Huguenot homecoming

Hundreds come to McCormick to celebrate their French heritage

August 7, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

McCORMICK — They’re from Texas, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina, but they all have one thing in common: they’re also from France.
About 300 people came to McCormick Sunday to learn about or celebrate their French roots to the Huguenots, the French Protestants who came to America seeking religious freedom.
For the past 30 years, the anniversary of the Huguenots’ arrival to New Bordeaux, the state’s only Huguenot colony in the Upstate, has been celebrated every other year at the John de la Howe School in McCormick. This year, William Morehouse, a retired professor of drama, presented a first-person dramatization of diarist Pierre Moragne.
While the 242nd anniversary drew spectators from all across the country, it also brought Bernard and Colette Reboul from Nimes, France. They came to the United States to see the sites where their ancestors lived and to reunite with distant relatives.
Colette is related to the nephew of the Rev. Jean Louis Gibert, the person responsible for establishing the colony in New Bordeaux. The couple brought an album with pictures that show how close their house is to Gibert’s original house in France. Through translator Monique Bonifay Cauble, Bernard said the experience was a very emotional one.
“Even though we’ve read and read about this, nothing replaces actually being here and seeing it in person,” Bernard said. “It’s just the idea that centuries ago, they left France and took a risk to take the long travel — it’s kind of an awe.”
When the couple made the trip across McCormick to Badwell Cemetery to see the graves of Colette’s family members, Colette said the experience was “chilling.”
Calvert Cherard is one of the relatives the Rebouls discovered, during the program’s luncheon, that they were related to. While looking at the Huguenot history outlined at the “Willington on the Way” open house at the History Center in Willington, Cherard said he found out when he was in high school that he was part of the Huguenot lineage when his name appeared in a book.
“You kind of feel like you’re a part of history when you can read your name in print,” he said. “... I enjoy dragging my children along so that they too can figure out their place assigned to them. They’re too young to care, but they need to carry this on and realize that they are a part of something, and not by anything they’ve done.”
During the morning program at the McKissick Memorial Chapel, the crowd sang Psalms 23 as many of the Huguenots did during their time in South Carolina.
Kathy DuLaney, chairwoman of the McCormick County Historical Commission, said the gathering is very important.
“I think it’s important that we remember our forefathers and their contributions,” she said.

Freshmen Academy aims to help
with transition into high school

August 7, 2006

By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY
Index-Journal staff writer

The following story was written in 2005 and includes comments from last year about programs for high school freshmen. Freshman Academy continues this year in District 50.

For some students entering high school, there is lots of angst about “fitting in,” self-image and life beyond high school.
But, a growing trend among the nation’s high schools — Freshman Academy — is designed to help students transition from middle school to high school with success.
The Freshman Academy concept is in place in Greenwood School District 50, at Greenwood High School and Emerald High School.
“Freshman Academies have sprung up throughout the United States in response to large high schools,” Amy Gregory, Freshman Academy coordinator at GHS, said in 2005. “Freshman Academy is about creating a much smaller learning community within a much larger one. It’s about academics, but it’s also about nurturing students and helping them find their way.”
The 2006-07 school year marks the third year for Freshman Academy at GHS.
Key components of Freshman Academy at GHS are grouping ninth-graders together for core academic classes on the third floor of one of the buildings, including math, science, social studies and English. There is also a special freshmen-only lunch period, Gregory said in 2005.
“During the rest of the school day, ninth-graders have classes on other parts of the campus that are integrated with the rest of the school, and at the Career Center,” Gregory said. “But, having some classes together, and a lunch, with their ninth-grade peers helps some students feel more comfortable with the high school environment.”
Teachers who are part of the academy at GHS focus freshmen on attendance, academic success and becoming involved with school clubs, sports and the arts, Gregory said.
“Many of our ninth-graders are coming from middle schools such as Northside and Brewer, with student populations of 700 to 800 students,” Gregory said. “Greenwood High has roughly 1,700 students. It’s like adjusting from a small pond to a big lake. You don’t want to go into the cafeteria at lunch and not see anyone you know. You don’t want to sit alone.”
At the time of the interview for this story, the GHS freshman class had 546 students.
In addition to typical adolescent woes, Gregory said high school freshmen of today are also coping with family financial troubles, violence in neighborhoods, peers who have dropped out of school, language barriers, teen pregnancy, academic struggles and more.
It’s important to remember, Gregory said, that Freshman Academy is not solely for first-time ninth-graders — the program also includes students who are repeating their freshman year.
“I try to stay on those kids because I want them to succeed,” Gregory said. “You have to find ways to connect with them and to keep teachers informed about who’s having trouble academically, and with attendance.”
Beth Taylor, GHS principal, said last year that Freshman Academy is important because, until ninth-graders figure out where they fit in, they may feel especially left out during social times of the school day, such as before school in the mornings, lunch and after school.
To help students find their niche, Taylor said instructors and coaches involved with band, chorus, drama and athletics work with students at the middle school and high school levels.
“People at the middle school level have contacts with their counterparts at the high school level and vice versa,” Taylor said. “They can help kids get involved with various activities once they start high school.
“If students are on a team or part of a club, they’re going to transition well in high school. If we give them platforms to expand their gifts and talents, they will be happy in high school and they will work hard at academics, too. They’ve got to find something that interests them and gets them plugged in to school.”
Freshman Academy, Gregory said, is part of High Schools That Work, a school improvement initiative launched in 1987 through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
The academy at GHS is being funded through a federal grant awarded three years ago for $500,000. The grant, intended to help with Freshman Academy start-up costs, covered Gregory’s position as coordinator, professional development for teachers, supplies, field trips, tutoring through GHS’s homework center, and expenses related to analysis and research to determine the academy’s progress. Although the grant is for three years, Gregory said District 50 is committed to continuing Freshman Academy at GHS.
“We may not have some of the perks we can afford with the grant money, but the program should be able to continue,” Gregory said.
However, at Emerald High School, Freshman Academy was in its inaugural year in 2005 — without the aid of grant money.
At the start of the 2005-06 school year, Emerald’s freshman class numbered 331, and the total student population for the school was roughly 980 students.
The majority of Emerald’s students come from Westview Middle School, Sabra Price, Emerald High principal, said in 2005.
“We did not get any outside grant money,” Price said. “But, we’ve tried to work within our existing resources and just restructure. We asked teachers to commit to working with the freshmen. And, the district has been very supportive with local funds when needed — enhancing our food services so we could have a freshman lunch and extracurricular activities.”
Les Gamble, assistant principal at EHS who worked primarily with ninth- and 10th-graders, said last year that Freshman Academy is great.
“I kind of wish they had Freshman Academy while I was in high school,” Gamble said. “With the concept being designed as a transition into high school, it minimizes the culture shock and intimidation some students may feel coming from middle school. It’s basically a school within a school.
“We have Freshman Academy because we’re trying to increase the graduation rate and decrease the dropout rate.”
Although parents and students might not realize it, ninth grade, Gamble said, is the grade where students really “make it or break it.”
“Ninth grade is a pivotal year,” Gamble said. “With some students, that doesn’t register until it’s almost too late. If students are going to be successful with secondary education and complete high school, that really depends on how they perform in the ninth grade. If they don’t pass the ninth grade, they don’t have credits to go on to the tenth.”
At Emerald, one wing of a building is devoted to Freshman Academy.
And, because space at the school is somewhat limited, a few upperclassmen classes are located on that wing as well.
Freshman math, English and social studies classes are located within the wing, but students head to other parts of the campus for science, science labs, fine arts and gym, Price said in 2005.
“The concept, when combined with orientation and workshops before doors actually open for the school year, gives students a chance to meet teachers, guidance counselors and principals,” Price said.
Through sports and other extra-curricular activities, Price said middle school students also familiarize themselves with coaches and instructors at Emerald.
In addition to having core academic classes together, a majority of Emerald freshmen also eat lunch together in the cafeteria each school day.
Students in the freshman lunch are not allowed to eat outside or in the school’s courtyard area.
“We’re just in our first year of Freshman Academy at Emerald,” Price said last year. “It’s been a relatively easy transition, but we’re still looking for ways to tweak it.
“We’re looking for ways to improve and provide additional assistance to kids who are struggling. The best way to do that is for students to build relationships with teachers and staff. The kids need individuals they can rely on.”
To measure Freshman Academy progress, Price said she would analyze data, such as ninth-grade pass rates for each subject.
“I think Freshman Academy provides a place of comfort for those primary academic classes,” Bonnie Brown, a guidance counselor at EHS, said last year. “This is sort of a place to ‘call home’ instead of being scattered all over the school.”
At Ware Shoals High School, most freshmen are already familiar with the campus, Assistant Principal for Ninth Graders Janice Walpole said. “We don’t’ necessarily have programs like the bigger schools do, but we try to help our freshmen adjust.”
Walpole said freshman classes at Ware Shoals have been structured with only 16-18 students in each of the core classes. “We have pre-registration, an open house and, once school starts, we’ll have a freshman assembly,” Walpole says.
“The biggest thing we do is have our ninth-grade teachers meet every other week for what we call meet and eat, where they can discuss their concerns about students and get advice from other teachers.” Ware Shoals also has an upperclassmen mentoring program, which began last year, and pairs each freshman with an upperclassman. “Its so they have someone to speak to who will recognize them in the hallway and ask how their day is going, just so freshmen don’t feel alone in the school,” Walpole said.
Building relationships between teachers and students is key to Walpole and teachers at Ware Shoals. “We just want them to know we’re here for them and we’ll work hard to help them be successful,” she said.
Staff intern Lesslie Draffin contributed to this story.

Opinion

Retired Lander president shows war’s bitter fruits

August 7, 2006

Larry Jackson is a retired president of Lander University in Greenwood. That gives him a certain degree of recognition beyond the average South Carolinian. In another life, though, he flew 25 World War II combat missions over Germany as a navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Like many military veterans who come home from combat, Jackson was deeply touched by the tragic consequences of such experiences, particularly when bombing raids put civilians in harm’s way.
He has written a book - “The Serpent of War” - in which he gives readers a glimpse of the tragedy that comes when city centers are bombed. It is a story that should be told again and again. “Collateral damage” is a euphemistic way of describing the carnage of so many facets of war. No matter what it’s called, though, it leaves too many permanent scars on too many people.

THERE ARE TIMES IN WAR, TO be sure, when that kind of damage is impossible to avoid, as we’ve seen in the Middle East. There are times, too, when decision-makers know it will occur when their plans and orders are carried out, as it did in both world wars, Korea, Vietnam and every war before or since.
Under the circumstances, those decisions, while understandable at the time, also leave permanent scars on those who have to make the decisions. In the context of war there are always necessary evils, history shows, but we must never allow ourselves to become immune to the bitter fruits of human conflict.
Jackson’s work cuts to the core of the horror and futility of war, the real curse of mankind. War has defined our relationships since the beginning, and conflicts continue. War changes us from friend to foe and back again. In the process, hate bridges generations and philosophies, and we try to explain why we do it.

WAR IS REAL, THOUGH. IT IS a damned if you do and damned if you don’t proposition and sometimes it is inescapable. Sometimes, history also proves, war becomes the lesser of the evils at hand ..... and despite protests to the contrary, we really don’t have a choice.The alternatives? They may be much worse. But, then, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it?
There are always some who seek the upper hand by any means. And so it goes. War is unforgiving. There are no rules. Collateral damage is part of war. The toll is always tragic. Until we find the magic formula to end war, though, it helps when veterans like Jackson give us a first-hand look at some of the consequences.

Obituaries

Mike Avery

Michael “Mike” Avery, 53, of 111 Perry Drive Wilson Creek, husband of Terresa Reedy Avery, died Sunday, August 6, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Nickey Boozer

CHAPPELLS — Nicholas Eugene “Nickey” Boozer, 66, resident of 855 Highway 702, husband of Shelby Balchin Boozer died August 4, 2006 at the Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood, he grew up in Ninety Six and was a son of Mabel Coleman Boozer and the late Hance Gene Boozer. He served in the Army Reserve, was formerly employed by Greenwood Mills and Cooper Industries and retired from McCormick Correctional Center. Mr Boozer attended Shiloh United Methodist Church and Hopewell Congregational Holiness Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home and his mother of Ninety Six are two daughters, Judy Werts and Bruce of Ninety Six, and Nancy Herlong of Chappells; son, Patrick E. Boozer and Dawn of Waterloo; grandchildren, Brent, Brittany, Chad, Tommie, Josh, Christian and Cody; 2 sisters, Karen B. Williams and Phyllis B. Johnstone, both of Greenwood.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 2:00 PM from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Louie Murray and Reverend Lee Cothran officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Brent Werts, Bruce Werts, Tripp Williams, Drew Johnstone, Tommy Svenningsen, Morris Jones and Chad Douglas.
The family is at the home, 855 Highway 702 and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1-2 PM. Memorials may be made to Shiloh United Methodist Church, 253 Shiloh Road, Saluda, SC 29138 or Hopewell Congregational Holiness Church, 785 Old Chappells Ferry Road, Saluda, SC 29138 in memory of Mr. Boozer. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Boozer family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Clif Crooks

ABBEVILLE — Howard Clifton “Clif” Crooks, 68, of 897 Old Abbeville Highway, husband of Martha Wynne Crooks, died Friday, August 4, 2006 at his home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

David Eustace

David J. Eustace Sr., 78, of 5039 Highway 25 South, husband of Linda Knox Eustace, died Saturday, August 5, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Carl A. and Louise Minor Eustace. He was retired from the US Army Reserve as a Sergeant Major and retired from Lander College.
Survivors include his wife of the home; five daughters, Jennifer Lynn Eustace of the home, Jeannie Swafford of Hodges, Peggy Biggerstaff, Tina Collins, and Karen Longshore, all of Greenwood; two sons, David Eustace Jr. of Hodges and John David Eustace of the home; a sister, Betty Gresham of Greenwood; a brother, Bobby Eustace of Greenwood; twelve grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home conducted by the Rev. Hal Lane. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Thomas Longshore Jr., Roger Collins Jr., Jeremy DeLoach, Tony Griffin, Johnny Eustace and Carl Eustace.
Visitation is 6-8 this evening at Harley Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Karen Longshore, 140 Kingston Road.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Bobbie Kirkland

Bobbie Kirkland, 53, of 624 Chiquapin Road, died Saturday, August 5, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Columbia, she was a daughter of the late Otis Keith and Gaynelle Williams Kirkland. She was a construction worker and a member of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Larry Kirkland of Greenwood; two sisters, Janet Boyd of Greenwood and Sherry Way of Daytona Beach, Fla.; four brothers, Gerald Kirkland of Pelion, Wayne Salters of Lothain, Md., Butch Salters and Mike Salters, both of Lexington; two grandchildren.
Visitation is 7-9 this evening at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her sister, Janet Boyd, 1112-A Rock House Road. Memorials may be made to Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, 509 Kirksey Drive, Greenwood SC 29646. Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Earnest Martin Jr.

Earnest Martin Jr., 77, of 902 Marshall St., husband of Mary Frances Quarles Martin, died Sunday August 6, 2006 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
Born in Greenwood, he was the son of the late Ernest and Essie Williams Martin. He was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and was of Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Sandra Burton of Greenwood; two sons, Earnest Martin III of New York and Michael Martin of Greenwood; 12 grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Ruby Minor

Ruby Earline Minor, 95 of 217 B Merriman Avenue, died Saturday, August 05, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of the late James Gary and Anna Patterson Minor. She was retired from Greenwood Mills where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club, and a member of Woodmen of the World. Ms. Minor was also a part of the #4 Mothers club and a member of Westside Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Kathleen McCrickard and Katie M. Crawford, both of Greenwood; and a number of nieces and nephews. Services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Hal Lane and the Reverend Bennie Riddlehoover officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Maurice Corley, Buddy Turner, Robbie Crowder, Jerry Lathem, Johnny Eustace and Carl Eustace.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Monday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials may be made to Hospicecare of the Piedmont % Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Westside Baptist Church, PO Box 216, Greenwood, SC 29648 The family is at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com PAID OBITUARY

James ‘Jake’ Pettigrew Sr.

BEAUFORT — James (Jake) Calvin Pettigrew, Sr., 88, of Beaufort, South Carolina died August 5, 2006 at his home surrounded by his family after a two year battle with cancer. The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at Copeland Funeral Home in Beaufort. Services will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 11:00 am in the Carteret Street United Methodist Church with burial in the Beaufort Memorial Gardens adjacent to Copeland Funeral Home.
Jake was born July 20, 1918 in Starr, South Carolina the son of Dr. George Calvin and Mary Syfan Pettigrew. He was a 1941 graduate of Clemson University. Jake retired after 38 years working as an Architect for the Public Works Department on Parris Island. Prior to his Civil Service employment, he worked for Reid Hearn and Associates, Architects and ran their Beaufort office. While working for Reid Hearn he oversaw the construction of the original Laurel Bay Housing project and the first buildings constructed on Fripp Island. During his years in Beaufort he designed numerous commercial buildings and hundreds of homes. He was an active member of Carteret Street United Methodist Church serving as an usher for many years. He was a kind and loving man, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by all.
Jake is survived by his two sons, Dr. James C. Pettigrew, Jr. of Gainesville, FL and David L. Pettigrew of Beaufort, SC; one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Betty Rose) Angel of Savannah, GA; and six grandchildren.
The family suggests that those who wish may make a memorial to Carteret Street United Methodist Church; Post Office Box 788; Beaufort, South Carolina 29901.
PAID OBITUARY

Mary H. Williams

Mary H. Williams, 86, died Sunday, August 6, 2006 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
She was a daughter of the late William and Lonia Holmes. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and served on the Missionary Society.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty J. Williams of Greenwood and Amelia. Elmore of New York; two sons, Rev. Frank Williams of Greenwood and Henry Williams of Elyria, Ohio; a brother, Tobie Holmes of Edgefield.
The family is at the home of a son, Rev. Frank Williams, 910 Magnolia Place.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net