Ninety Six father moves family into childhood home after fire

June 15, 2004

By TASHA STEIMER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX – William R. Ouzts remembers a lot from his youth, especially since moving back into his childhood home last week.
Ouzts and wife Frances moved with their son Greg into the cabin soon after their home in Ninety Six was damaged by a fire June 7.
“I wasn’t born here, but I grew up in it,” he said.
William said the family stayed several days in a motel after the fire, but it wasn’t the same.
“We started off living in a motel for two nights, but I couldn’t stay there,” he said. “It’s not as nice as sitting here and looking at the cars go by, and the birds and the squirrels.”
Greg said he suggested the cabin, located off S.C. 178, to his father but the man didn’t want to bother his niece, Jean Bowers, who owns the house.
“I suggested it, but he didn’t want to impose,” he said. “But Jean called up the next day, and asked if he wanted to stay there.”
The cabin does not have a working kitchen, but the family added a mini refrigerator, microwave and coffeepot.
William said his family – parents and five siblings – first moved into the house in 1936. Through the years, the family renovated and updated the cabin, which was originally located on Mount Olive Road about 15 miles from Greenwood.
Bowers said she wanted to move the cabin to her property in April 1999 to preserve it.
“Grandma really did love this old house,” she said. “You can still feel her presence even though she’s been gone a long time.”
William lived in the house until 1943 when he was in the Marine Corps for 14 months. He moved back into the cabin on his return but left again when he married Frances in 1948.
William said the cabin brought back many memories from his youth.
“I have lots of memories,” he said. “I can go in to the big room and see mom and daddy sitting around at Christmas time.”
William also remembers his mother getting him up early every Sunday for church, and the family eating food that had been prepared the day before.
“On Sunday mornings, we would have fried chicken for breakfast,” he said. “Mom would get it ready, and then yell at us, ‘Come and get it!’”
Jean said her other uncle, Hebron, has come out to visit William, and the brothers reminisce about growing up in the house.
William said the family will probably stay at the cabin until their home in Ninety Six is repaired, which could take six months.
“It’s been hard, but we’re making it,” he said. “We plan to stay here as long as Jean doesn’t run us off. We try to behave ourselves.”
Bowers, who cooks for her guests, said the family members are welcome to stay for as long as they need.

Tasha Steimer covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3305, or: tsteimer@indexjournal.com

George Buell

ABBEVILLE — George Walter Buell, 52, resident of 246 Raven Wood Circle in Piedmont, SC, husband of Donna Holt Buell, died June 14, 2004 at Greenville, SC.
Born in Virginia, he was a son of Clyde and Marion Buell.
He was a graduate of Carson-Newman College where he earned a BA degree in Religion. He was the Production Coordinator for the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department in Seneca, SC. He was a Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 210 in Powdersville, SC. He was a member of Abbeville First Baptist Church where he was a former Deacon, member of the Adult Choir and a Royal Ambassador leader.
Survivors are his wife, Donna Holt Buell of the home; 1 son, Geoffrey Travis Buell of the home; parents, Clyde and Marion Buell of John’s Island SC; 2 brothers, Tommy Buell and Raymond Buell, both of Charleston, SC; 3 sisters, Donna Croom, Patti Quijano, Mary Buell, all of Charleston, SC.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday June 16, 2004 at 1:00 PM from Abbeville First Baptist Church with the Revs. Dennis VanCuren and Jonathan Taylor officiating. The burial will follow in the Stapleton First Baptist Church Cemetery in Stapleton, GA at 4:00 PM Wednesday afternoon.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM Wednesday afternoon in the Church social hall of Abbeville First Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to The Boy Scouts of America, Blue Ridge Council, Pickens District in Pickens, SC or to Abbeville First Baptist Church, PO Box 825, Abbeville, SC 29620.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Flossie Robinson

WARE SHOALS — Flossie Marie Robinson, 41, of 14 Briar St., died Thursday, June 10, 2004 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Augusta, Ga., she was a daughter of Ella Hester Robinson and the late Jimmy Robinson. She was a graduate of Ware Shoals High School.
Survivors include two sons, Desmond Robinson and Todd Robinson of Donalds; her mother of Augusta; six brothers, Richard Robinson of Spartanburg, Milton Robinson, Willie Robinson and Larry Robinson of Donalds, Thomas Willis and Nathaniel Ramsey of Augusta; three sisters, Ethel McGrier and Sara Cyrus of Donalds, Katie Robinson of Augusta.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, conducted by the Rev. Sylvester Jackson and Minister James Coleman. Burial is in Dunn Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation is 7-8 tonight at the funeral home. Viewing begins at noon today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a sister, Ethel McGrier, 310 Dunn’s Creek Road, Donalds.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge.

Clifton C. Wells Jr.

ATLANTA — Memorial services for Clifton Claude Wells Jr., of 1822 Silvan Road S.E., are 2 p.m. today at Little Zion A.M.E. Church, Greenwood, S.C., conducted by the Rev. G.H. Oliver.
Visitation is at the home of a sister, Veronica Wells, 102-F Tennessee Court, Greenwood.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood is in charge.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Clifton C. Wells Jr. in Saturday’s paper, there was an omission and an error in the information provided to The Index-Journal.
Survivors include a brother, Jackie Jones of Greenwood. One of the sisters is Linda Williams of Greenwood.

Combs resigns from McCormick High

Cross High School’s Art Mann takes over Chiefs football program

June 15, 2004

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Charlie Combs resigned as the McCormick High School athletic director and head football coach after two years in the positions.
“It was because of philosophical differences and I found out that they were looking for another coach,” Combs said. “So, I just resigned.”
Art Mann, who coached at Cross High School last season, will be taking over as the Chiefs’ AD and head football coach said McCormick County School District Superintendent Dr. Sandra Calliham. Mann, who will officially take over July 1, also fills the district’s need for an administrative assistant, a void created when Rex Ward took another job.
“He (Combs) resigned and as far as my philosophy, in a small district, school and church are key in the development of youth,” said Calliham, who took over as the McCormick superintendent Jan. 1.
“We must do whatever we have to do to build the youth. That doesn’t mean having a winning program or going to the state playoffs every year. We want to build a program that means a lot to the community and to the youth.”
Calliham said Mann, who has been a coach for more than 17 years, will visit the school Thursday afternoon to meet with his new players.
Calliham said that the remainder of the McCormick coaching staff is intact.
“He comes with a lot of experience and over lengthy conversions, I know he’s interested in the development of youths,” Calliham said.
Combs, a 32-year coaching veteran, was selected by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association to coach the North squad at the 57th North-South All-Star game in December at Myrtle Beach.
However, because he’s no longer a football coach, Combs will not be able to coach in the all-star game.
“I regret giving up the chance to coach in the all-star game. It has always been a goal of mine,” Combs said. “But it’s not worth being somewhere you’re not wanted.”
Combs came to McCormick in August 2001, taking over as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator. He became the team’s head coach and AD when Michael Allen left for Gilbert.
His coaching career has taken him all over the state, starting in 1971 as an assistant at James Island.
Combs, who was a Greenwood assistant from 1996-97, has been a head coach at now-defunct Bonds-Wilson in Charleston, Manning, Lexington and Williston-Elko.
The long-time coach, who was a South All-Star assistant coach while at Manning, said he is adjusting to his time off the field.
“I’m just hanging tight and trying to enjoy my summer and see what’s out there,” Combs said.

Taking votes for granted is sure to alienate voters

June 15, 2004

One thing we all tend to do as we become comfortable with our situations, be it life in general or in specific circumstances. That’s a tendency to take things for granted. In that respect, South Carolinians are no different than people everywhere in the world.
There was a reminder of that in the recent primary elections. It showed that politicians can never take the voters for granted. Two veteran state legislators lost their seats when they were beaten outright by challengers. Other incumbents are in runoff elections.
The biggest shock had to be to House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Columbia. His opponent told voters repeatedly that Quinn spent too much time on other things at the expense of his constituents.
Taking voters for granted may not have led to the defeat of Quinn or anybody else. There were other factors, to be sure. But if voters ever get the idea they are taken for granted, they’re likely to take umbrage to that at the ballot box.
Whether that was the case in the primaries is debatable, of course. But it should be a wake-up call for lawmakers, wherever they serve, to keep the home fires burning.