District 50 officials:Group aiding search
for superintendent is invaluable tool

April 8, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

Since the South Carolina School Boards Association was contracted to manage Greenwood School District 50’s search for a new superintendent, community residents and parents have been voicing a lot of questions about exactly what the association does and if its services are worth the hefty annual fee the district pays.
In the minds of area school board members, however, there’s no question as to whether the membership is “worth it.” The services provided to school boards by the SCSBA are invaluable, said Debrah Miller, vice chairwoman of the District 50 board.
“I think it helps us to be the best board members we can be,” Miller said of the SCSBA. “It provides us with so many resources. Just for the information it provides us on educational issues in the Legislature, I would have to sit down and research in front of my computer all day long to get that information on my own.”
Annually, the board pays about $10,000 to be a member of the SCSBA. That’s less than 1 percent of the district’s $60.5 million budget. In return for the fee, the board gets a number of services, including a year-round training program, known as the Boardmanship Institute; legislative advocacy; publications; policy services; superintendent searches and a variety of on-site customized services for school boards.
All 85 school districts in the state of South Carolina are members of the SCSBA, said District 50 Chairwoman Dru James, who is also SCSBA president-elect. The SCSBA is a nonprofit organization that serves as a source of information and as a statewide voice for school boards.
“We (as a school board) are a leadership team and are most effective when we have the knowledge and understanding of our role,” James said, explaining that the SCSBA helps board members with that understanding. In addition to training sessions that prepare board members for the role they will play in their new elected position, the SCSBA keeps board members informed of legal, financial and legislative issues, a task James said would be insurmountable for individual board members.
“They help us stay abreast of the best practices and issues pertinent to public education,” James said.
Though school boards pay to be part of the SCSBA, their membership allows them savings in other areas of the budget. The SCSBA, for example, provides a variety of risk management services for member districts through its insurance program at a savings to member districts. The services include self-insured workers’ compensation and property and casualty programs, with accompanying risk control and safety services.
Membership also allows board members to call the SCSBA for basic legal advice at no charge. Seeking the same advice from an attorney employed by the district could be quite costly, James said.
“I think what makes us unique in terms of providing services is that our whole focus is working with school boards,” said Debbie Elmore, SCSBA director of communications. “We have services for approving policies, on-site and statewide conferences and training ... there’s just a hodgepodge variety of services that are important to educators.
“We don’t come with a prescribed package of services,” Elmore said. “We customize services based on what the school board wants.”
As an example, Elmore used the SCSBA’s superintendent search services. The board ordering the search sets the criteria for what it wants — a local or national search, for example — and the SCSBA takes care of handling the details.
The services also come at a discounted rate for member districts.
“We try to create better working boards and more efficient board members,” Elmore said.
James said she thinks the mission of the SCSBA is important. According to the SCSBA’s Web site, its mission is “to be the leading voice advocating for quality public education, while ensuring excellence in school board performance through training and service.”
“In a lot of ways,” James said, “I think that says it all.”
She added that she thinks it is important that the public remember that school board members are not necessarily experts in education, but rather are community residents with a desire to do what’s best for their district’s children. Because of that, she said, it’s especially important for a board to have a professional organization that can offer support and knowledge board members might not have access to otherwise.
For information about the SCSBA and the services it provides to member boards, visit www.scsba.org.

Grace Agnew

Grace Hulsey Agnew, 95, of Belle Meade Road, widow of Samuel A. Agnew, died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Abbeville Nursing Home.
Service will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Mary Ballard

ABBEVILLE — Mary Cochran Ballard, 98, of Abbeville, wife of the late Mack N. Ballard, Sr., died Friday, April 7, 2006 at the Carlisle Nursing Center in Due West, SC. Mrs. Ballard was born in Abbeville to the late Oscar S. and Margaret White Dusenberry Cochran. She was a 1929 graduate of Winthrop College with a major in Home Economics. Mrs. Ballard taught high school at Elloree High School, Elloree, SC until 1933. After her marriage in 1933 she resided briefly in Columbia, SC., Atlanta, GA., Macon, GA., and spent most of her adult life as a resident of Charlotte, NC. Mrs. Ballard moved to the Due West Retirement Center in 1986 following the passing of her husband.
She was a former member of Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and a current member of the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church in Abbeville. Mrs. Ballard was preceded in death by her brother, Harold D. Cochran, and a sister, Sophie C. Wheeler.
She is survived by a son, Mack N. Ballard, Jr. of New Bern, NC and a daughter, Elizabeth “Betty” B. Magee of Orlando, FL., six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, as well as a number of nieces and nephews, especially Margaret Wheeler Staley of Sharpsburg, GA., and Marilyn Cochran Pretty of Greenville, SC.
The family will receive friends from 2:00PM to 3:00PM Monday, April 10, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 3:00PM Monday, April 10, 2006 in the funeral home chapel conducted by the Rev. Webster Curry. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Due West Retirement Center Building Fund, PO Box 307 Due West, SC 29639. Online condolences may be sent to the Ballard family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Ballard family.
PAID OBITUARY

Guy Copeland

ABBEVILLE — Guy Hunter Copeland, Jr., 85, formerly of 850 Douglas Mill Rd. resident of Wylie Hall at Due West retirement Center husband of Margaret Gilliam Copeland died Friday April 7, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC. He was a son of the late Guy Hunter, Sr. and Margaret Stewart Copeland.
He was born in Clinton, SC and grew up with one sister and three brothers in Abbeville, SC.
Guy attended Erskine College and with the National Guard served in England and North Africa during World War II. He was a paratrooper and trained Pilot. Speaking fluent German, Guy worked in counter Intelligence in Germany during the Cold War in the late 50’s. He served in the Korean Conflict and during the Vietnam War, he worked in Intelligence in Thailand in the mid 60’s. He retired from the US Army after 25 years with distinction including the Bronze Star for valor in Korea.
After retirement from the military, Guy graduated from Erskine College earned a Masters Degree in Education from Western Carolina University. He taught history, psychology and economics at Dixie High School in Due West, Abbeville High and Cambridge Academy in Greenwood, SC. He served on the SC Board of Education and served as county coroner in the late 80’s.
Guy was a man of great faith and attended church and taught sunday school for many years at Sharon United Methodist Church in Abbeville, SC.
He was an avid angler and boatsman, very interested in history and was an amateur Radio Operator, extraclass level. His intelligence, his gift of humor and story telling were an inspiration to all who knew and loved him.
Survivors are his wife Margaret Gilliam Copeland of the home a daughter Linda C. Wessels and her husband Thomas A. Wessels of Atlanta, GA; two grandsons Kevin Wessels of Newark, Delaware and his older brother Greg Wessels of Basking Ridge, N.J. and his wife Alison and 2 year old twins Kate and Erica; Guy’s 3 brothers Stuart Copeland of Greenwood, SC, Bill Copeland and his wife Jean of Abbeville, SC and Gene Copeland and his wife Rosemary of Abbeville, SC. A sister Esse Erickson and her husband Paul of Abbeville, SC.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday April 10, 2006 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home with the Rev. Frank McCoy officiating. The burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 PM Monday afternoon prior to services.
Memorials may be made to Sharon United Methodist Church, 246 Sharon Church Rd. Abbeville, SC 29620.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Ray Edwards

Henry Ray Edwards, 68, of 225 Briggs Ave., husband of Bonnie L. Edwards, died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at his home. The family is at the home and the home of his daughter, 1632 Cokesbury Road.
Arrangements will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Katherine ‘K’ Gamsby

DUE WEST — Katherine “K” Louise Hildebrand Gamsby, 82, of Due West Retirement Center, wife of Frank N. Gamsby, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at Carlisle Nursing Center on the retirement center campus.
Born in Alfred, New York, she was a daughter of the late E. Fritjof and Lucile Langworthy Hildebrand. She was a graduate of Alfred-Almond Central School, a 1946 graduate of Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va. and performed graduate studies at Cornell University and the University of Georgia. She retired in 1979 from New York State Cooperative Extension of Stuben County and was formerly an agent for Livingston County, NY. She was a member of Hodges Presbyterian Church, past president of the NY State Association of Extension Home Economists, and formerly a member of First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood.
Survivors include her husband of Due West Retirement Center; a daughter, Suzanne G. Cooke of Powell, Tenn.; two sons, Glenn Gamsby of Grand Rapids, Mich. and Joseph Gamsby of Salt Lake City; a brother, David Hildebrand of Waterloo; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Memorial services are 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hodges Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Bob Piephoff.
Visitation is after the service.
The family is at Due West Retirement Center.
Memorials may be made to Hodges Presbyterian Church, PO Box 99, Hodges, SC 29653, or to Carlisle Retirement Center, 18 Frank Pressly Drive, Due West, SC 29639.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Kathryn Hagan

ABBEVILLE — Kathryn Ellis Hagan, 94, of Abbeville, wife of the late James L. Hagan, Sr., died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Magnolia Manor in Greenwood. She was born in the Level Land Community of Abbeville to the late Moffat G. and Rosa Mae Davis Ellis. Mrs. Hagan was a member of the Abbeville Presbyterian Church.
Surviving Mrs. Hagan are two daughters, Carole H. Dawson and her husband Charles of Abbeville, and Rose H. Childers of Abbeville, a son, James L. Hagan, Jr. and his wife Linda of Greenwood, two sisters, Mildred E. Baird of Columbia, and Julia E. Ashley of Honea Path, a brother, Howard Ellis of Hilo, Hawaii, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends 10:00AM to 11:00AM Monday, April 10, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 11:00AM in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Hagan may be sent to the HospiceCare of the Piedmont 408 W. Alexander St.
Greenwood, SC 29646 or to a charity of ones choice.
The family will be at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hagan family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Hagan family.
PAID OBITUARY

Hazel Hastings

Hazel D. Southerland Murry Hastings, 81, of 211 Weimer Circle, widow of Leroy Hastings, died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at her home.
Born in Anderson, she was a daughter of the late Oscar Southerland and Annie Kinsey Southerland Parker. She was formerly employed by Fabriart and Eastwell Sportswear. She was a member of South Greenwood Assembly of God and member of the Women’s Ministries.
She was twice married, first to the late William Larry Murry.
Survivors include three daughters, Carolyn Cobb of the home, Pearl Alexander and Minnie M. Morse, both of Greenwood; a son, William Larry “Alf” Murry of Greenwood; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Revs. Carroll Harrison and Randy Ouzts.
Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are William Simpson, Michael Martin, David Morse, Jack Harrison, Leroy Harrison and Tom Hall.
Honorary escorts are grandsons.
Visitation is 7-9 at the funeral home.
The family is at the home and the home of a daughter, Pearl Alexander, 310 Lanham St.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Larry Joyce

Larry Wayne Joyce, 58, of 253 Penn Avenue, wife of Peggy Stockman Joyce, died Friday, April 07, 2006.
Born in Reidsville, NC, he was a son of the late Ferry Oscar and Mary Thompson Joyce. He was employed with Hays and Lunsford Electrical Company of Greenville, was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War and was a recipient of a Bronze Medal. Mr. Joyce was a Greenwood Shag Club member, a past member of the Greater Triad and the Anderson Shag Clubs. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a son, Shawn Joyce of Greensboro, NC; a stepson, Robert Tyler Goldman of Waterloo; two brothers, Ferry Oscar Joyce, Jr. of Summerville, NC and Ronnie K. Joyce of Reidsville, NC; and two granddaughters, Savannah Katelyn Goldman and Elizabeth Drayton Goldman.
Services, with military rites, will be 2:00 PM Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend James Dennis officiating.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1741 Greenwood, SC 29648 or to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Attn: Development Office, 1023 15th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington DC 20005.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Mildred Nance

ABBEVILLE — Mildred C. Nance, 82, of 58 Mount Olive Church Road, widow of Marion Nance, died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center. Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home.

Something good can come from religion discussions

April 9, 2006

The general consensus concerning public discourse and/or debate on various issues of the day is that if one issue goes too far to the left or right, the pendulum always swings back in the opposite direction in search of balance. Could it be, then, that faith, in South Carolina and the rest of the country, is on the upswing?
Indications are that it might be. A couple of situations - one in South Carolina - are keeping talk about faith-based issues in the public realm. In both cases, the debate has been spirited. That’s normal, since both issues stir emotions.
One, of course, was a recent effort that studied whether prayer had any benefits for heart surgery patients. It concluded that prayer by others did no good. Needless to say, whether misunderstood or not, the research project created a furor.

IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE to anyone that an undertaking of this nature, when dealing with faith and science, would stir emotions like nothing else. How could any determination be made, though, from a study like that when it’s impossible to compare or equate the infinite wisdom and power of God with the finite limitations of humanity?
The bottom line, without question, is that the study provoked others into thinking and talking about faith and what it means.
Another situation involves a debate by South Carolina lawmakers, as well, as others around the country. The debate there is over what should be taught in public schools ..... so-called “intelligent design,” on the religious side, and “creationism,” on the evolution side.

AT THE MOMENT THERE are debates raging in the state Legislature over what should be included in teaching biology.
When issues of faith and science are debated, it’s not unusual for tempers to get a little frayed at times. At least, historically that has been the case. It may be contrary to the whole idea of religion, but, then, that’s the nature of humans. No doubt, many of us thought the Scopes “monkey” trial more than three-quarters of a century ago in Tennessee would be the last of that kind of dispute. However, it obviously wasn’t to be.
There is that upside, though. We’re talking about faith, and thinking about it ..... and what it’s all about. That has to be encouraging.