Where time stands still ... if only you let it

By-Pass Grocery has everything other stores have
... and everything they don’t have

March 19, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — For the regulars, sitting a spell at By-Pass Grocery is as close to home as they can get without falling into their own bed.
Here at this busy Abbeville County crossroads of Highway 72 and Highway 28, which connects Abbeville to Ware Shoals and McCormick with Anderson (or Antreville, depending upon just how local you are), time really can stand still — if only you’ll let it.
You can’t quite see the charm from the outside, but you sure can smell it. And the charm here smells like a Southern heaven.
In fact, at By-Pass Grocery — where the special-blend coffee is always free — the only thing warmer than the conversation is owner Amelia Saxon’s renowned chili dogs, the recipe for which was handed down to her by her husband William’s grandfather.
Or maybe it was the barbecue, or the roast pork?
It’s easy to lose track.
At By-Pass Grocery — or “Amelia’s” or “Saxon’s” or “the little hot dog store on the corner,” whatever you happen to call it — that’s just fine. That’s exactly why people come here.
“If I’m not at the house, I’m here,” said Ralph Bratcher, a retired city employee. “If you want a good hot dog or barbecue, then come to Saxon’s.”
“We come here for the conversation and the coffee,” said Sandy Williams, whose sparkling Harley-Davidson motorcycle remains a fixture in the parking lot. “(Amelia and husband William) are good people. We’ll sit around and talk about what’s going on or fishing, or the weather.
“From right here you can get anywhere you want to go, north, south, east or west.”
It’s definitely a throwback in its style and demeanor — and that’s a good thing. Not everything that changes actually makes progress.
“You used to have places like this in the old days,” regular Smokey Bond said. “They’re not around so much anymore.” Just five minutes spent here begs this question — “Why not?”
Maybe we’re all just moving a little too fast after all if we speed by a gem-of-a-place such as this, where the owner is indeed after more than business — she wants to make sure you’ve taken your medication, too.
That’s because Amelia Saxon is also a self-described “people person.”
The relationships she forges with her customers — be they regulars like laid-back Smokey and spitfire Evelyn Mundy (Amelia calls her the place’s “Mother Hen”) or of the once-a-year variety like a lady from Buffalo, N.Y., who buys Amelia’s hot dogs 200 at the time to carry back up north — are all genuinely dear to her heart.
“A lot of places don’t want people hanging out a lot, but I don’t mind,” Amelia said. “My customers are more than just an order and a number to me, you know what I mean?”
Her patrons certainly do.
Tom the bread man has to deliver four times each week. Otherwise he couldn’t keep up with the demand.
Methodist pastor Frank McCoy actually gave retirement a try but found it lacking, so he quit. Now on most mornings he can be found inside By-Pass Grocery with his newspaper and some coffee.
“I’m the resident pastor here,” he jokes.
That would give him three congregations — McCoy pastors at two local churches, Sharon Methodist and Shiloh Methodist. “Amelia fed me one day, and now I won’t leave,” he said. “This is a good place. I’m a hanger-outer, so I feel very much at home here.”
Truckers making their way down a revamped Highway 72 stop by for the hot food or a quick nap. Fishermen stop by for bait and supplies (and often a breakfast sandwich — or two).
Others come for the boiled and roasted peanuts, or what the lady of the house claims to be “the coldest beer in town.”
And just in case there is any doubt, she pulls back the cooler lid and displays the thin sheets of ice attached to each of the dark bottles.
These bottles are indeed cold — frosty even.
There is also a wide variety of vintage candies — her three grandsons (Blake, Jacob and James), whom she adores, likely wouldn’t have it any other way — most of which are not carried at most gas stations.
So what brings you in likely won’t be the same thing that brings you back.
“I just want to be the little old country place,” Amelia said as another satisfied customer leaves her beloved place of business.
And perhaps it is in that endeavor more than anything else — more than the hot dogs with the famous “secret-but-not-really” chili recipe (the secret is in the preparation), the tastebud-smashing barbecue with the sauce that’s been in the family for more than 100 years — where Amelia Saxon has most succeeded, which is saying quite a bit.
So when you stop by, venture a hello to Smokey, Ralph, Sandy, Evelyn and the pastor. Grab a cup of the good stuff and then ask the kind lady behind the counter to “give you two.” She’ll know exactly what you need.

Obituaries

John Ebo

John Ebo, 59, of 2430 Cokesbury Road, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at his home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Margaret Griffith

ABBEVILLE — Margaret Bryant Griffith, 77, resident of 222 Brookside Drive, widow of Jessie Kirkland Griffith, died Friday March 16, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Mack and Ophelia Strickland Bryant. She was a retired textile spinner.
Survivors are two daughters, Linda Crenshaw and her husband Harold of Gaffney, SC, Rebecca Lingefelt and her husband Ron of Abbeville; a son, Wesley L. Griffith of Fairfax, SC; two brothers, Harold Bryant of Ninety Six, SC and Joseph Bryant of Liberty, SC; a sister, Cornelia Johnson of Laurens, SC; 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jessie Kirkland Griffith II.
Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday March 20, 2007 at 2 p.m. from Pinelawn Memory Gardens in Clinton, SC with the Rev. Roger Gault officiating.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6-8 Monday evening.
The family is at the home, 222 Brookside Drive Abbeville, SC.
Online condolences may be made to the Griffith family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge of arrangements.

John M. Gulledge

TROY — John Morgan Gulledge, 80, of 3001 Scotts Ferry Road, died Sunday, March 18, 2007, at Hospice House of Greenwood. Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

David N. Hingos

CROSS HILL — David N. Hingos, age 74, of 571 Puckett Ferry Road, husband of the late Ruth Lowery Hingos, died Saturday, March 17th at his home.
He was born in Holdingford, Minn. and was a son of the late Paul and Mary Ronyak Hingos.
Mr. Hingos retired as a Tech. Sergeant from the US Air Force with 20 years of devoted service to his country, was a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Greenwood and a former member of the V.F.W. in Carlton, Minn.
He is survived by two sisters, Veronica Gerahty of Sun City, AZ, Marie Beauchamp of Minneapolis, Minn.; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Childs of Clinton, Clara Bell Hingos of Wis., Audrey Hingos of Minn.; two brothers-in-law, Fred Lowery and Bootsie Fuller both of Clinton; and more than 30 nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hingos was predeceased by five brothers, Stanley, Elmer, Lawrence, Jerome and Leo Hingos.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, March 21st at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Greenwood, burial with full military honors will be at the Rosemont Cemetery in Clinton.
A Christian Wake Service will be conducted Tuesday, March 20th at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will receive friends following the service until 9 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Building Fund, 915 Mathis Road, Greenwood, SC 29649-1634.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton

Marion M. Holmes

Marion M. Holmes, 93, of 217 Taggart Ave., died Friday, March 16, 2007, at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Junior Nickles

Junior Lee Nickles, 73, resident of 1409 Woodlawn Road, widower of Florence Anderson Nickles, died March 17, 2007, at his home.
Born July 27, 1933 in Greenwood, he was a son of the late William McKnight and Millie Lee Taylor Nickles. He was a retired machinist from the Aldrich Corporation. He was a member of the Mathews Masonic Lodge # 358, A.F.M. and was a member of Tranquil United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Thomas Lee Nickles of Greenwood and Scott Anderson Nickles of Abbeville; three sisters, Elizabeth Norman, Miriam Smith and Ann Black, all of Greenwood; and three grandchildren, Caitlin Nickles, Savannah Marie Nickles and Harley Haynie Nickles.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James Patterson officiating.
Burial with Masonic Rites will be in Tranquil United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Keith Anderson, David Ouzts, Lyle Ouzts, Ernie Ouzts, Ernie Walker, Greg McAlister, Tim Norman, Todd Smith and Mike Norman.
The family is at the home of a son, Scott and Susan Nickles, 105 Austin Drive in Country Meadows and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 6-8 Monday evening.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Nickles family.

Terrence Shavarya Payne Jr.

ABBEVILLE — Terrence Shavarya Payne, Jr., eight-month son of Tiffany Hadden and Terrence Payne, Sr. died Friday, March 16, 2007, at Abbeville Area Medical Center in Abbeville.
Surviving are his parents and brother, Kentravious Cole, of the home.
Services will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at the Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. Chapel at 2 p.m. with Rev. Charles Agnew presiding and Pastor Deborah Chiles assisting. Interment will be in Harbison Cemetery, Abbeville, SC.
Public viewing will be from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday with visitation with the family from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc.
The family is at the home of his grandparents, John and Rose Agnew, 403 Poplar Street, Abbeville, SC.
Abbeville & White Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangement.

Leon Wright

Services for Leon Wright, of 119 Warren Road, are 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. Raymond Adams.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home and at the home of a sister, Velma Evans, 121 Warren Road.
Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Opinion

It’s time that Swamp Fox is honored in Washington

March 19, 2007

The Swamp Fox. That name and South Carolina are forever intertwined. In fact, it’s likely that every American knows it was the nickname of respect given to the Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion.
There have been books written about this slippery and effective warrior that gave the Redcoats a lot of trouble as these Colonies fought for their independence. Movies and TV shows have chronicled his deering do as he and his men took to the swamps of the Lowcountry to harass British troops. They gave new meaning to guerrilla warfare and the contributions they made to freedom are legendary and legion. In fact, their hit-and-run tactics have been used by people all over the world.

THERE’S A STATE UNIVERSITY named for General Marion in Florence, and in Charleston, indeed throughout the Palmetto State, his name is attached to a variety of places, buildings and streets.
You’d think, then, there would be something significant in the nation’s capital to honor his memory and his contributions to birthing this nation. Not so.
Now, though, thanks primarily to S. C. Reps. Joe Wilson and Henry Brown, the House has unanimously approved a bill to authorize a Francis Marion commemorative work on federal land in the nation’s capital. Now it goes to the U. S. Senate for action.
It’s time for The Swamp Fox to join other patriots in the capital of the country that he and his men fought so cleverly and hard to create.