Woman dies in stabbing

Abbeville police say argument escalated to violent confrontation

May 12, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Curious onlookers and stunned residents of the Carver Apartments continued to cast disbelieving glances in the 90-degree heat Friday afternoon as a grisly cleanup continued at Apartment No. 3.
An Abbeville woman, Theresea Ann Gordon, 46, and resident of the apartment complex just off Branch Street, is dead after law enforcement and county officials say she was stabbed three times in the upper chest and arm early Friday. The stabbing reportedly followed the escalation of a verbal argument into a deadly physical confrontation.
The incident occurred just before 12:35 a.m., when police received a 911 call from the area of the Carver Apartments with someone saying there was a woman lying on the ground outside an apartment.
The caller also indicated the name of a suspect in the stabbing.
Responding officers found several residents surrounding the victim, who was lying face down in the grass just outside Apartment No. 3.
The victim was pronounced dead at 1:40 a.m. by Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley, and authorities called off the medavac helicopter en route.
Arrested close to the crime scene while walking down a sidewalk was Georgia Ann Wharton, 42, also a resident of Carver Apartments.
Wharton was charged with murder in Gordon’s death.
A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division crime scene unit responded and processed the crime scene for evidence.
The alleged weapon used in the incident — described as a steak knife — was found inside the apartment. An interview with the suspect revealed to investigators that a verbal disagreement concerning the end of a relationship between her and the victim had sparked the violence.
“The victim and the suspect were allegedly arguing about a relationship between the two of them,” Abbeville Lt. Det. Curtis Killian said. “The suspect admitted to have been smoking crack at the time, when the victim is supposed to have pushed the suspect during the argument.”
Police said Wharton also admitted to having stabbed Gordon, who died from massive bleeding caused by one of the wounds.
“The victim had three stab wounds, one in the arm and two in the upper chest next to the neck,” Ashley said Friday. “One of the wounds cut an artery to the shoulder. An autopsy was conducted (Friday) morning at the Anderson Area Medical Center. The fatal blow was to the artery.”
After the stabbing, authorities say the victim succeeded in making her way outside the apartment, but collapsed shortly after moving past the front door.
Police Chief Neil Henderson was grateful to SLED officers for responding to the scene and aiding local police with the investigation.
“I’d like to thank the SLED crime scene unit for responding and freeing up our detectives to investigate this case,” Henderson said.
Police say the investigation into the case is ongoing.

County to help Humane Society

May 12, 2007

By KENNY MAPLE
Index-Journal staff writer

After a phone call Wednesday from county councilman Dee Compton, the Greenwood County Humane Society appears to be out of funding danger.
Executive director Karen Pettay said Compton and county manager Jim Kier have been working to get the animal shelter some more funds. The county has come up with a probable $30,000 the shelter will likely get after a Tuesday night county council meeting.
Kier said that though the county gives the Humane Society $172,000 a year, officials want to give the shelter more because expenses have increased and “they provide a valuable service for us.”
The director was more than ecstatic about money coming in; she was also extremely appreciative of the county for its support.
“The county really stepped up and did more than I expected,” Pettay said. “I am very appreciative of their support and look forward to the future partnership we share.”
Pettay is also appreciative of the efforts of community members and supporters who contributed to the cause.
Through donations, the Humane Society received almost another $30,000. This amount included funds from people in Greenwood County, as well as those in other cities and nearby states such as Georgia and North Carolina.
With the combined numbers, Pettay said the Humane Society should be able to make it until July 1, when the shelter receives its next scheduled payment from the county.
In the meantime, Pettay reminded everyone of the upcoming Pet Fair, which was rescheduled for May 19, to celebrate the animals.
“It’s because of them that we do what we do, and you do what you do. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Fighting cancer one step at a time

May 12, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

The feeling at Friday night’s Relay for Life was electric.
You could feel it all the way from the parking lot at the Greenwood YMCA track, with thousands of people filing in and battling for parking spaces — all to be a part of the second-largest Relay in the state.
By the time participants started walking laps at 7 p.m., $220,000 had been raised for cancer research and 4,000 people were expected to show up throughout the night, including at least 170 cancer survivors.
Appropriately, the walk — which continues until 7 this morning — began with a lap by cancer survivors, many of them wearing purple shirts and glowing smiles.
Fourteen-year cancer survivor Bett Bley was overwhelmed by the numbers, the attention and the support of others.
from those she doesn’t know to those she knows very well — like her kids.
“I’m really proud of my kids,” she said. Her son, Durham, gave the $100 he had received for his birthday to Relay.
“He said, ‘Mommy, I hope this makes you feel better,’” she said.
“How could an 8-year-old love his mom that much?”
There was plenty of love to go around Friday — especially during the lighting of the luminaries that lined the track, which served as a reminder of those who have passed on.
After a survivor lap concluded, the caretakers of those with cancer jumped on the track.
Directly following the completion of the first two laps, others were allowed to begin walking.
People would continue the stroll on and off all night long.
But if you wanted to stop walking, that was OK. You could eat, play, listen to live entertainment, enjoy the games at the more than 50 campsites and mingle with other Relayers.
There was Diann Smith, team captain for Greenwood Mills and a cancer survivor. She has been “Relaying” since the very first event in Greenwood.
And then there’s her teammate Kenneth Steenett, who had never been to the walk until now.
There’s a reason why he showed up Friday: He’ll have been free of cancer for a year in August.
“If it wasn’t for God’s love, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “It’s hard to explain. But God brought us through this.”
Tom Moore, team captain for the Grand Harbor Community, didn’t have any difficulty explaining how team members came up with more than $100,000 for the cause.
“It was really a team effort,” he said. “Nobody gets the credit, and everybody gets the credit.”
The whole team is credited with raising the most by a team for this Relay. The total for this year was nearly double last year’s. Team members raised the money with a golf tournament, silent auctions and a number of other activities. Grand Harbor is already excited about next year, too.
“We believe we can go over and above what we did this year,” Moore said.

Familiar foe

Emerald, Bishop England meet again with state title on the line

May 12, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald High School boys soccer team “dodged a bullet” following its victory in the Upper State Championship, according to Vikings coach Brad Nickles.
Nickles said that with the Vikings (17-4) playing the role of the favorite in the game, it would have been a major letdown had his team lost to underdog Batesburg-Leesville.
“It’s been more mental this week, to be honest with you,” Nickles said. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about how we want to play.”
When the Vikings face Bishop England (21-5) at 2 p.m. in today’s Class AA state championship game, they’ll play the role of the underdog.
“The focus has been on what we need to do to be successful and not so much on (Bishop England)” Nickles said. “We know what their strengths are and we’ve paid attention to that, but as far as making any drastic changes, no. We’ve just tried to keep the players calm and relaxed a little bit. For us to win, it’s going to take a collective effort.”
Including today’s state championship, the Battling Bishops have played in four straight title games. In fact, since the SCHSL expanded to Class AA soccer finals in 1992, Bishop England has won 10 of the 15 state title games and finished runner-up thrice.
“We’re going to have to play our A game,” Joseph Taylor said following the win over Batesburg-Leesville. “We can’t come out flat.”
Today’s match-up also marks the fourth time the two teams have played for the state title.
Nickles-led squads have gone 1-2 in those games with the teams splitting the last two state title games. Emerald won 2-1 in 2004 while Bishop England shutout the Vikings 2-0 in 2005.
“Hopefully we’ll be 2-2 against them after the game,” Nickles said. “It’d be nice to even it out.”
With Nickles moving on to an administrative role at Emerald High School at the end of the school year, today’s game will be his last chance to win as Vikings coach.
“I’d like to go out with a bang,” Nickles said. “I’m proud of these boys either way. I couldn’t pick a better group of kids to finish my career up with coaching-wise.”
After watching the Upper State championship game, fans might wonder which Vikings team will show up for today’s championship.
It’s safe to say they would like to see the Emerald squad that blew out its first two opponents, Mid-Carolina and Palmetto, by a 14-0 margin.
“If I knew the answer to that I would probably feel a lot better right now,” Nickles said.
“They seem to be relaxed. I think the bull’s-eye is off their backs and on Bishop England’s’ back.”
“(Bishop England’s) supposed to win this game very easily,” Nickles said. “In everybody’s mind, except for our kids and myself, it’s a formality. We’re going down there to compete and I believe we’ll show up. The bottom line is if we don’t play a complete game for 80 minutes, we’re not going to be successful. That’s what we’re focusing on.”

Obituaries

David ‘Blizz’ Blizzard

MYRTLE BEACH — David Louis “Blizz” Blizzard, 46, husband of Debra H. Blizzard, died Thursday, May 3, 2007.
McMillan-Small Funeral Home is serving the family.

James L. Burkett

GREENVILLE — James L. Burkett, 74, widower of Ruby Waldrop Burkett, died May 10, 2007 at St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Greenwood County, a son of the late Sam and Eula Black Burkett. He had been employed by Freeman Mechanical, Greenville.
Surviving are: two sons, James D. Burkett, Clewiston, FL, Kenneth R. Burkett, Spartanburg, SC; two daughters, Cheryl Wardlaw, Spartanburg and Cindy Owens, Inman, SC; two stepsons, Alphurd Waldrop, Greenville, and Terry Waldrop, Blue Ridge, SC; a stepdaughter, Linda Pace, Greenville; one brother, Sam Burkett, Jr., Greenwood; five grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, 3 p.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Ware Shoals Cemetery. Rev. Allen Wood will officiate.
Active pallbearers will be Richard Wardlaw, Jay Knight, Chad Wardlaw, Justin Ridings, Kevin Owens.
The family will receive friends Saturday, 2-3 p.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home, Ware Shoals, SC.

Theresea Ann Gordon

ABBEVILLE — Theresea Ann Gordon, 46, of 103 Branch Street Apartments, No. 3, died Friday, May 11, 2007, at her home.
The family is at the home of her father, Roscoe Gordon, 38 Gordon St., Due West.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Annie H. Mooney

Services for Annie Helton Mooney will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Thomas, II, the Rev. Michael Thomas, Sr. and the Rev. David Milcher officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Andy Barger, Alex Barger, Aaron Mayo, Mark Mooney, David Mooney, Tracy Peppers and Rick Lackye.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home, 102 Brissie Avenue.
Memorials may be made to First Apostolic Church, 3904 Highway 25 South, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Mrs. Mooney, 92, of 102 Brissie Avenue, widow of J.C. Mooney, died Friday, May 11, 2007, at her home.
Born in Jefferson County, GA, she was a daughter of the late Richard Allen and Josie Austin Helton. She attended First Apostolic Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Pat Thomas and Glenda Brown; a son, Tommy Mooney, all of Greenwood; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jack Mooney.
Online condolences may be sent to the Mooney family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Jimmy Simpson

Services for Jimmy Lee Simpson will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jonathan Payne officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be James Brown, Billy Ray Brown, Justin Simpson, Jason Schultz, Jeffery Bodie, Donny Hall, Mark Boswell.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home, 1119 Cornelia Circle.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Mr. Simpson, 69, of 1119 Cornelia Circle, husband of Eliza Joann Hall Simpson, died Friday, May 11, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was the son of the late Julius H. and Lees Stewart Simpson. He retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant and served in the SC National Guard for 13 years. He was a member of Greenwood Wesleyan Church.
Surviving are his wife of the home; a daughter, Donna Peeler of Greenwood; two sons, Jimmy Dale Simpson of Greenwood and William Daryle Simpson of Pelzer; a sister, Jenny Cogdill of Florida; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Online condolences may be sent to the Simpson family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Opinion

Thompson, Fred, that is, could add spirit to race

May 12, 2007

Fred Thompson has built a successful career as an actor (he’s presently on Law and Order). He also is a “maybe” Republican presidential candidate and a former U. S. senator .... like Andrew Jackson, another “common man” from Tennessee. He has perhaps the most reasonable assessment and possible solution to the illegal immigration problem yet noted.
In a recent speech, Thompson said it’s not the 12 million or so illegals now in the U. S. that Americans worry about. Americans are good enough to accept and absorb them without creating an even greater problem, he said. No, it’s the next 12 million or the 12 million after that that concerns Americans, he believes.

WHAT HE SEES AS THE KEY to the solution is securing our borders to keep the next 12 million illegals and the 12 million after that out.
There are, perhaps, many Americans, regardless of political affiliation, who agree with Thompson. There is something else, though, that should get the attention of many South Carolinians, and indeed other Americans.
Thompson has a demeanor that can be reassuring to average voters. It is conducive to personal trust. That, it seems, gives an impression that he’s always comfortable and in control, regardless of the setting or the issue.

IN SHORT, THOMPSON LIKELY would be a formidable candidate.
There is one other quality that could give him presidential substance, or so it seems. He comes across as one who can diplomatically bridge differences between Americans. And, to be sure, there are a lot of differences these days.
Fred Thompson says he’s considering running. Some influential people are urging him to do it. Don’t get him confused with Tommy Thompson, though. He’s already a candidate. One thing seems clear. If Fred runs it would add verve to a campaign that is sure to get old for a lot of voters before the election still far down the line.