who are trained to properly dispose of the meth waste.
“It’s so dangerous it makes more sense to contract out. It’s not something we want an untrained officer to come into contact with,” Miller said.
Breathing the chemicals can pose health risks, he said.
“The byproduct creates a serious environmental hazard because once they are done they dump it,” Miller said of what happens once the meth cooks are finished.
When cooks finish with a batch, they don’t usually take the lab apart unless they intend to move to another location where they use some of the same products.
A tell-tale sign that a lab was in the area can be what often happens to a meth lab — an explosion or fire. Caustic chemicals cause some of these labs to explode.
In Anderson County, eight firefighters suffered headaches after they helped put out a combustible fire at a suspected meth lab.
No recent incidences have occurred in the area despite a law enforcement investigation into a mobile home fire along S.C. 34. About a month ago, that incident was classified by law enforcement as arson.
It’s estimated that for every pound of meth produced the cooking process leaves behind 5-7 pounds of toxic waste and costs taxpayers thousands of dollars to clean.
Several vice agents within the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office are being trained to identify which chemicals have been used in a meth lab and how to process the scene.
Miller said that not all labs are found on the outskirts of town —some are found within the city.
“They can be made anywhere. They can easily use a hotel room and leave it for the [staff] to clean,” he said.
In Abbeville, there are four certified meth lab technicians who are trained to go into a meth lab, collect evidence and render the building safe enough for investigators to go further inside.
Training for the technicians was made possible through grants from the Drug Enforcement Agency and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
The technicians are able to separate acids from other caustic materials, and then a hazardous materials team comes in to properly dispose of the waste.
The Abbeville technicians use chemical suits and equipment that detects toxic atmospheres. And the lab numbers have been on the increase.
“We estimate 20 labs since 2002,” Scott said.
After a technician has identified potential dangers, he or she must ventilate the area and render it safe enough to enter, i.e. whether or not it has an explosive atmosphere.
When a hazardous materials team disposes of the waste, the homeowner is notified along with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Scott said a notice is put on the property as well as in the deed that a meth lab was present.
“The chemicals could seep into the ground water or wells,” he said as to why officials must notify everyone involved.
When someone creates a meth lab, everything in that building is contaminated.
“We have taken children out of labs and they have to leave everything behind — their toys, clothing,” Scott said.
Children found in meth labs are bathed to remove any toxic residue, given clothes and taken away from their hazardous environment, sometimes placed with another family.
Law enforcement reports a small number of meth labs in which there were children also present.
In Saluda County officers such as Lt. Donovan Shealy, a narcotics investigator, said he hasn’t seen very many meth labs in the area.
“We only had one lab within the last four years and that was in Feb. 2002,” he said.
The county’s main drug issues are crack and powdered cocaine, Shealy said.
A few months ago there was a case involving the theft of anhydrous ammonia, a product used to manufacture meth; however, the people were caught taking the product to another county.
Officers within the department, Shealy said, have attended classes with Attorney General Henry McMaster through Meth Watch.
“It’s all around us, but it hadn’t really hit us yet,” he said.
Repeated attempts to reach someone with the McCormick County Sheriff’s Office were unsuccessful.
Officers said they haven’t encountered booby-trapped meth houses, just counter-surveillance.
“Often they’ll have lookouts, cameras with monitors, binoculars and night vision scopes,” Scott said.
He said many people involved are so paranoid, because of the drugs, that they are scared of getting caught.
Cornerstone counselors said a person using meth could become addicted with the first “hit” and sustain permanent brain damage. Cornerstone is a local commission on alcohol and other drug abuse programming in Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick and Abbeville.
The agency is made up of addiction counselors, social workers and staff who provide intervention, treatment and prevention programs for people within the four-county area.
Counselors said the drug is very destructive to the abuser and his or her family.
Signs of someone who is abusing the drug are if they are fidgety, they scratch themselves constantly, and they look skeletal or emaciated.
Although the majority of meth users is typically 30-somethings, Tim Still said, meth use is growing among teens.
“It’s mostly an adult addiction,” the outpatient counselor said.
People who want treatment first receive an assessment and some might need partial hospitalization or a detoxification facility.
“Anyone can recover from drugs and alcohol, it takes commitment,” McCormick area clinical counselor Tommy Kinard said.
“In recovery, it’s in the little steps that drug abusers are able to see hope,” said Lee Thompson, coordinator of the employee assistance program.
Hannah, 32, (not her real name, it has been changed to protect her privacy) is one such person who has received help through Cornerstone.
She has been drug free for nearly a year now, but began a downward spiral by using meth for more than a year.
“I started doing it to get stuff done around the house on the weekends. Then I started through the week to continue working,” she said.
At first the effects meth had on Hannah were minimal — she became preoccupied with organization.
She often would have moments of highs and then crash for long periods of lows.
“After you do some to get you going you have to keep doing it,” Hannah said.
Subsequent to the first “hit” Hannah said it was as though she had to have another.
Hannah and her son’s father would increasingly take meth in the morning to get going and then in the afternoon to recover from their “crash.”
Things finally got to the point when Hannah and her boyfriend could not longer get along. After 12 years of being together they went their separate ways.
“I was out of control — going here and there doing drugs with my buddies,” Hannah said.
One day, driving while high, Hannah was stopped by law enforcement officers who thought she was drunk. Following a sobriety test and a few questions it was discovered she was high. Her license was taken and she was sent to jail for driving under the influence of drugs.
Being on meth made Hannah paranoid to the point she thought people were following her home.
“I would get a gun and butcher knives, put them in my bedroom because I was going to kill whoever was after me,” she said describing one of the drug’s psychological effects.
In order to support her drug habit, Hannah began stealing from her mother.
“A lot of people have sex to get the drug,” Hannah said, “but, when my mother got to missing some things, it was most likely me.”
Her mother had had enough of Hannah’s drug abuse, so one day she called the police.
“I hid out in the woods for four and a half hours. They had dogs out searching for me,” she said.
After hiding out, Hannah eventually gave up and turned herself in. She was taken to a rehabilitation center in Columbia where she was made to wake up early, learn about the drugs she was putting into her system and what the drugs were doing to her.
She’d tried two previous rehab clinics but left both after only about three days.
This time Hannah stayed for 37 days and began attending Cornerstone for counseling.
She soon made a decision that changed her life — she gave up meth.
“I got tired of myself while on it. I would get too crazy and I realized I couldn’t be out there on it anymore,” Hannah said.
It’s still hard for Hannah to be around people, and she still can’t sleep well.
She gets nervous around people, but one thing she is proud of, she said, is realizing that she needed help and then getting it.
“I realized nobody could help me change, but me,” she said, “ I had to tackle it on my own. This was something my family couldn’t help me with.”
Meth was pretty plentiful for Hannah to obtain and she said she could get it just about anywhere.
“People who couldn’t afford it would steal for it, exchange food stamps and their kids’ stuff,” Hannah said.
Even after being drug free she still has short-term and long-term health problems as a result of using drugs.
“I have an abnormal heart, bleeding ulcers, it’s made my teeth fall out and it’s aged me,” she said.
Hannah estimates that she looks 10 years older than she should.
Her wish for others is to ask for help and for there to be more places for them to turn.
“Much of the treatment at Cornerstone is having the client replace their old thoughts with something new,” said Jo Early, coordinator of intensive outpatient services.
Currently, Cornerstone is in the process of adopting the treatment program, the Matrix Model, in which clients receive cognitive behavioral therapy, family and group therapy, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, social support and 12-step involvement.
The program will be a part of outpatient treatment that will, in essence, educate and reinforce abstinence from all drugs and alcohol, provide relapse prevention and involve family support to aid recovery.

Shavonne Potts covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3306, or: spotts@indexjournal.com.

Community unites to perform ‘The King and I’ in Ware Shoals

May 2, 2005

By TASHA STEIMER
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS – It has taken more than 75 students from three schools, more than two months of rehearsals and many teachers and community members to prepare for one night on May 7.
Students will perform the musical “The King and I” Saturday night for the first and only time at the Ware Shoals High auditorium.
Adam Alter, band and chorus director at the junior high and high schools, said the size of the production would intimidate most districts but the school has always had the support of the community.
“As you can see, we’re a small school and this is a massive undertaking,” he said. “Most people don’t even know we’re putting on a musical. People just assume a small district can’t provide students with different opportunities and that just isn’t true. Our students have worked hard and they’re doing a great job.”
More than 60 students from the junior high and high schools are participating as major cast members or in the orchestra for the musical. Students in the Fifth Grade Chorus, under director Jane Farr, are playing the roles of the children in the play. Senior Beth Irby, who plays Lady Thang, said being in a small district actually helps rather than hinders practice.
“Nobody else has to use the auditorium so we always have a place to rehearse,” she said. “We already have the costumes, the music and the songs. We really just need to work on our lines.”
Irby said the production, which is open to the public, will include several alumni playing in the orchestra as well as other community volunteers.
Junior Jacob Bolt, who plays Lun Tha, said it helps to have the support of community members and everyone was been very professional.
“It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of free time has gone into it, but it’s been good,” he said. “It’s stressful, but we’ll be ready (May 7).”
The musical – which includes more than 12 songs and a 10-minute ballet – will showcase many students and their acting, singing, dancing and instrumental abilities.
Senior Benson Odom, who was the lead in “Grease” last year, said many of the same people are back to perform.
“Last year was almost like a trial,” he said. “This year we have more experience. There are a lot more children in this one than before. It’s not exactly harder but it’s more intense than last year.”
Odom, who is in the orchestra this year, said he and his sister have been working hard on the musical despite full schedules.
“My sister is playing Anna this year, and her experience is different from mine last year,” he said. “This year we have a full orchestra so it’s a little more difficult to get everything to connect. We’re two different groups working together, and sometimes it’s hard to hear a piece of music is going to get cut so you can hear the actors better.”
Although the older students, under Alter and Director Dede Brownlee, and the fifth grade chorus had practiced separately until last week, Odom said the production is coming together.
“I know it seems impossible now but people seem to pull together the week before,” he said. “Once the night comes, it’ll flow smoothly.”
The performance of “The King and I” will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ware Shoals High School Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children under 6. For information or to purchase tickets, contact the high school at 456-7923.

Tasha Steimer covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3305, or: tsteimer@indexjournal.com

Spending time at home

Six area soccer teams will play host to first-round games

May 2, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Many of the high school soccer fans in Greenwood and the Lakelands area won’t have to go very far to cheer on their team in the opening round of the state playoffs.
Six of the seven area soccer teams that qualified for postseason play will spend its first game at home, leaving the Greenwood girls as the only Lakelands team to travel for its first game. The Lady Eagles, the third-place team from Region I-AAAA, will play at 6:30 p.m. today against Northwestern.
The Greenwood boys, one of four area teams to win region championships, along with both Emerald squads and the Dixie boys team, plays host to York 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Saluda and Dixie boys will join the Eagles in action Tuesday. The Tigers, with the No. 5 seed in Class AA Upper State, will have Swansea in town for a 5:30 p.m. match, while the Hornets, the Class A Upper State No. 3 seed, will face Landrum 6 Tuesday night.
The Ninety Six girls are the only Lakelands team playing at home today, as Lady Wildcats, the AA No. 7 seed, plays host 5:30 p.m. to Chapman.
The defending Class AA state champion Emerald boys team and the Lady Vikings both earned first-round byes and won’t play until Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.
The Lady Vikings, who earned the No. 3 seed in the AA Upper State, will await the winner between Gilbert and Walhalla, while the Upper State top-seeded Vikings will see the Woodruff-Broome winner.
The Vikings lost seven seniors off their state championship team from a year ago, including the school’s all-time career goal-scorer, A.C. Cogburn, and key playmaker Brock Scott.
But adding to their adversity was early-season injuries to all-state senior goalkeeper C.K. Kirkland and forward Demetrick Cooper.
But the Vikings worked through the adversity and spent much of the season ranked either first or second in Class AA.
“When you lose seven seniors even if it’s off a state championship team, you could think that it would be a re-building year, but these guys have really done well,” Emerald coach Brad Nickles said. “But we’ve had some young kids really step up and play well for us.”
Junior Jim Welborn leads the team with 28 goals, while freshman Josh Taylor, son of Lander University’s soccer coach Van Taylor, chipped in 17. But Nickles said the key to his team’s success has been its defense, with the return of senior defenders Christopher Tommie and Andrew Pillman, and most importantly backup keeper Josh Dean.
“You can have the best defense in the world in front of you, but you can still give up a ton of goals without the right keeper,” Nickles said. “Josh has been perhaps the brightest spot for us this season. C.K.’s back, but he’s got to earn the spot back. Right now, Josh is the man until C.K. proves otherwise.”
The Eagles finished second in Region I-AAAA last year, but were awarded the No. 1 seed in the playoffs because of the South Carolina High School league declared Hillcrest ineligible because of a violation.
This year, behind the play of eight seniors, Greenwood claimed that No. 1 seed on its own by going undefeated in region play in Jamie McClendon’s first year as the boys coach.
In fact, the AAAA No. 7 Eagles are currently enjoying a 17-game winning streak. The team suffered its last defeat way back on Feb. 25 in a 4-3 loss to No. 5 Fort Mill in their first game of the season.
“We may not have any standouts, but it’s really been something where everybody’s just pulled together to win,” Greenwood coach Jamie McClendon said. “We don’t really have any weak spots on the field. Everybody is steady and consistent and they all like playing for each other.”
Senior Tyler Davis leads the Eagles with 19 goals and 13 assists, while fellow seniors Alex Bollinger and Jay Bishop have brought in 13 and 12 goals, respectively. Senior keeper Ben Shirley has a goals-against average of 0.5 for Greenwood, which has only surrendered 11 goals in 18 games.
The Lady Vikings were less than pleased with their No. 3 seeding in the Upper State, the team’s worst placement in three years. Emerald, which won the Region III-AA title, only suffered three losses on the year, falling to AAAA Greenwood and Upper State top-seeded Christ Church and No. 2 Woodruff.
But the Lady Vikings also avenged all three of those losses with wins over each of those three teams.
“We were seeded third and we’re slightly perturbed about that, but understanding the criteria for seeding, we understand,” Lady Vikings coach Paul Dodd said. “It does make things a little more difficult. But ultimately, we’ll have to play those teams if we want to reach our goal of making the state title game.”
The pair of sister acts have been key for the Lady Vikings’ run this season. Junior Kasie Sears and freshman sister Kayla led Emerald in scoring, with 37 and 16 goals, respectively. Junior Erica Bishop provided 11 goals and eight assists, while sister Alex, a freshman, has nine goals and 15 assists.

Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ronc@indexjournal.com

Opinion

Educators get the blame, but too often no support

May 2, 2005

When a five-year-old was handcuffed by police after she became unruly and belligerent in school, it created a controversy in a Florida community and beyond. In fact, it became international news.
The girl started hitting a female assistant principal when she tried to keep the girl from climbing on tables and being unruly. She generally was unresponsive to attempts to get her antics under control, as was clearly seen on a video tape.
After a while the school decided to call local police to come and handle the situation. After their efforts proved unsuccessful, too, they decided to handcuff the young girl and take her away.

THANKS TO REPEATED showings of the incident on television there have been numerous negative public responses to the handcuffing. Lawsuits are in the works if not already filed.
Make no determination whether the assistant principal or the police acted irresponsibly or wrongly in this case. Don’t point fingers at the little girl or her parents. Don’t even consider who was wrong or right. A court of law will do that. Just forget this situation ….. except for one thing. It is a perfect example of the kind of things too many teachers have to deal with these days, whether in Greenwood, Florida or anywhere else in the U. S.

SELDOM, THOUGH, DOES anyone speak up on behalf of teachers or administrators. They have to contend with enough problems in the classroom, in the halls, on school buses and other places without being subjected to impossible situations.
We expect them to be good teachers and accountable, yet we arbitrarily and inconsiderately place unnecessary hurdles in their way.
Teachers have a responsibility to teach. Unfortunately, too many times too many of us expect them to be surrogate parents as well. And when they do, we complain. And still we wonder why there is so much debate over the quality of public education.
Teachers need support. Too often they don’t get it, and that says more about us than it does about teachers and schools.

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

Obituaries

Nell Blackwell

ABBEVILLE — Ophelia “Nell” Carroll Blackwell, 74, of 300 Wardlaw St., wife of Rev. James N. Blackwell, died Saturday, April 30, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Clover, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Amos and Minnie Carroll. She was a retired teacher having taught for 19 years at Westside Christian School and a member of Westside Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Rev. James Nathan Blackwell of St. Cloud, Fla., Phillip L. Blackwell of Memphis, Tenn. and Kenneth D. Blackwell of Abbeville; four sisters, Sybil Jones of Greenville, Evelyn McAbbe and Doris Porter, both of Easley, and Mozelle Pittman of Charleston; a brother N.J. Carroll of Greenville and five grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Nathan Blackwell. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Visitation is 6-8 Tuesday at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Westside Baptist Church, 308 Haigler St., Abbeville, S.C. 29620.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Gladys Teen Blocker

Services for Gladys Teen Blocker are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Tabernacle Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Emanuel Spearman, assisted by the pastor, Dr. William Moore. The body will be placed in the church at 2.
Burial is in Evening Star.
Pallbearers are William A. Blocker, Corey Murray, Marcus Moore, David Jackson, Daryl Chandler and Edward Thomas.
Flower bearers are Janie Brown, Ruby Holland, Senita Taylor, Annie Murray and Pauline Rollinson.
The family is at the home, 711 White Oak Lane.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Valerie Burnett

NINETY SIX — Valerie Kathleen Simpson Burnett, 41, of 2406 High 702, died Sunday, May 1, 2005 at her home.
Born in Washington, she was a daughter of Patsy Braswell Simpson. She was a 1983 Greenwood High School graduate, attended Siloam Baptist Church and was the receptionist at Greenwood State Park.
Survivors include a daughter, Ravon Burnett of the home; two sons, Derek and Alex Burnett of the home; Tyler Phillips, reared in the home; a sister, Mrs. Tony (Jerri) Richey of Greenwood; and a caregiver of the home, Karen Phillips.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Siloam Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Steve Crittendon.
Visitation is 1-2 Tuesday at Siloam Baptist Church.
The family is at the home of her sister, 207 Charles Road, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to the family c/o Siloam Baptist Church, P.O. Box 373, Ninety Six, S.C. 29666.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Jack Gardner

SALUDA, SC — John Sheppard “Jack” Gardner Jr., 80, of 152 Shiloh Rd., died Sunday May 1, 2005, at Lexington Medical Center.
Born in Saluda County and a son of the late John Sheppard Sr. and Elizabeth Eugenia Bladon Gardner, he was the husband of Annie Lanell Scurry Gardner. He was retired from Milliken & Co. and was a horse Farrier. Mr. Gardner was a US Army veteran of World War II having served in the European Theatre and was a member of the American Legion Post 76 and the DAV and a former member of the Old Town Ruritan Club. He was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church where he had served as Superintendent of Sunday School and was a Sunday school teacher of the Adult Class. He was also a past chairman of the Administration Board of the church and was a former trustee of the church and a choir member.
Surviving are his wife, Annie Lanell Scurry Gardner, one son and daughter-in-law, Charles K. and Celia T. Gardner of Saluda, two daughters, and sons-in-law, Sandra G. and W. Merchant Padget and Donna G. and J. Kenneth Rushton, all of Saluda; one brother, B.G. Gardner of Saluda, one sister, Margaret McGwan of Clinton, grandchildren, John Gardner, Jamie and Dean Butler, MeriAn Padget, Kayla Rushton and March Rushton and a great-grandchild, Jordan Butler.
Funeral services will be 4:00 PM Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at Zoar United Methodist Church with Rev. Michael Hood officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM Monday evening at Ramey Funeral Home.
PAID OBITUARY

Seanie Hearst Holmes

Seanie Holmes, 85, of 825 Spring St., died Sunday, May 1, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Anderson and Gracie Sullivan Hearst. She was a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Women’s Aide Society No. 11 and retired from Nantex.
Survivors include a daughter, Rose Mary Aiken of Greenwood; three cousins, reared in the home, Gladys Witt of Greenwood, Georgia Mae Blocker and James L. Blocker of Philadelphia; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Floyd Marshall Revis

WATERLOO — Floyd Marshall Revis, 73, of 171 Loretta Lane, husband of Lois Abercrombie Revis, died Saturday, April 30, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Bowman, Ga., he was a son of the late Floyd Madison and Jo Neal Chastain Revis. He was an Air Force veteran, retired from Steel Heddle Mfg. Co. and was a member of Laurens First Baptist Church, a Mason and a Shriner.
Survivors include his wife; two stepdaughters, Suzanne Sloan of Laurens and Mrs. David (Stephanie Sloan) Thompson of Greenwood; three brothers, Jimmy Revis and Don Revis, both of Clinton, and Fred Revis of Sterling, Okla.; two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Committal services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at Greenville Memorial Gardens. Memorial services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Laurens First Baptist Church, conducted by the Dr. Bev T. Kennedy Jr., following the committal services.
Visitation is following the memorial services Tuesday at Laurens First Baptist Church.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Laurens First Baptist Church, 300 W. Main St., Laurens, S.C. 29360 or Shriners Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605.
The Kennedy Mortuary, Laurens, is in charge.

James ‘Bo’ Williams

James “Bo” Williams, 61, of 725 Highway 221 South, husband of Teresa Williams, died Saturday, April 30, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends Monday at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.