Fuji to eliminate about 200 jobs

Local plant to discontinue production of 35mm film

February 1, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

About 200 associates with Fujifilm-South Carolina will be losing their jobs during the course of the next year, as the photographic imaging and information giant works to restructure its production under the downward shift in demand for 35mm film, company officials announced Tuesday.
The closings are the result of a global restructuring plan unveiled Tuesday by parent company Fuji Photo Film Inc., which will cease several operations at its North American manufacturing headquarters in Greenwood.
Production at Fujifilm-South Carolina began in 1989, a year after officials announced plans to build a factory in Greenwood.
During the next 15-plus years, the manufacturing facility has become the company's North American Manufacturing and Research and Development Headquarters, according to information provided by Fuji.
With seven manufacturing facilities on the complex, the Greenwood campus, which currently employs about 1,400 associates, has focused on the production of 35mm film, QuickSnap one-time-use recyclable cameras, color photographic paper, medical imaging products, digital and conventional printing plates and image setting film for the graphic arts industry.
Over the course of the next year, production of traditional film products will be consolidated in Japan, while Fujifilm-South Carolina will concentrate on digital compatible products and research and development.
"I think everybody can understand the rationale behind the global reconstruction that was announced. More consumers are switching to digital photography and, subsequently, (fewer) consumers are using film products. It's happening in households across the globe and in businesses," Allen Creighton, general counsel and director of public relations for Fuji Photo Film, said at a press conference Tuesday. "Fujifilm has been producing photographic film for over 75 years, and that is an extraordinarily long product life cycle for any product. But the demand for that product is rapidly diminishing."
With factories in the United States, Europe and Japan, Creighton said Fuji now has more capacity than needed to produce traditional 35mm film products in the wake of the decreased demand.
Factories in Europe also are being affected by the restructuring plan, Creighton said.
"Now that capacity is being consolidated in Japan," Creighton said. "We are not outsourcing or off-shoring jobs from Greenwood to other countries. We are just scaling back employment in Greenwood and other (European) facilities around the world" to accommodate the change in technology and demand.
Traditional 35mm film sales have been declining rapidly during the past three to five years, according to a company statement, because of the growth of digital imaging. The specific plants targeted by the layoffs and closures include the "F" Plant, which is a coating facility for 35mm color negative film, and "N" Plant, which is a 35mm film finishing facility.
The facility also will cease production of image-setting film, though that action was previously planned and not related to the restructuring announcement, the statement reads.
The Fuji campus has about 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space, and Creighton said no plans have been made on future use of the closed plants and equipment.
The restructuring by Fuji follows other film companies' actions to answer the growing consumer demand for digital products. Creighton noted that Polaroid, Kodak and Konica Minolta have all shifted production away from 35mm film products and have had to reduce their workforce numbers or move production to other countries.
Creighton said the layoff would be "across the board," affecting different levels of employees, from technicians to support staff. The announcement was made to the associates as a large group early Tuesday morning, but Creighton said officials will be meeting with associates in smaller groups during the next two weeks to explain the workforce reassignment and severance policies.
"As you might expect, there was disappointment and some concern about what it means for them (the employees). They have a lot to decide between now and when this takes effect. These layoffs will be phased in over the next nine months to a year, so they will have time to decide," Creighton said.
Officials hope to achieve the workforce reduction through voluntary resignations and normal attrition.
"Our associates have worked very hard over the years to make Fujifilm-South Carolina what it is today," Fujifilm-South Carolina president Nick Sekiguchi said in a released statement. "But the worldwide consumer shift from analog to digital photography has necessitated the first layoff in our history in Greenwood. We made the announcement (Tuesday) morning to our associates in order to give them as much notice as possible to those who will be affected. We have developed a reasonable severance package and will offer on-site counseling services to help them with educational and employment opportunities.
"I want to make it clear that we are not transferring jobs from Greenwood to other countries. We are undergoing a company-wide global realignment to adapt to the changing market environment."
"We are doing everything we can to restructure our operations here in Greenwood while disrupting as few employees as possible," Creighton said.
Following the closures, the company will continue to employ more than 1,000 associates, and production will continue on QuickSnap cameras, PS printing plates, color photographic paper, medical imaging film and other digital-line related products.
Creighton said that while the QuickSnap cameras produced here use Fuji's film and still have a "fairly strong demand," there's not enough demand for the product to justify continuing film production here. He also acknowledged that some years "down the road" it's possible that the digital age will have an impact on Greenwood's QuickSnap operation and that the camera line "could be consolidated elsewhere."
Asked if there is a possibility that digital cameras could be made here, Creighton expressed doubt. He said virtually all digital cameras (Fuji's and its competitors) are produced in China and Japan.
Creighton said Fujifilm-South Carolina will continue to look for new opportunities in development and technology, and in February 2005, the campus opened a $100 million facility to increase the production of Computer-to-Plate digital printing plates for the graphic arts industry.
That research and development, he said, might spell the need to reoccupy the "F" Plant. But there are no new projects on the horizon at this time.
"Our research and development facility on this campus will continue to be an important part of our future," Creighton said.
"While these are challenging times, we are confident that the previous relationship with Greenwood and South Carolina will remain strong and we will continue to be one of the area's largest employers.
"We are a pro-business climate here. This is our first layoff since 1988," Creighton added. "Not a lot of employers can make that claim."

Information in this article was obtained from Fujifilm-South Carolina press releases.

Panthers lead at right time

AHS rallies in 4th quarter for win

February 1, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

ABBEVILLE - The Panthers led for only 99 seconds.
Fortunately for them, it was the final 99 seconds.
Senior guard Stanley Statom knocked down a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 39 seconds remaining to give Abbeville its first lead and the team held on for the 62-56 victory over Liberty Tuesday night at home.
The Panthers (11-9 overall, 5-2 Region I-AA) trailed by as many as 10 points to a Red Devil team without a region victory, but rallied behind a 16-4 run late in the fourth quarter to maintain control of second place in the region standings.
"You love these kind of games when you're on this side of them," Abbeville coach James Herman said. "You can't look at any team's record coming in. It's region time.
"Our guys never quit. They never quit and that's a wonderful thing. We've been through a lot this year and these guys just believe in each other."
Statom came off the bench to provide nine points. Michael Butler led the Panthers with 17 points. Jamal Mattison and Ty Suit added 15 and 10 points for Abbeville.
Liberty (2-15, 0-7) got a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds from Michael White, who was 8-of-16 from the field.
The Red Devils used a 7-1 run to start the fourth quarter to grab a 47-39 lead with 5:05 remaining.
After Mattison hit a 3-pointer, White slapped a loose rebound into the basket for the 49-42 advantage with 4:34 to play.
But that's when the Panthers made a defensive change, implementing a zone press that forced a shift in the style of play.
Liberty watched as its slow pace of the game began to change to a more up-tempo style, favoring the Panthers, who forced 15 Red Devil turnovers in the second half.
"We changed into a zone press that we haven't used in a long time," the Abbeville coach said. "It was (senior forward) Derrick Norman's idea. A senior leader. A captain. He came to me and said 'Coach, I think we can do this.' It really started hurting them, getting that trap on them."
The Red Devils were especially hurt when starting point guard Andrew Herman fouled out with 2:09 remaining and the team up 53-51.
Even though Herman finished with only five points, going 1-of-10 from the field, he was the team's primary ball-handler.
With him out, Liberty had problems handling the Panthers' aggressive pressure.
Abbeville scored 11 straight points after Herman fouled out, including Statom's go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing.
"Only one of these guys were playing varsity basketball last year, and he was on the bench fouled out," said Liberty coach John Schumpert, a former coach at McCormick, about Herman. "He's our floor-leader. When he fouled out, I knew it was going to be tough for us."
White gave Liberty the first lead of the game with a layin 50 seconds into the ballgame. Midway through the second quarter, the Red Devils built their lead to double digits.
Andrew Herman capped an 11-3 run with a pair of free throws to give Liberty a 24-14 advantage with 4:25 left in the half.
Herman also put the team up 10 with 5:11 remaining in the third after hitting his only field goal of the night.

Vikings keep playoff hopes alive with win

February 1, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

It was the definition of a much-needed win.
The Emerald High School boys basketball team, stinging from a three-game losing streak, downed Region III-AA foe Newberry, 57-52, Tuesday at Vikings Gymnasium. With the win, Emerald moves to 13-8 overall and 3-4 in the region. The Vikings will travel to play Mid-Carolina Friday.
The victory keeps Emerald's playoff hopes alive, as it tied with Ninety Six for fourth place with three games left to play. Emerald coach Robin Scott is enthusiastic about his team's chances for a postseason berth.
"There is a chance we could win out and still finish first," Scott said. "At the same time, we could win out and finish fourth. We still have work to do."
Emerald shooting guard Matt Herring led the way for Emerald with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. The performance snapped what had been a bit of a shooting slump for Herring.
"As a team we were shooting 35 percent from 3 before region," Scott said. "Since region started, we've been shooting about 22 percent from 3. If Matt gets hot from the perimeter, it opens his game up, enabling him penetrate."
Nick Lanier also popped in 14 points for Emerald, coming on a variety of high-arcing jump shots. Antonio Tribble paced Newberry (12-8, 4-3) with 12 points, while teammate Markus Gray added 10.
The game was close late into the fourth quarter, with Newberry cutting the Emerald lead to 54-49 with 1 minute, 30 seconds left to play. The Bulldogs had several chances to cut the lead further, but Emerald's defense was aggressive and active. Numerous times in the last 1:30, Newberry attempted to hoist shots or fling backdoor passes, only to have the attempts ticked away by prying Emerald defenders.
Scott praised his team's defensive efforts.
"The refs let both teams play tonight, and it was a physical game," Scott said. "Our guys reacted well down the stretch on defense, and it helped us hang on."
The contest was tightly played in the first quarter.
The Vikings got running layups from Herring and center William Taylor to open the game. Newberry struck back with a soft 18-foot jumper from Gray and a steal and twisting reverse scoop shot from Tribble. Emerald led 12-11 heading into the second quarter.
Emerald opened up a larger lead before halftime.
Lanier went on a scoring binge to start the second quarter. First, the wiry guard tossed in a rainbow 3-pointer from the left corner. On Emerald's next possession, Lanier tapped in a putback of his own missed jump shot. He then stole Newberry's inbound pass, and swished a mid-range jumper. Lanier's seven consecutive points helped Emerald to a 28-20 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs failed to draw closer in the third quarter.
Herring nailed two 3s to start the second half. His first came from deep in the left corner, his second from the right wing. Though Tribble dumped in a pair of layups in the quarter, Emerald headed to the fourth quarter with a 47-37 lead.
"I told our guys before the game not to worry about the region games coming up," Scott said. "We were just concerned about tonight."

Bailey's double-double leads AHS girls

February 1, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

ABBEVILLE - Lakia Bailey kept the game close for the Lady Panthers through the first three quarters.
Her teammates helped her in the fourth quarter to knock off Liberty, 53-42, Tuesday night at Moffat Memorial Gymnasium.
Bailey, a 5-foot-7 small forward playing at center for Abbeville, finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds in the win.
She chipped in 18 points in the first three quarters.
"This year, I've been using her inside as my power post player," Abbeville coach Brenda Jackson said. "Really, I haven't seen a team that can stop her down low."
Bailey's teammates kept feeding her the ball in the low block, and the junior kept backing in her defender for the easy layin.
The two-time All-Lakelands player scored 18 of the Lady Panthers' first 33 points.
And Abbeville needed everyone of them.
Her short jumper followed by a 1-of-2 stint at the foul line gave Abbeville only a 33-30 lead with 1 minute, 26 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Lady Red Devils tied the game at 38 with 6:30 remaining when Sarah Young stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for the layup.
But the Lady Panthers responded by going on a 9-0 run, with Quintella Morton and Tecoya London combining for seven points.
Morton's fourth 3-pointer of the night started the run, while London capped it with back-to-back layups to give Abbeville a 47-38 advantage with 2:43 remaining.
Morton scored nine of her 14 points in the second half, while London had six of her 10 in the fourth.
"Quintella has been shooting well from the outside and she got hot in the second half and that opened things up for us," Jackson said. "That took some of the pressure off Lakia to look for other players."
The Lady Panthers outscored Liberty 15-4 over the final five minutes of the game.
But that was a far cry from how the team opened the contest. Abbeville committed four turnovers in its first seven scoreless possessions.
London ended a 3-minute scoring drought with a layup to make it 7-2. The Lady Panthers would go more than four minutes before getting their next field goal and Liberty used that time to go on an 8-1 to take a 15-3 lead.
"We didn't have any energy," Jackson said.
But the Lady Panthers answered back, as Bailey provided six points of an 11-2 run, which saw the team take an 18-17 lead.

Nicholson and Lady Vikings top Newberry

February 1, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Imagine if Elizabeth Nicholson had played the last two and half minutes.
The Emerald center poured in 38 points - two shy of the elusive 40-point plateau - as Emerald defeated Newberry, 78-54, Tuesday at Emerald.
With the win, the Lady Vikings moved to 14-5 overall and 7-0 in Region III-AA play.
Nicholson's 38-point performance was a career high, topping her previous high of 28.
Following the game, senior was surprised to find out how many points she had tallied.
"I didn't know how many I had," Nicholson said. "I was just getting rebounds and putting them back. We started well, and it just kept going."
Nicholson said she is pleased with the Lady Vikings 7-0 region start.
"I had hoped we would play this well," Nicholson said.
"We have played hard and we are playing with confidence."
The game was fairly close throughout much of the first quarter.
Each team took turns sinking baskets early on. Nicholson got started quickly, scoring four of her 14 first quarter points on hard-fought bank shots. Meanwhile, Newberry's Brittany Marshall nailed a sweeping hook shot, and later scooped in a finger roll from the lane. Emerald held a 20-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
"We weren't boxing out at first," Nicholson said. "Once we started doing that, we controlled the rebounding."
Emerald blew the game wide open before halftime.
Reserve forward Shanteria Hill banked in back-to-back baskets to start the second quarter. Later, Nicholson added another wrinkle to her solid performance, swishin a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The center rattled home another 3 before the half, this one dancing on the rim before finally falling through the hoop. Emerald held a 45-18 halftime lead.
The Lady Vikings held onto their advantage throughout the third quarter.
Newberry opened the quarter with a mini-run, with forward Demetha Ruff popping in six of her team-high 18 points on consecutive possessions, composing a 6-0 run.
Emerald staved off the run, however. Brittany Connor, whose hustle on defense greatly benefited Emerald, scored on a running bank shot, and also canned a pair of free throws late in the quarter. Emerald was up 57-33 heading to the fourth quarter.

Opinion

Guard, Reserve capacity needed more than ever

February 1, 2006

Even though many National Guard and Reserve units have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, our Armed Forces are being stretched. At least that's what some think, including the top American commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey. Our forces are capable of completing the job, though, Casey insisted.
U. S. officials said he was talking about the Army in general. Nevertheless, there have been indications that our forces are indeed thinly stretched, and previous reports have covered shortages in a variety of items, communications equipment and vehicles, for example.
That being the case, it's encouraging to see Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S. C., and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., introduce a bipartisan resolution to shore up the National Guard. Graham and Nelson are chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Committee.

GRAHAM SAID, "AT THIS crucial time in our nation's history, we are more dependent on the National Guard than ever. Now is not the time to diminish the role the reserves play in the American military … "
Nelson said, "The members of the National Guard aren't weekend warriors. They're indispensable citizen-soldiers, airmen and airwomen who serve their country full-time when needed, and in return, I expect the Department of Defense to fully support the National Guard missions here and around the world."
The senators noted that the National Guard has a unique role in defending the nation, that Guard troops have a responsibility to the nation and to their home states. This comes as the Department of Defense is proposing cuts in personnel levels for the Guard even while it is hurt by significant shortages of critical equipment.

THE SENATORS WANT THE Department of Defense to seek input from Congress and governors when deciding future changes in personnel, as well as to resolve equipment shortages.
South Carolinians know the importance of the Guard and Reserves. Many of their loved ones have been and are on active duty in these crucial times. Considering the situation and the needs, it would be foolhardy to downsize the Guard and Reserves. The world is getting more dangerous, not safer, and we cannot act hastily. The equipment needs are obvious. They must be met.
Graham and the rest must make sure Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and President Bush listen, and they must do everything they can to keep us from cutting off our collective nose to spite our collective face. This is a good start.
It's no time to invite more trouble by letting down our guard.

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

Obituaries

Linda Arnold

Linda Coates Arnold, 61, of 206 Milford Springs Road, wife of John Thomas Arnold died January 31, 2006 at the Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born July 15, 1944 in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late John C. and Catherine Brown Coates. A graduate of Greenwood High School, she was employed with Moore Business Forms and Greenwood Board of Realtors. She attended New Covenant Tabernacle and Grace Community Church where she taught Sunday School and Missionettes for many years.
Survivors include her husband of the home; son, Curt and wife Susan Arnold of Abbeville; daughter, Lisa and husband Michael Briley of Nashville, TN; sister, Janice and husband Jim McCord of Abbeville; brothers, Johnny and wife Joyce Coates and Franky and wife Marlene Coates, all of Hodges; four grandchildren, Caitlin Arnold, Madalin Arnold, Chandler Arnold and Isabella Briley; she was preceded in death by a brother, Sammy Coates.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, February 2, 2006 at 11:00 AM from the chapel of Blyth Funeral Home with Pastor David Harrell and Dr. Rodney Schultz officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home, 206 Milford Springs Road, Greenwood and will receive friends tonight from 7-9 PM at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, 29646 in memory of Mrs. Arnold.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the Arnold family.
PAID OBITUARY

Stewart Babb

Stewart Babb, formerly of Ware Shoals, widower of Macie Babb, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals.

Christine Cockrell

GREENWOOD - Christine Metts Cockrell of 105 Summit Street, widower of Harold Wise Cockrell died Monday, January 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Prosperity, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Rufus Metts and Mary Novice Shealy Metts, and step daughter of the late Lillie Slice Cannon Metts. She was a retired owner and operator of Love and Care Nursery, a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and a member of the Ella Julian Circle. She was twice married, first to the late Travis Dawkins.
Survivors include a son Stanley Dawkins, Sr. and wife Grace of Greenwood; a step son David Cockrell and wife Mary Ann of Arlington TX; a step daughter Susan Cockrell of Idaho; two brothers, Marvin Metts and Calvin Duane Metts of Jacksonville FL, and two grandchildren, Travis Stanley Dawkins, Jr. of Greenwood, and Krista Dawkins Robertson and husband Lebby of Charleston.
Graveside services will be 1:00 PM Thursday at Green-wood Memorial Gardens with Dr. John Setzler officiating.
Memorials may be made to the charity of ones choice.
The family is at the home of his son, 1290 Calhoun Road, Greenwood, SC.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Wayne Cook

WARE SHOALS - Wayne N. Cook, 53, husband of Barbara Charles Cook, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
Born in Varnville, he was a son of Joseph Norris Cook and the late Minnie Lee Tidwell Cook. He was a former employee of Capsugel, an Army veteran and of the Pentecostal faith.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his father of Ware Shoals; two sisters, Iris Charles of Ware Shoals and Marcia Kennedy of Lizella, Ga.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Chris Stansell. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Bob Vance, Joe Hunt, Stevie Hunt, Freddy Kirkland, David Freeman and Andrew Kennedy.
Honorary escorts are Paul Charles, Donnie Charles, David Charles, Clint Garrison, Timmy England and Regina Charles.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hope Lodge, 269 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 29401-1111.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Joe Marshall Davis

ABBEVILLE - Joe Marshall Davis, 91, resident of 911 Cypress Church Rd. died Tuesday Jan. 31, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Abbeville Co. SC he was a son of the late William Cape and Macie Wright Davis.
He was twice married first to the late Cora Sparks Davis and the late Liza Eva Price Davis.
He was a retired farmer and a member of Warrenton Presbyterian Church where he was Elder Emeritus.
Survivors are: brother Gaines Davis and sister-in-law Lucille of Abbeville, SC, sister Esabelle Carter of Anderson, a nephew Edward Leon Davis reared in the home, daughter-in-laws Frances B. Davis of Abbeville, SC and Mary Davis of Edgefield, SC, grandchildren Robbie Mills, Crystal Wood and Beverly Bullion and great-grandchildren Justin Wood, Anthony Wood, Allen Wood, Tiffany Mills, Don Mills, Will Buffington and Jonathan Davis.
He was preceded in death by 2 sons Rayford W. Davis and Lenward D. Davis.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday Feb. 2, 2006 at 3:00 PM from Warrenton Presbyterian Church with the Rev.'s Ed Kirkpatrick and Rev. James Long officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday evening. The family is at the home of his daughter-in-law Frances B. Davis 2302 Old Calhoun Falls Rd. Abbeville, SC.
Active pallbearers will be great-grandsons Justin Wood, Anthony Wood, Allen Wood, Don Mills, Will Buffington and Jonathan Davis. Honorary escort will be the Men's Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be made to Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 191 Watts Rd. Abbeville, SC 29620.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Patrick Wayne Gates

CALHOUN FALLS - Infant Patrick Wayne Gates died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
He was a son of Albert and Maggie Page Gates.
Survivors include his parents; a brother, Colby Page; a sister, Savannah Gates; maternal grandparents, Terri and Bill Deloache and Johnnie and Rita Page; paternal grandparents, Tammie Gates and Phil Gates.
Graveside services are 4 p.m. Thursday in Keowee Baptist Church Cemetery.
Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harrisfuneral.com

Willie Mae Gilchrist

Services for Willie Mae "Popeye" Gilchrist are 1 p.m. Thursday at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. William Lee. Burial is in The Evening Star cemetery.
Pallbearers are Johnny Gilchrist, Bryant Turner, Sam Tate, Barry Chapelle, Jimmy Coats and John Hentz.
Flower bearers are Vanessa Moore, Marcella Kennedy, Felicia Norman, Marshay Spencer, Elaine Williams and Demetria Gilchrist.
The family is at the home, 3-H Phoenix Place.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Mary Etta Harris

Mary Etta Harris, 86, widow of Booker T. Harris, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 at her home after an extended illness.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Dahlia Williams Jackson. She was a member of Holy Rock Reformed Episcopal Church, Willington, where she was a member of the Missionary Board and Senior Choir. She was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 566C.
Survivors include four daughters, Daisy Gibert and Elsie Turman of McCormick, Martha Harris of Abbeville, Julia Mae Harris of the home; a stepson, John Paul Norman of McCormick; a brother, Nathaniel Jackson of Landover, Md.; 19 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 230 Christian Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Wayne McDonald

McCORMICK - Wayne McDonald, 54, husband of Angel Marie Dolan McDonald, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006 at Doctor's Hospital, Augusta, Ga., after an extended illness.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of Marie Reid and the late Herbert McDonald and lived in McCormick for several years. He was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and a retired truck driver.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of McCormick; two daughters, Crystal Canty and Deedra Black, both of Philadelphia; two brothers, Herbert McDonald and Ricky McDonald of Philadelphia; three sisters, Judy McDonald and Angela Howard, both of Philadelphia, Donna Foley of Rochester, Minn.; four grandchildren.
Memorial services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, McCormick, conducted by Brother Rufus Chiles.
The family is at the home, 424 Highway 81.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Michael Rotella

Michael Vincent Rotella Sr., 81, of 105 Locksley Drive, husband of Ann Seppe Rotella, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 at his home.
Born in Westfield, N.J., he was a son of the late Anthony and Carmella Gudatta Rotella. He was a World War II Navy veteran, serving in the Pacific Theatre and the Philippine Campaign on Navy destroyer USS Black. Retiring as a deputy sheriff from Union County, N.J. Sheriff's Department, he formerly served as a Union County state delegate for the Policemen's Benevolent Association, New Jersey. He had lived Greenwood since 1987 and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the VFW.
Survivors include his wife of the home; five sons, Anthony Rotella of Waterloo, Michael Rotella Jr. of Plymouth, Mass., Carmen Rotella of Flemington, N.J., Patrick Rotella of Warren, N.J., and Joseph Rotella of Greenwood; two brothers, Carmen Rotella of Westfield and Gus Rotella of Scotch Plains, N.J.; two sisters, Ginny Valenti of Bronx, N.Y., and Antoinette Manna of Westfield; seven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial is 2 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, conducted by Father Richard Harris. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 915 Mathis Road, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Sherman Veazie, Sr.

GREENWOOD - Sherman C. Veazie Sr., 89, of 156 Henderson Street, widow of Virginia Hildreth Veazie, died Monday, January 30, 2006 at National Health Care.
Born in West Morland, NH he was the son of the late George and Gertrude Brown Veazie. He was a cabinet maker, and the grounds keeper at Hardees'. He was preceded in death by a daughter Priscilla Blanchard and a son Ernest George Veazie.
Survivors include a son, Sherman C. Veazie, Jr. of Waterloo; a daughter Beverly Foster of Saluda, NC; a granddaughter raised in the home, Tina Paxton of NJ; ten grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 3:30 PM Friday at Oakbrook Memorial Park with the Reverend Reuel Westbrook officiating.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home & Crematory where the family will receive friends 7:00 until 9:00 PM on Thursday.
Memorials may be made to NHC of Greenwood, 437 East Cambridge Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646. The family is at the home of his son 5 O.J. Court, Waterloo, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Paula Ann Wright

BRADLEY - Paula Ann Wright, 39, of 3814 McCormick Highway, wife of Barry Dean Wright Sr., died Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 at her home. Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of Izola C. Mims and the late Wade Hackett Jr. She worked at the Rug Barn, Abbeville, and was a member of Glover's Chapel Baptist Church and The M.L. Taylor Singers. Survivors include her mother of McCormick; her husband; a son, Barry Dean Wright Jr. of the home; a daughter, M'Tavia Wright of the home; a stepdaughter, Lanainae Parks of Cokesbury; four brothers, O'Neal Cunningham of Indianapolis, Quinith Cunningham and Carlton Mims, both of McCormick, Bryan Hackett of Promised Land; five sisters, Milissa Smith of Augusta, Ga., Shannon Taylor of Myrtle Beach, Marlo Hackett Callaham and Sandra Christopher, both of Greenwood, Michelle Waymeyer of Charlotte, N.C.; a granddaughter; her stepmother, Sarah Hackett of Promised Land. Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood. Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com