Look out, world

One of school’s largest classes collects diplomas

May 20, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Look out world, here they come.
Their collective footsteps — many of them running — were heard long before they ever raced (figuratively, of course) through the halls of Abbeville High. Those steps are still being heard today.
The eventual Class of 2007 — one of the largest freshman classes to enter the school — was one educators were told to watch out for.
The teachers at Wright Middle knew the score — it was going to be a wild ride for their counterparts at AHS — school was about to be in session.
Four years later, class finally ended for that energetic, tight-knit group of young people Saturday at Lander University’s Finis Horne Arena.
Valedictorian Katelyn Williams was not about to let her peers forget how far they had traveled — together.
“The diversity of our class has always been unique and special,” Williams said. “Every memory we have shared together has slowly shaped us into the people that we are today.
“Many of us felt out of place at the beginning, but over the past four years we now all feel a sense of belonging and loyalty to our school where so many memories and friendships have been made.”
Williams told the more than 150 graduates that just because they were leaving AHS did not mean adversity would steer clear of them.
Instead, she challenged them to meet tribulations head-on.
“Now that we will be graduates of Abbeville High School, the world does not promise us that adversity in life is over,” she said. “That is why I believe that perseverance and commitment are essential as we leave and become adults. Never quit and settle for something you know is not your best.
“My grandfather always said ‘now you just do your best and you will make your Pa proud.’ That is the greatest thing any individual can do, their very best. Whatever you pursue after graduation ... work at it with all your heart.”
Also addressing the Class of 2007 were honor graduates JoBeth White and Carlie Williams, who spoke about memories, friends, goals and faith.
“When we were little kids we had dreams of what high school would be like,” Carlie Williams said. “On the first day ... we were overwhelmed with all that was new. As sophomores we were more optimistic, we were used to the rules and loosened up a little. Our junior year came and we prepared for college. When senior year finally came we were just ready to graduate.
“This is such a happy moment, but also somewhat sad as our high school experiences become fond memories. No matter where we go we must remember where we came from and be filled with that Panther Pride that has been instilled in each of us by our parents, teachers and friends.”
White asked the graduates to set goals, remember their friends and never forget faith is something they should always lean on.
She delivered a familiar warning to the world just beyond the arena doors — one the graduates’ teachers had heard just four short years ago.
“A chapter in our lives is closing, but the book is not finished,” White said. “Today is the beginning of a new chapter. It is the beginning of a long journey. And like the teachers said — look out world, here we come!”

Post 20 splits with Mavs

May 20, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood Post 20 baseball team split a doubleheader with the Upstate Mavericks Saturday afternoon at Legion Field.
Post 20 won the first game 4-3, thanks to three runs in the sixth inning.
Mack Hite continued to break in his new bat in both games, as he was Post 20’s leading hitter.
Hite went 2-for-2 at the plate in Game 1, while knocking in two runs (Matt Titus, Ross Nettles) in the game-changing sixth inning.
Hite, along with teammate Matt White, began their day by graduating from Abbeville High School before arriving for the game.
“I rushed to get here from graduation,” Hite said. “So I didn’t get to start the first game. I came in (during) a clutch situation, and I love clutch situations. I came up there and got a chance to help the team out and did what I could. Our defense helped us out a lot today, too.”
Post 20 coach Billy Dean Minor agreed that Hite’s hit was big in the first game.
He added that his Game 1 pitching rotation of Brad Dorn, Christian Powell and Titus also helped get the job done.
Combined, the trio only allowed four hits by the Mavericks, while striking out eight.
“Hite had a big hit in the first game and all our pitchers threw strikes,” Minor said. “It was just a good baseball game.”
Game 2 went to the Mavericks, 10-7, who took advantage of early errors by Post 20.
An offensive outburst in the top of the fourth inning gave the Mavericks an 8-3 lead. Post 20 rallied to pull within one run, 8-7, in the bottom of the sixth inning when Drew Willingham battled back from an 0-2 count and hit an RBI single, allowing Hite, who was 2-for-4 in the game, to score from second base.
“We got a little sloppy, but you know we battled back in the ballgame,” Minor said. “That’s what you want to see in these scrimmages.
“They’re very good team. I think we showed we have the capability of being a good team ourselves.”
Cory Lloyd (2 RBIs), Cruse Tollison (2 RBIs) and Powell (RBI) also provided offense for Post 20 in the loss.
The Mavericks added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, including a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Stephen Gary, an Emerald High School baseball player.
“We’d like to get the sweep and win both games,” Hite said after Game 2. “It was fun to compete with these guys. They have a lot of players going D-I to Carolina and Clemson, and it’s nice to know that we can play right with them. We wish we would have won both games, but it gives us something to work on.”
Minor’s view following the game was similar.
“We were a little above average today, but we want to get better,” Minor said.
Post 20 returns to action 8 p.m. Monday at Easley.

Obituaries

GuyEula Craig

WOODRUFF — GuyEula Green Craig, 95, of 1328 West Georgia Road passed away Friday, May 18, 2007 at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.
A native of Spartanburg County, she was the widow of Eric Hones “Granny” Craig, who passed away March 13, 2000, and daughter of the late Archer and Amanda Rogers Green. Mrs. Craig was a Homemaker and was the oldest member of Cornerstone Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Milton Craig of the home and Ronald and Brenda Price Corbin Craig of Enoree; one daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Ronald Leonhardt of Greenwood; two sisters, Shirley Timms of Woodruff and Florence Stribble of Spartanburg; three grandchildren, Craig Leonhardt of York, Statia Bennett of Union and Cord Leonhardt of Seligman, Missouri; five grandchildren, Katrina Leonhardt of Lyman, Kevin and Michael Bennett both of Union and Savana and Tanner Leonhardt both of Seligman, Missouri; two step-grandchildren, Tammy Calvert of Columbia and Vaughn Corbin of Manassas, Virginia; four step-great-grandchildren, Nikki Calvert of Columbia, Amanda, Sarah and Linda Corbin all of Manassas, Virginia; one step-great-great-grandchild, Hailey Cossco of Manassas, Virginia.
Graveside services will be conducted Monday, May 21, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Cemetery by the Rev. J. Robert King, Jr.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 21, 2007 from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the Lanford Funeral Home, 257 North Main Street.
The family is at the residence and also at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Ronald Leonhardt, 629 Hwy. 221, Greenwood.

Lamont Rydell Johnson

LOCUST GROVE, GA. — Lamont Rydell Johnson, age 36, husband of Karen Talbert Johnson, died at the Henry County Medical Center May 17, 2007. He was born in McCormick, SC, November 1, 1970, a son of Daisy Ann Searles Johnson and the late Herbert L. Johnson. He was a graduate of the McCormick High School Class of 1988 and was an Air Force Veteran of Desert Storm. He was an Employee of S.A.I.A. Trucking, Inc. and was also a self-employed Environmental Specialist.
Survivors are his wife of the home; three sons, Kaylon D. Riley, Kamaren D. Riley of Locust Grove, GA and Jonathan Thrasher and a daughter, Kiamaria Thrasher both of Conyers, GA; his mother, Daisy A. Searles Johnson, of Plum Branch, SC; a brother, Keith L. (Rochelle) Anderson of Charlotte, NC; his father and mother-in-law, John H. and Sheila Talbert of McCormick, SC; maternal grandmother, Allean Searles of Plum Branch, SC and paternal grandmother, Frances Johnson of Dillon, SC; four sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.
Services are Monday, May 21, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Pine Grove A.M.E. Church, Plum Branch with the Pastor Rev. W.O. Vance and Rev. J.J. Robinson officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. McCormick High School Class of 1988 will be honorary escort. The family is at the home of his mother, Daisy Ann Johnson, on Pine Grove Road in Plum Branch, SC. Walker Funeral Home, is in charge.

Ann Webster

WARE SHOALS — Patricia Ann Hankins Webster, 59, wife of Marshall L. Webster of 18 Edgewood Drive, died Friday, May 18, 2007, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont. She was born in Batesville, Arkansas, a daughter of the late Theron and Velma Mitchell Hankins. She was a member of Turkey Creek Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband of the home; two sons, Eric Webster, Ware Shoals, and Bryan Webster, Ladson, SC; one brother, William Hankins, Blue Springs, Missouri; three grandchildren, Kenny and Caleb Webster and Madison Qualls; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, 2 p.m. at the Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Don Patrick, Rev. Mac Jones and Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers will be Mike Mattison, Bryan Butler, Willie Davenport, Henry Butler, Dan Campbell, Donnie Rhodes, Mickey Boland, Bruce Miller, Paul Cathcart, DeWayne Robinson and Kevin Gilmer.
Honorary escort will be Nell Baldwin, Dr. Bob Todd and Carol Mattison.
Memorials may be made to Turkey Creek Church, 84 Turkey Creek Road, Ware Shoals, SC 29692 or to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Monday, 7-9 p.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home.

Opinion

Agree with him or not, Falwell had a big impact

May 20, 2007

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, whether anyone agreed with him or not, had a significant impact on American politics and, as such, influenced all of our lives. He died Tuesday at age 73 but his legacy is sure to survive for time to come.
Despite what some might have thought of this Virginia preacher who founded the Moral Majority, he remained a man of the people. You might have found him, of all places, standing in lines at fast food outlets with everyone else. He was never pretentious, in an earthly kind of way.
Others in those lines in Lynchburg, Va., either didn’t notice Falwell or didn’t expect him to act any other way.
That, in and of itself, is a positive commentary on a man who became one of the most powerful voices in evangelical Christianity.

HE PUT A FACE ON CONSERVATIVE principles and helped bring a lot of people together to become a major force in American elections.
He also helped found Liberty University in Lynchburg, a Christian learning institution that has influenced the lives of many students, some, no doubt, from South Carolina.
He was pastor of his church for a half century and touched many others’ lives, as well.
He was criticized by some for mixing “church and politics,” although he was no different than many black pastors that historically have done the same thing. The only differences were the color of “constituents” and the fact that in black churches the Democratic Party was preached while Falwell opted for the Republican philosophy.

THE REV. FALWELL MAY HAVE attracted critics for mixing his Christian faith in eternity with his transient involvement in politics. Nevertheless, he did at least two things that should be praised ..... other than his strong Christian beliefs. He gave those in the “Moral Majority” a voice in the affairs of their nation, states and communities while keeping their focus on Christian principles, and he induced hundreds of thousands to think and, more importantly, vote.
In these days, when fewer people seem to take the important right to vote for granted, Jerry Falwell got people to the polls. Doing that, he provided a service to every American, regardless of politics, religion or anything else. As noted earlier, agree with him or not, he became a moving force in America’s politics and, by extension, the entire world.