Feed the Hungry event gets
2006 off to nutritious start

January 3, 2006

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

ABBEVILLE — Volunteers, some of whom didn’t even know each other before Monday, came together at the civic center to make sure that many people had a good, hot meal for the day after New Year’s.
The third annual Feed the Hungry event brought together members of the Narrow Way Riders Motorcycle Ministries from the Genesis chapter of the Lakelands and chapters in Waynesboro and Bowman, Ga., and the Sons of Thunder from Jefferson, Ga. They prepared a hot meal of ham, turkey and fixings, including the traditional black-eyed peas for coins and collards for “green money,” to get 2006 off to a nutritious start.
“Usually with this many people from this many walks of life you can’t get anything done,” said Rick Gibson, of Narrow Way Riders. “But they’re working for a common goal.”
Gibson said Narrow Way Riders members look for ways “to be servants” within the community. “Any opportunity to serve, we jump on it,” he said.
This opportunity was provided by event organizer Johnny Grant, founder of Crossroads of Life Ministries. “My and my grandniece got together with the idea of doing this as a family,” Grant said. “Those who can come out, come out (to eat at the civic center).”
Others who were home-bound or just in need of a meal were accommodated by a delivery service run by Grant’s wife Vera. She had routes to be delivered by volunteers and handled people who came to the civic center willing to deliver meals themselves.
Grant emphasized the feeding program was not necessarily just for the needy.
“If you just have to eat alone, come and enjoy the fellowship,” he said. “The needy come first, but we will not stop anybody from coming in. It’s an open door.”
The volunteers also provided meals Monday afternoon to those incarcerated in Abbeville County. Grant expected to have the event run a little past its announced 2 p.m. ending time on Monday, because he thought the cold, rainy weather would keep some people at home who might need a meal — and a word of encouragement to start the new year.
“This is what it’s for, to reach out with the love of Jesus,” Grant said. “It’s not about us. It’s about the love of God.”
Grant credited the motorcycle ministries with spreading that message. He said the Sons of Thunder provided 300 meals for a tent revival he sponsored.
“It’s great to know we can come together and fellowship like that,” Grant said. “Before I got involved with motorcycle ministry, I didn’t know what all they got involved in.”

Regional Editor Vic MacDonald can be reached at 943-2525 or vmacdonald@indexjournal.com.

Opinion

Reading becomes problem even for college graduates

January 3, 2006

It hardly comes as a surprise to anyone these days that reading for many youngsters in South Carolina’s public schools is below average. In fact, for many it’s horrible.
Some end their schooling not knowing how to read well enough to read simple directions, whether it’s on roads or prescriptions.
That’s a problem for all of us, of course. People who have trouble reading very often have trouble being good citizens.
That, to be sure, is bad enough. Now comes a report that is even more worrisome.
Educators and literacy specialists say they are concerned after a recent adult literacy assessment showed that the reading proficiency of college graduates has declined during the last decade. What’s even more troubling is that there is no obvious explanation for this change.

MICHAEL GORMAN, PRESIDENT of the American Library Association and a librarian at California State University at Fresno, says “it’s appalling. It’s really astounding. Only 31 percent of college graduates can read a book and extrapolate from it,” Gorman says. “That’s not saying much for the remainder.”
It was noted that although more Americans are graduating from college, and many more are applying for admission to college, many are leaving higher education without the skills needed to comprehend routine data, such as reading a table about the relationship between blood pressure and physical activity. That was shown in a federal study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR education statistics, Mark S. Schneider, says the “declining impact of education on our adult population was the biggest surprise for us. It may be that institutions have not yet figured out how to teach a whole generation of students who learned to read on the computer and who watch more TV. It’s a different kind of literacy.”
Here’s the kicker. Schneider says “what’s disturbing is that the assessment is not designed to test your understanding of Proust, but to test your ability to read labels.”
In 2003, 41 percent of graduate students tested could be classified as “proficient” in prose, reading and understanding information in short tests. That was down 10 percentage points since 1992. For college graduates, it was down to 31 percent compared to 40 percent earlier.
That’s appalling indeed. South Carolina public school student reading we know is a problem and it’s being addressed. Maybe it’s time to put a little more focus on reading at all levels.

Obituaries

Ruby Bell

Ruby Breazeale Bell, 80, formerly of Greenwood, widow of James Jones Bell, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2006 at The Stroud Memorial Nursing Center in Marietta, Ga.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Hubert Hazel

ABBEVILLE — Hubert Franklin Hazel, 87, of 342 Edgewood Drive, a longtime Greenwood resident, formerly of Siloam Church Road, husband of Evelyn Gillian Hazel, died Sunday, January 1, 2006, at the Hospice House.
Born in Saluda County, he was the son of the late Ernest Gary and Cora Shaw Hazel. He was retired from Greenwood Mills, Harris Plant, where he was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He was a member of Greenwood Wesleyan Church, where he was a member of the Bethel Sunday School Class.
He was preceded in death by a son, Jack Edward Hazel.
Surviving is his wife of the home; a daughter, Wanda H. Campbell and her husband, Ronny, of Abbeville; five grandchildren, Trevor McNure of Charleston, Michelle Kang, Jay Hazel, Leland Knight and Tracey Turner, all of Belton, several great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and special friends, J.A. and Effie Dorn of Greenwood.
Services will be 1:00 pm Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Jonathan Payne and Mr. Mac McLellan officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jack Styron, Wayne Styron, Mike Fulmer, Gerald Deaton, Robert Hawkins and Douglas Seabolt. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Wanda Campbell, 244 Edgewood Drive, Abbeville.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Archie B. Jones

Archie B. Jones, 71, of 913 Chappelle St., Greenwood, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Eugenia Latimer

DONALDS — Eugenia Drake Latimer, 93, widow of Thomas Stephen Latimer, formerly of N. Main St., died Sunday, January 01, 2006 at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood.
Born in Shoals Junction she was a daughter of the late James Will Drake and Ida McClain Drake Murff. She was a member of Donalds Baptist Church where she taught the Primary Sunday School Class, was a leader in Baptist Training Union, a member of WMU, and the Church Choir. She was retired from Riegel Textile Corp. in 1977.
Surviving are two brothers, W. Clyde Murff and his wife, June of Aiken and Fred M. Murff and his wife, Miriam of Columbia, one sister, Mrs. Cecil Gable of Greenwood, two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Dunn Drake of Honea Path and Mrs. Rachel of Greenville, five nieces, six nephews, and a number of great nieces and great nephews. She was predeceased by her step-father, W. Clyde Murff and two brothers, J. Howard Drake and Ralph W. Drake.
Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Tuesday at Donalds Baptist Church with Rev. Reuel Westbrook and Rev. Jerry Hill officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.
The body is at Parker-White Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 10 A.M. Tuesday. The family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:00 A.M. at Donalds Baptist Church. In Lieu of Flowers memorials may be made to Donalds Baptist Church, Box 91, Donalds, SC 29638.
PAID OBITUARY

Sandra McMahan

ABBEVILLE — Sandra Fleming McMahan, 43, resident of 20 Madden Drive wife of Bob McMahan died Sunday Jan. 1, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
She was born August 16, 1962 the daughter of Charles and the late Ila Anne Fleming.
She was employed in the Development Office at Erskine College. Sandra was an active member of Midway Baptist Church for 21 years where she was also a member of the church choir and a past president of WMU of the church.
She was a loving wife and mother and will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors are: Her beloved husband Bob McMahan of the home, a son Caleb McMahan and daughter Jessi McMahan of the home, her parents Charles and Ann Fleming of Donalds, SC, grandmother Ethel Fleming, sister Carol Waits and her husband Darry of Lexington, SC, brother Charles R. Fleming and his wife Melissa of Boiling Springs, SC, stepdaughter Lorie Garner and husband Benjie of Abbeville, stepgrandchildren B.J. and India Garner.
She was preceded in death by: her birthmother Ila Anne Fleming, grandparents Boyce and Dolly Wilson, Roy Fleming and Cheshire and Vera Gambrell.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday Jan. 4, 2006 at 3:00 PM from Midway Baptist Church with the Revs. Terry Greer and Jerry Gray officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday evening. The family is at the home 20 Madden Drive Abbeville, SC.
Active pallbearers will be Terry McMahan, John Ed. McMahan, Johnny Bedenbaugh, Trampus Campbell, Johnny McMahan and Jack Able.
Memorials may be made to Iva First Baptist Church, Building Fund, 204 East Green St. Iva, SC 29655. Online condolences may be sent to the McMahan family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
Paid Obituary

Clyde Moss

WARE SHOALS — Clyde H. Moss, 84, of 162 South Greenwood Avenue, husband of Elizabeth Ashley Moss, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, he was the son of the late Harris Y. and Mamie Simpson Moss. He was a Army veteran of World War II and retired from Worthington Town and Country.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Bill Moss of Winston-Salem, N.C., Gary Moss of Bradley, and Barry Moss of the home; a sister, L.E. of Hodges; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services are at 2:30 Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Don Patrick. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Chris King, Victor Barrett, Dalton King, Scott Moss, Tony Moss, the Rev. Joe Crawford and David Hodges.
Honorary escort is Wayne Dorn.
Visitation is from 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of Nancy Barrett, 444 Old Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, S.C., 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Olin J. Roton

Olin Judson Roton, 88, of 1113 Ninety Six Highway, widower of Julia Hughes Roton, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

James Shiles

DONALDS — James Allen Shiles, 44, of 417 Bell Road, husband of Anna Marie Bell Shiles, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 at his home.
Visitation if from 7-9 Thursday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Greenwood.

Sybil Toney

GREENWOOD — Sybil Wright Moss Toney, 81, of 108 Jebosha Drive, widow of James Toney, died Monday January 2, 2006, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of the late Harris Y. and Mamie Simpson Moss. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons; Roy Davenport of Greenwood, and Jerry Davenport of Elgin, a sister, Alee Hodges of Hodges, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
She was first married to the late Cecil Davenport and was also preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Shirley and Martha Davenport. Her brother, Clyde Moss, also died on January 2.
Services will be 11:00 am Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Joe Crawford officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Davenport, Ronald Davenport, Mike Nickles, David Nickles, Bobby Davenport Jr., and Jon Lindley Davenport.
Honorary escort will be Dale Shirley, Randy Baldwin, and Ray Baldwin.
The family will receive friends 7-9 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of her son Roy Davenport, 2116 Airport Road, Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY