Home, sweet home

Lakelands soldiers receive big welcome

May 4, 2005

By TASHA STEIMER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE – Staff Sgt. Allen Brown, of 111th Signal Battalion Company A, didn’t expect such a celebration when he arrived Tuesday at Hite Stadium.
“It was certainly a surprise,” he said. “I’m just feeling really glad to be home.”
More than 500 people welcomed soldiers from companies A and D of the S.C. National Guard battalion after they were deployed for a year in Iraq.
The Abbeville High School Band played “Stars and Stripes Forever” as the returning troops walked into a stadium full of cheering family members, friends, students and other people from the community.
S.C. National Guard officials spoke to visitors, including Maj. Gen. Stan Spears, adjutant general of South Carolina and Brig. Gen. Thomas Sinclair, commander of the 228th Signal Brigade. Mayors Harold McNeil of Abbeville, George Rush of Ware Shoals and Johnny Waller of Calhoun Falls also welcomed soldiers back and thanked them for their service.
Troops were released to their families after the short program that included the national anthem, sung by Abbeville High School student Rebecca Grice and the Pledge of Allegiance led by a local Girl Scout Troop and children of the deployed soldiers.
Brown, who was greeted Tuesday by his wife, sister, “favorite sister-in-law” and niece, said the support of his family at home made the time away more bearable.
“Although we were in a dangerous situation there, nothing is better for a soldier than knowing that family members are doing well at home,” he said. “It was always in the back of my mind. Knowing my family was OK made it easier for me wherever I was, whatever I had to do.”
Brown said it was also “good to hear we did a job well done.”
Sgt. 1st Class Ridgeway Smith, of Company A, also said it was good to be back home.
“It’s great. I’m looking forward to enjoying some time off and spending it with my family,” he said.
Smith, who had a grandchild born two weeks ago, said the homecoming was a great way to return home.
“No way did I expect what I walked into, but people have so much enthusiasm,” he said. “It feels so good to be back home.”

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

Frances Ramey Brown

ABBEVILLE — Services for Frances Ramey Brown, 64, of 1201 Secession Ave., Abbeville, are at 3 Thursday at Long Cane AME Church in Abbeville, conducted by the Rev. Julius M. Johnson presiding, assisted by the Rev. Mary Paul.
Burial is in Harbinson Cemetery in Abbeville. The body will be placed in the church at 2.
Viewing is from 1-9 p.m. today at Abbeville & White Mortuary.
Pallbearers are nephews and friends.
Flower bearers are nieces and friends.
Abbeville & White Mortuary is in charge.

Elizabeth W. Burgess

LAURENS, SC – Elizabeth W. Burgess, age 85, of Magnolia Manor in Greenwood, formerly of 199 Furman Ave. and widow of Harold Andrew Burgess died Monday, May 2nd in Self Regional Medical Center.
She was born in Clinton and was a daughter of the late Austill and Roxie Holden Wilbanks.
She was retired from J. P. Stevens, Watts Plant and was a member of Central United Methodist Church.
Surviving are one daughter, Betty Burgess Richter of Greenwood, one brother, Gene Wilbanks of Whitmire, one sister. Ruby King of Goose Creek and two grandchildren, John Chris Richter, III of Raleigh, NC and James Andrew Richter of Columbia.
Graveside services will be conducted Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29205.
Gray Funeral Home of Laurens is serving the family.
PAID OBITUARY

Mrs. Willie Harling Freeman

EDGEFIELD, SC – Mrs. Willie Harling Freeman of 603 Mims Street died May 1, 2005.
Services will be Thursday, May 5, 2005 at 3:00 P.M. at Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, SC, officiated by Rev. Edward Lloyd. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Julian Curtis Freeman and wife Doris McManus Freeman of Edgefield, SC; three grandsons: Wayne (Luann) Freeman, Mililani,Hawaii; Gerald (Areka) Freeman, Aiken, SC; Dexter (Linda) Dawkins, Edgefield, SC; three great-grandchildren: Ashli, Lauren, Zachary Freeman.
The family will receive friends at the home of her son, Julian Freeman, 603 Mims St., Edgefield, SC.
Public viewing will be at Davis Funeral Home of Johnston, Wednesday, May 4, 2005 from 10:00 AM-8:00 PM (quiet hour from 6-8 PM).
Also public viewing will be 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Thursday. Body will lie in state one hour before the service.
PAID OBITUARY

Seanie H. Holmes

Services for Seanie H. Holmes of 825 Spring St., are at 2 Thursday at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Otis Cunningham. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers are Deacons and Trustees of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.
Flower bearers are great-granddaughters.
Visitation is from 7-8 today at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Mr. Donald W. Pharr

UNION, SC – Mr. Donald W. Pharr, age 66, husband of Jeanette Williams Pharr of 2031 Jonesville Hwy., Union, died Monday, May 2, 2005 at 2:05 P.M. in Wallace Thomson Hospital after a sudden illness.
Mr. Pharr was born in Union County on September 2, 1938, a son of the late Boyd and Essie Burgess Pharr. He was a member of the Mon-Aetna Baptist Church, Union Masonic Lodge #75 and the Hejaz Shrine Temple. Mr. Pharr was a Veteran of the U.S. Army and was retired from Monsanto Company. He was a tax preparer for Roberts Tax Service in Greenwood, SC.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a son: Johnny W. Pharr and wife Lynn of Chester; a brother E. Pharr, Sr. and wife Betty of Conway; a nephew; Gene Pharr and wife Lori of Conway and a niece, Sherry Pharr of Conway. Mr. Pharr was predeceased by a sister and a brother, Peggy Pharr and Booty Pharr.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 P.M. Wednesday at Mon-Aetna Baptist Church con-ducted by the Rev. Benny Green. Burial will be in Union Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Mon-Aetna Baptist Church Relay for Life Team or to the Mon-Aetna Baptist Church Parking Lot Fund, 1431 Lockhart Hwy., Union, SC 29379.
The S. R. Holcombe Funeral Home.
(www.holcombefuneralhomes.com)
PAID OBITUARY

Shirley C. Thomas

WASHINGTON — Services for Shirley Thomas Crawford are at 2 Friday at Parks Funeral Home in Greenwood, S.C., conducted by the Rev. Claude Tolbert, assisted by the Rev. Michael Butler. Burial is in Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery, Greenwood.
Pallbearers are grandsons.
Flower bearers are granddaughters.
Visitation is at the home of an aunt, Blanche Chappell, 718 Macedonia Ave., Greenwood, and a brother, Leroy Crawford, 108 Lisa Drive, Greenwood.
Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C., is in charge.

James F. Tinney

WATERLOO — James Franklin Tinney, 70, of 7752 Indian Mound Road, husband of Sue Culbertson Tinney, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at his home.
Born in Pottstown, Pa., he was a son of the late Frank H. and Virginia Knause Tinney. He was a graduate of Georgia Tech, a jet fighter pilot in the Marine Corps and a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He was retired from Palmetto Spinning and Century 21-The Gresham Company.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Kathy Tinney of Florence and Kristin Coleman of Pamplico; a son, Gregory Tinney of Greenville; a stepson, Todd Traynham of Ware Shoals; two sisters, Judie Warrick of McCormick and Patty Granger of Millbrook, Ala.; and two grandchildren.
Graveside services are at 2 Thursday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Mark Riser. Pallbearers are Brett Granger, Scott Granger, Rick Warrick, Michael Tinney, Will Culbertson and Travis Mattison. Honorary pallbearer is Todd Traynham.
Visitation is at the home and at the graveside.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Laurens County, P.O. Box 1768, Clinton, S.C., 29325 or to Mt. Olive Church Cemetery Fund, 149 Mt. Olive Church Road, Ware Shoals, S.C., 29692.
Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Jesse Walker Jr.

Jesse Walker Jr., 86, of Route 4, Lorenzo Road, husband of Lula Mae Starks Walker, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Jesse Walker Sr. and Mary Evans Walker. He was employed by the Highway Department and a landscaper. He was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Abbeville.
He was the last survivor of his immediate family.
Survivors include his wife of the home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.

Roberts staying at Calhoun Falls

May 4, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

CALHOUN FALLS — The reports of the end of the Eddie Roberts era at Calhoun Falls High School were greatly exaggerated.
After a meeting with Abbeville County District Schools superintendent Michael Campbell and after the exceptional outpouring of community support, Roberts has decided to return for a second year as the Blue Flashes athletic director and head football coach.
“The superintendent and the principal discussed some things with me, and we worked some things out as far as things I wanted to address,” Roberts said. “It was mainly about how I wanted to add some weightlifting classes instead of just having P.E. classes. I also wanted to have some people hired to do some maintenance on the fields, at least on a part-time basis.
“Some people had said that it was about money for me, but that wasn’t the issue, because we didn’t even discuss a raise or anything like that. It’s just some things I think will make the program better.”
Roberts said he also wanted a couple of more coaches on his athletic staff.
“We are trying to hire some coaches, because I have some openings now,” he said. “We’re trying to hire some people and they’re trying to work with me about getting them positions within the district. I’m not trying to fire any of the coaches we’ve got. I think we were short-handed this year. We definitely need some coaches here.”
The Blues Flashes are looking for coaches for volleyball, girls basketball and cheerleading, as well as having one more paid assistant football coach, Roberts said.
“We had an open (assistant) slot last year that wasn’t filled,” Roberts said. “We’re going to fill it.”
Roberts, a native of Elberton, Ga., had originally announced his decision to leave Calhoun Falls to become the defensive coordinator at Greene County High School, a Class AA school in Greensboro, Ga, citing a return to his home state and some external difficulties in the community. But as soon as the announcement of his departure hit the town, Roberts said he received increased support from the community. Enough support, he said, that Campbell took notice and called a meeting last week.
“There was a lot of support from the community. They set out signs and had petitions out. I realized that I had more support than I though I did,” Roberts said. “He (Campbell) said he received a lot of encouragement from the community to have a meeting. He called me to come in and talk about the situation.”
Campbell could not be reached for his story. Repeated calls to his office and home were not returned.
Calhoun Falls Principal Nelson Gibson said he was aware the meeting took place, but would not comment on the specifics. Gibson said it was an executive decision by the school board and superintendent.
Roberts said that he will retain his current positions, both teaching and athletically. He will continue to teach physical education and will remain athletic director, football coach and until a replacement can be found, stay on as the interim girls basketball coach.

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

Some issues live in S. C. on advocacy/propaganda

May 4, 2005

Issues come and issues go in South Carolina. Some, however, get more attention than others. Sometimes it’s even because of the relative importance of the issue, particularly as it applies to the people of the state.
Consider one. The advocacy for and against the Put Parents in Charge proposal by Governor Mark Sanford is about as intense as it’s been for any public issue in a long while.
Actually, in many cases, the “advocacy” is nothing more than propaganda. There are good arguments made on both sides, so much so that it’s often difficult, if not impossible, to decide which is right and which is wrong.
Of course, the whole issue is about doing the right thing by our children. Each side, of course, wants what’s best for them and for South Carolina. It’s just that they favor different ways to go about achieving that goal.
So, what’s a person to do? Perhaps following your own political and educational philosophies is the only way. In other words, trust your own judgment.

* * * * *

There is another matter these days that has made controversy routine. As the pros and cons swirl around what should or should not be done about the Social Security system, the arguments seem to get more heated ….. and far from any kind of solution.
The hype has been all but overwhelming. Just when you think something makes sense, somebody says something else that generates more debate.
There are, in fact, so many statements being thrown around about Social Security that keeping track of what’s fact and what’s fantasy is a full time job. It only helps to maintain uncertainty in a lot of worried minds.
Maybe if the average taxpayer could sift through all the politics involved he could have a better understanding of the entire situation. Every “explanation,” however, is based on politics.
That being the case, forget simplicity. Complicated is the name of the game….. in Social Security taxes and every other form of taxation. Anyone expecting simple answers is going to be disappointed. But, then, what else is new?