‘They live for each other’

Greenwood couple together 69 years and going strong


August 26, 2005

SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

They were teens when they first met, and Samuel and Elizabeth Koon have been together since that first dance.
“Sam had written me a letter that said ‘Can I ask you a question?’” Elizabeth “Lib” Koon said.
She replied with a “yes” to his “invitation” to the junior/senior dance. “He didn’t even ask me, and I said I’d like to go to the dance,” she said with a lighthearted laugh.
They became friends and dated for a long time, he said.
Lib, 95, and Sam, 96, shared a 69-year wedding anniversary Thursday with friends at Wesley Commons.
“We lived in Aiken all of our lives, and everybody knew everybody,” Sam said.
The couple said they moved to Greenwood nearly 15 years ago when they built a cottage at Wesley Commons.
Two years ago, they moved to the assisted-living facility area of Wesley Commons.
“God has been good to us,” Sam said.
What is the thing that has sustained their marriage?
“We love each other,” she said simultaneously as he said, “The grace of God and a good wife.”
For years instead of giving each other gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, the Koons make donations to the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.
“It’s like they live for each other. She tells me all the time they’ve been blessed,” said Rita Dixon, Wesley Commons’ activities coordinator.
Dixon planned the luncheon anniversary celebration so the couple would have a table in the dining hall set up with flowers and balloons.
“They’re a very special couple,” said Development Director Jon Scott.

 

 

Ninety Six to stay in Region III-AA


August 26, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

Ninety Six High School will remain in Region III-AA for at least two more years, thanks to a little help from a region partner.
The South Carolina High School League approved Ninety Six’s request to remain in its region Wednesday, after the league’s original realignment for the 2006-08 had the Wildcats in Class A. With the school’s victory, little will change for schools in Greenwood and the Lakelands area.
The only change will be in Region I-AA, where Abbeville will have a seventh team – Palmetto – added to its region.
In the SCHSL’s proposed realignment, Ninety Six was dropped into Region I-A, the region the Wildcats had been from 2000-04.
Ninety Six athletic director Mike Doolittle had to present a proposal to the SCHSL board in Columbia Wednesday to get approval to stay in III-AA.
Doolittle outlined the reason the Wildcats wanted to remain in the region and how it would impact schools in III-AA and I-A.
Having Ninety Six in III-AA would keep the region at six teams, and while I-A would have just five teams for football, the region would be able to cross-bracket with Region II-A, which also has five football teams, Doolittle said.
“That’s what they do now, so it wouldn’t be a hardship for anyone,” Doolittle said.
But what might have put the Wildcats over the top was a letter from Mid-Carolina principal Lynn Cary approving the move.
Cary, who is the Region III-AA coordinator, attended the meeting with Doolittle and pressed for the Wildcats to remain.
“I saw four school go in front of us (to appeal) and they all got shot down,” Doolittle said.
“Having the Mid-Carolina principal in there with us was huge.
“She said the region would love to have us and I think that made a difference to the board. Plus, we’re asking to play a tougher schedule.”
SCHSL executive director Jerome Singleton said that five schools appealed the proposed realignment, and Ninety Six was the only school to have it appeal approved.
The SCHSL board voted 12-1 to approve the move, Doolittle said.

 

 

Opinion


Robertson’s way wrong, but his goal appropriate

August 26, 2005

There probably are a number of South Carolinians who agree with religious broadcaster Pat Robertson that Venezuela’s anti-American President Hugo Chavez ought to be “taken out.” It may be the right goal, but it’s not the right way to go about it.
Chavez happens to be a close pal of Cuba’s Communist dictator Fidel Castro, and they often join voices in bad-mouthing this country.
“Taken out” is, of course, a euphemism for assassinate, and it has put Robertson in a bad light. It also puts this nation in a bad light with people around the world who don’t have or do not understand what freedom of speech is all about.
Robertson has apologized, but still his statement should be criticized. What he suggests is, without question, definitely not the Christian thing to do. The reasons to get rid of Chavez, now, that’s another thing.
Venezuela is one of the major suppliers of oil to the U. S. Chavez would like to send that oil elsewhere and do whatever he could to hurt us. As noted, he simply hates the U. S., period.
There are many Venezuelans who’d like to see Chavez go, too. They are the ones to do it. They should do it with votes, though, not guns. If we do anything, let’s help the anti-Chavez voters build their numbers.



Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

 

 

Obituaries


Terry Lee Baldwin

DES PLAINES, Ill. — Services for Terry Lee Baldwin are at noon Saturday at Holy Spring Baptist Church, McCormick, S.C., conducted by the Rev. Robert Knox Jr., pastor. The body will be placed in the church at 11:30 a.m. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are family friends.
Flower bearers are church ushers.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.


Clara Hill

WARE SHOALS — Clara Taylor Hill, 94, formerly of 44 S. Greenwood Ave., widow of Aubrey O. Hill, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens.
Born in Belton, she was a daughter of the late William Henry and Ellen Cox Taylor. She was a member of First Baptist Church, the WMU and Dorcas Sunday School Class. She was past president of the Friendly Garden Club and a member of Ware Shoals Women’s Civic Club.
Survivors include three daughters, Emily Hough of West Hills, Calif., Martha Coleman of Whitmire and Norma Woods of Ware Shoals; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Revs. Leon Jones and Dr. Marcus Bishop.
Visitation is at the cemetery after the services.
The family is at the home of Norma Woods, 33 Smith St.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.


Columbus ‘Punk’ Payne

WATERLOO — Columbus “Punk” Payne, 61, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 at his home.
Born in Laurens County, he was a son of the late James and Betty Payne. He was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church, Waterloo, and had attended Bell Street High School in Clinton. He was a former employee of Bailey Plant in Clinton and a cement finisher foreman.
Survivors include two daughters, Sherry P. Robinson of Waterloo and Angela Payne of Clinton; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two sisters, Evelyn Goggins of Clinton and Betty Ann Lewis of Laurel, Md.; and a brother, Andrew “Joe” Payne of Hyattsville, Md.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Good Hope Baptist Church.
Childs Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge.


Mabel S. Poteat

CROSS HILL — Mabel Shackelford Poteat, 88, of 468 Island Ford Road, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 at her home.
Born in Spartanburg County, she was a daughter of the late Ode and Minnie Mae Amon Shackelford. She retired from Beaumont Mills and was a member of Beaumont Methodist Church and Beaver Dam Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Chauncie Caviness Poteat of the home; two daughters, Virle Clary of Charlotte, N.C., and Sharron Wilborn of Marshville, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Elaine P. Gaines of Spartanburg; two stepsons, Chauncie O’Neil Poteat of Spartanburg and Robert Poteat of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; a sister, Lorna Mae Parris of Hendersonville, N.C.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Cryptside services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Laurens.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Gray Funeral Home, Laurens, is in charge.


Roy Leonard Qualls

LAKE JACKSON, TX — Roy Leonard Qualls went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 7, 2005 after a lengthy battle with liver cancer.
Born May 5, 1934 in Ware Shoals, South Carolina where he lived most of his young life. He moved to Lake Jackson, TX where he was employed by the Dow Chemical Company. He retired in 1994.
Roy was an active member of the Lighthouse Church in Lake Jackson and the Emmaus Com-munity Organization. He served in the Army Reserve and retired after 28 1/2 years. He was Past President and Caretaker at the Dow Employees Hunting and Fishing Club for many years.
Roy is survived by his loving wife, Mary Qualls, six children, Leonard Qualls and wife, Vickie of Donalds, South Carolina, Lamar Qualls and wife, Diana of Sweeny, Texas, and Ladelle Holcombe and husband Mitch of Williamston, South Carolina, and Wes Qualls and wife Dana, of Katy, Texas, Jackie Davis of Angleton, Texas, and Connie Crum and husband Bill of Kingsport, Tennessee, and seven grandchildren. He is also sur-vived by four siblings residing in South Carolina: Joyce Hunt and husband Bob, Lidia Ham-mond and husband, Monroe, James Qualls and wife, Sally, and Edward Qualls and wife Polly.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm Saturday, August 27th at Donalds Baptist Church, Donalds, South Carolina. A Memorial Service was also held in Texas on August 11th.
PAID OBITUARY


Louis Sheppard, Jr.

WARE SHOALS, SC — Louis A. Sheppard, Jr., 79, husband of Mary Frances Brown Sheppard of 104 Smith St. Extension died Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at his home.
He was born in Greenville, S.C., a son of the late Louis A. and Roxie Evatt Sheppard. He was a veteran of US Navy, WWII and was a self-employed paint contractor.
Surviving besides his wife of the home are two sons: Brian F. Sheppard, Belton, Tony L. Sheppard, Pickens; one daugh-ter, Stacey S. Riddley, Ander-son, one step-daughter, Denise J. Moody, Ware Shoals; a brother-in-law, James Turner, Mauldin and a former Daughter-in-law, Becky Sheppard, Easley, and grandchildren. Allen Sheppard, Angela Harrison, Gabrielle Whitmire, Janet Sheppard, Ethan Sheppard, Zach Riddley, Seth Riddley, Justin Moody, Jarrod Moody, and Jordan Moody.
He was pre-deceased by two sisters Martha Turner and Margaret Meyer and a brother-in-law, Johnny Meyer.
Graveside services will be conducted Saturday at 2 PM at Oakbrook Memorial Park with Rev. Scott Dublin officiating.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at Parker-White Funeral Home, Friday, 7-9 PM.
PAID OBITUARY


Walter P. Smith

BOILING SPRINGS — Walter Preston Smith, 84, of 155 Rainbow Circle, Inman, died Wednesday, August 24, 2005, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Born August 17, 1921, in West Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late John Frank and Anna Shull Smith. A 1939 graduate of Fairforest High School and a 1941 graduate of Robinson Business College, he was retired from Band & White. He was a lifelong member of Bethel United Methodist where he held many leadership positions. He was a Boy Scout, an Eagle Scout, a Scout Master, and a Scout Commissioner.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Sarah “Tommie” Pinson Smith; two daughters, Judy Cooke of Boiling Springs, and the Rev. Sandra King and her husband, the Rev. Steven King, of Greenwood; and two grandchildren, Jenny Cooke of Charleston, and Lisa King of Spartanburg. He was predeceased by a son-in-law, Joe Cooke.
Visitation will be 1-2:15 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2005, in the Church Parlor of Bethel United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Church, conducted by the Rev. Lawrence F. Hays, Jr., the Rev. David B. Smith, and the Rev. Steven M. King. Burial will be in Good Shepherd Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 245 South Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306.
The family is at the home.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel
PAID OBITUARY