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 didnt even ask me, and
I said Id 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.
Its like they live for each other. She tells me all
the time theyve 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.
Theyre 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 Sixs
request to remain in its region Wednesday, after the leagues
original realignment for the 2006-08 had the Wildcats in Class A.
With the schools 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 SCHSLs 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.
Thats what they do now, so it wouldnt 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, were 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
Robertsons 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 Venezuelas
anti-American President Hugo Chavez ought to be taken out.
It may be the right goal, but its not the right way to go
about it.
Chavez happens to be a close pal of Cubas 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 dont 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,
thats 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 whod 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, lets 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 Womens
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 ONeil 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
Floyds North Church Street Chapel
PAID OBITUARY