District 50 releases results from community meetings

December 13, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer
Greenwood School District 50 residents were given a chance to talk in October, and district officials were listening.
In fact, they were taking detailed notes.
The results from the series of community meetings District 50 played host to, called “Your Turn to Talk,” are in and have been laid out in an 81-page report. That report was summarized and presented to the district’s board of trustees and the community Monday at the board’s meeting.
The board still has to decide how the information gathered in those meetings will be used, but Superintendent Bill Steed said they would come into play as the board and administration make decisions.
In the meetings, participants were given a list of 42 academic, staff and related factors important for a successful district.
A total of 292 people participating in the series ranked the most important of the issues. Once each opinion had been tallied, the three issues chosen as most important were:
n teachers who are well-trained to teach subject areas effectively;
n small class size;
n and well-disciplined classrooms.
Other factors that topped the list included:
n teachers who care about students;
n high parental involvement;
n and high graduation rates.
“I’m quite pleased to see that all emphasis was on the classroom,” said board Chairwoman Dru James. “The majority of participants had the same general priorities. It’s good to see that our goals do mesh and we’re after the same thing.”
The meetings and report were handled by Ellen Henderson, a consultant hired by the district. A major complaint of participants, Henderson said, was that every item on the list was important, making it difficult to narrow the list to only a few priorities.
It was a model process, Henderson said, and gave participants an idea of what school officials have to go through continuously.
“They’re constantly having to pick out the issues that are the most important and must take priority,” Henderson said.
In all, the district conducted a series of eight meetings, including three community meetings and separate meetings for senior citizens, Hispanic residents (which included a translator), teachers, administrators and students.
In addition to a detailed breakdown of participant demographics, the report includes the number of votes each of the 42 issues received and notes from conversations at each meeting.
The report, in its entirety, will be available at the district’s Web site, www.gwd50.k12.sc.us.
A link will be placed on the home page, officials said.

Steve A. Bowman

Services for Steve Allen Bowman are 3 p.m. today at Little Zion A.M.E. Church, conducted by Pastor Darrell Coulter. The body will be placed in the church at 2.
The family is at the home, 617 Orlando Court.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Grover Butler

William Grover Butler, 80, of 1013 New Market St., died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda, he was a son of the late William M. and Rosa Lee Rambo Butler. He retired from Abney Mills and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include three daughters, Renea Strawhorn of Hodges, Phyllis McManus of Greenwood, Lucy Woodall of Saluda; a son, Bobby Butler Sr. of Bradley; two sisters, Bobbie Herlong of Prosperity, Willie Mae Padgett of Saluda; two brothers, Jimmy Butler of Greenwood, Bennie Lee Butler of Bamberg; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Friendship Pentecostal Holiness Church, conducted by the Rev. Boyd Arnold. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the adjoining church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Bobby Butler Jr., Bobby Butler III, Keith Richardson, David Richardson, Ronnie McManus Jr. and Ronnie McManus Sr.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his son, Bobby Butler Sr., 413 Kneece Road, Bradley.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

MSGT James Herbert Coggins

ANDERSON, SC — MSGT James Herbert Coggins, USAF, Ret., 80, of 212 Huntington Dr., died Friday, December 9, 2005 at the Anderson County Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Coggins was married to the late June Shizu Coggins. He was born in Abbeville, SC to the late Bernard M. and Effie Mae Scott Coggins. Mr. Coggins retired from the United States Air Force after 28 years of service to his country. He then retired from J.P. Stevens as a computer programmer and was a member of the Air Force Sgt. Association.
Mr. Coggins was a beloved father and brother. His brother, Jack Coggins preceded him in death. Surviving Mr. Coggins is his son, James B. Coggins of Anderson, a sister, Patricia Coggins Blackstone and her husband Horace of Gray Court, SC.
Graveside services with military honors will be 1:00PM Wednesday, December 14, 2005 in Melrose Cemetery in Abbeville. The family will receive friends following the service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Coggins family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
HARRIS FUNERALHOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Coggins family.
PAID OBITUARY

‘Woody’ Crenshaw

Woodrow T. “Woody” Crenshaw Sr., 83, of 706 Logan Court, husband of Myrtle Arnold Crenshaw, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Pickens, he was a son of the late Judge and Susan Connely Crenshaw. He was a former employee of Ouzts Motors and George Davis Buick, retiring from Monsanto. A World War II Army veteran, he was a member of North Side Baptist Church and served as a deacon while a member of Laurel Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Woodrow T. “Tommy” Crenshaw Jr., Roger Crenshaw, James Ray Crenshaw, all of Greenwood; a sister, Catherine Floyd of Greenwood; a brother, J.T. Crenshaw of Ninety Six; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Chris Leonard. Burial is in Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jason Crenshaw, Robin Crenshaw, David Crenshaw, Matthew Crenshaw, Mike Welborn, Larry Campbell and Danny Bearden.
Honorary escorts are Jack Floyd and Grady Bearden.
Visitation is 12:30-1:30 Wednesday at the funeral home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Emma Lee Gaskin

Emma Lee “Miss Emma” Gaskin, 57, of 111 Bay Court, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Willie and Minnie Smith Gaskin. She received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Lander University, was day program director at Emerald Center, a member of the Neighborhood Association Council of the Chamber of Commerce, Magnolia Dance Group, The Museum Board and Tabernacle Baptist Church. A member of the Magnolia Park Committee, she developed the Children’s Garden Club and received the Champion of Youth Award. She was also a member of Greenwood High Noon and Heritage Sertoma clubs and received the Service to Mankind Award.
Survivors include two brothers, Robert Gaskin, Henry Gaskin, both of Greenwood; two sisters, Minnie Posley, Mary Ann Burton, both of Greenwood; three nephews reared in the home, Timothy Quarles of El Paso, Texas, James Leon Quarles, Johnathan Quarles, both of Greenwood.
The family is at the home of a brother Robert Gaskin, 923 Abney St., and a sister Minnie Posley, 103 Ashwood Drive, Wisewood subdivision.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Telpher Boyd Gilchrist

Deacon Telpher Boyd “Kangaroo” Gilchrist, 66, of 118 Old Ninety Six Highway, husband of Mary Alice Smith Gilchrist, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Lillie Mae Nelson Gilchrist and the late Roosevelt Gilchrist. He was an employee of Randy Dodgen Trucking. A member of Mount Herman Baptist Church, he served as Sunday School superintendent, Deacon Board chairman and Male Choir and Mass Choir member. He was also founder and lead singer of the Sensational Gospel Eagles, president of the Gilchrist Singers, a member of Men on the Move for Christ and a member and past worship master of Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 419.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; his wife of the home; three sons, Stanley Gilchrist of Honea Path, Clarence Searles Jr. of Clinton, Victor Searles of Greenwood; three daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Blinda Gail) Martin Jr., Mrs. Robert (Theresa) Perrin, Shuntay Gilchrist, all of Greenwood; four brothers, Fremon Gilchrist, James Gilchrist, Tim W. Gilchrist, all of Greenwood, Nelson Gilchrist of Columbia; three sisters, Addie Goode, Ella Gilchrist Robinson, both of Greenwood, Neutrice Gilchrist Childs of Charlotte, N.C.; eight grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Grace Hoffman

GARDEN CITY — Grace M. Hoffman, 88, of 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, widow of Edward Henry Hoffman, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 at Wesley Commons Health Care Center, Greenwood.
Born in Leicester, England, she was a daughter of the late John and Evelyn Clarke Moore. She lived in Garden City for 30 years before recently moving to Greenwood.
Survivors include a daughter, Lorraine Marnell of Albuquerque, N.M., and a son, James Hoffman of Ninety Six. Services are private.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

John Humphries

GREENWOOD — John Walter Humphries, 86, resident of 303 Hillcrest Drive, husband of Elizabeth Bryan Ouzts Humphries, died Sunday, December 11, 2005 at his home.
Born in Brazilla, GA, February 19, 1919, he was a son of the late John Walter and Pauline Virginia Caney Humphries and his late stepmother, Vaud Carnes Humphries.
Mr. Humphries was a US Army Veteran of WWII where he served in the Fourth Infantry Division 20th Field Artillery, and he participated in the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Mr. Humphries retired from Duke Power Company.
He was a member of the VFW, DAV, American Legion Post #20, Mathews Masonic Lodge, the Hejaz Shriners and the Clown Unit.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 65 years are a daughter, Brenda Dukes and husband, John Thomas Dukes of Greensboro, NC; a son, John Watson Humphries of Ninety Six; two grandchildren, John Dennis Humphries and Melissa Gail Humphries of Greenwood; three great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Steven Humphries, Courtney Gail Humphries and Carley Taylor Deloach; a sister, Mrs. Aubrey (Lucille) Whisenant of Tifton, GA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 pm Tuesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wade Burton and Rev. James Rodgers officiating.
Burial with Masonic Rites will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth Carr, Bill Dorn, Russell Hall, Bob Halterman, Richard Shirley, Tony Watkins, Jack Burton and Frank Haralson.
Honorary escort will be members of the VFW and the Greenwood Shrine Club.
The family is at the home on Hillcrest Drive and will receive friends at the grave immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. O.M. Cobb and his staff for the many years of care.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Humphries family.
PAID OBITUARY

Betty McKittrick

NINETY SIX — Martha Elizabeth “Betty” Starnes McKittrick, 83, resident of 4212 Hwy 702, wife of James Wilbur McKittrick, died December 12, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, November 28, 1922, she was a daughter of the late Fred C. Sr. and Ruth Canfield Starnes. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was a member of Siloam Baptist Church and the TEL Sunday School Class.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are a daughter, Karen M and husband, William Akers, Jr.; two grandsons, William Clyde Akers, III and James Brent Akers; a brother, Harold Starnes; two sisters, Claire Chandler and husband, Hubert and Jean Crawford and husband, Thomas all of Ninety Six.
Mrs. McKittrick was pre-deceased by a brother, Fred C. Starnes, Jr.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 pm Wednesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Johnson Dorn and Rev. Stephen Todd officiating.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Fred E. Starnes, Bill Starnes, Joe Chandler, Blake Crawford, David Crawford, Tommy Balchin, Bruce Balchin, Butch Attaway and her two grandsons.
The family is at the home on Hwy 702 and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 to 2 Wednesday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to the Elmwood Cemetery Fund, c/o Richard Shealy, PO Box 345, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the McKittrick family.
PAID OBITUARY

Dan Mullins

COLUMBIA — Service for Dan Mullins, 57, will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.
Visitation will be 12-2 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.
Mr. Mullins died Saturday, December 10, 2005. Born in Myra, Ky., he was the son of the late Frank and Bessie Johnson Mullins. The retired owner of Plato’s Grecian Cafe, he later worked in the mortgage industry, most recently with Crescent Lending.
Mr. Mullins was a member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church.
Surviving are his wife, Beth Major Mullins; daughters, Stephanie Mullins of Raleigh, N.C. and Michelle Hamilton and her husband, Andy, of Fayetteville, N.C.; son, Nathan Mullins of Columbia; sisters, Glema Schultz of Madison, Ohio and Nancie Mulvaney and her husband, Ralph, of Cornelius, N.C.; three nephews and two nieces; his favorite mother-in-law, Sarah Major and the entire Major family.
Dan’s humor and no-nonsense outlook on life will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 1416 Broad River Road, Columbia, S.C. 29210.
PAID OBITUARY

George Phinney

George Phinney, of 207 Arabian Road, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of Willie and Essie Thompkins, 1114 Callison Highway.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Hattie P. Smith

ABBEVILLE — Hattie P. Smith, 68, of 108 W. Spencer St., died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at Greenwood Hospice.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Abbeville & White Mortuary.

Ruth H. Smith

WATERLOO — Ruth Hall Smith, 71, of 458 Old Laurens Highway, widow of Dores F. Smith, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005 at her home.
Born in Rutherford County, N.C., she was a daughter of the late Vernon and Luria Holbert Hall. She retired from Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant, where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and Reedy Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Marcia Laye, Margie Culbertson, Marie MacTaggart Roach, all of Greenwood, Mitzi Smith of Waterloo; a son, Michael Rowlette of Lexington; four sisters, Kay Boswell of Ninety Six, Carolyn Brown of Hodges, Jo Ann Simpson, Linda Adams, both of Greenwood; a brother, Dupree Hall of Mooresboro, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Reedy Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church, conducted by the Rev. Tommy Wooten. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Burial is in the adjoining church cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons.
Honorary escorts are grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The body is at the home, where the family will receive friends.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Yellow Jackets maul Greenwood at home

Eagles experience poor shooting night

December 13, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

For a basketball team, no matter what level, some night’s things just don’t go your way.
Tuesday was one of those nights for the Greenwood High School boys team.
The Eagles were blitzed, 58-29, by North Augusta Tuesday night in front of a stunned crowd at Greenwood. With the loss, Greenwood falls to 1-4 on the year.
The Eagles will play host to Saluda tonight. Greenwood slipped past the Tigers one week ago on A.J. Lomax’s last second 3-pointer in overtime.
Tuesday’s game belonged to the Yellow Jackets from the opening tip. North Augusta’s Lance Johnson drained a 3-pointer on the opening possession giving the Jackets a lead they didn’t relinquish.
Greenwood was playing without starting guard and floor leader Armanti Edwards, who is in Spartanburg preparing for the Shrine Bowl. Greenwood coach Hob Chandler said Edwards’ presence was sorely missed.
“We missed a lot of the attributes Armanti brings to us,” Chandler said. “We missed his leadership and the organization he brings to the floor.”
Chandler said it wasn’t so much ineptitude on the court, though the Eagles did struggle-Chandler estimated the team shot less than 20 percent from the floor-as it was a lack of effort and intensity.
“I was disappointed by the lack of emotion,” Chandler said. “The guys just didn’t have any intensity. Again, it was really disappointing.”
The Eagles opened the contest in a match-up zone defense geared around slowing down North Augusta shooting guard D’Juan Thurmond. However, Greenwood’s vigilance of Thurmond opened up scoring opportunities for Johnson and forward Aikeem Johnson, both of whom drained open mid-range jump shots throughout the evening.
Chandler said the execution in the zone just wasn’t present.
“We did not rotate well in the zone,” Chandler said. “They were able to hit those shots, and we didn’t hit ours. Sometimes you just have a night like this where nothing falls for you.”
North Augusta raced out to a big lead in the first quarter.
The Jackets scored from inside and out, keeping the scrambling Greenwood zone on its heels. Back-to-back hoops by Bryan Narcisse and Darrell Curry closed the first quarter with North Augusta in the lead at 18-7.
The Jackets lead grew even larger in the second quarter.
North Augusta turned up its defensive intensity, sparked by reserve point guard Curry, and began to generate fast break hoops. Greenwood attempted to mount a rally, with center Xavier Dye scoring five of his eight points in the quarter.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the charge fell well short. Narcisse’s layup at the buzzer gave the Jackets a 37-16 halftime advantage.
The second half was a continuation of the first for both teams.
North Augusta built on its lead, getting hard fought points from forwards Aikeem Johnson and Antwain Parker to keep the points rolling in. The Jackets were ahead 49-22 after the third quarter and cruised to the victory.
“We have to start playing hard consistently,” Chandler said. “That’s the key: consistency.”

Lady Eagles’ turnovers hand North Augusta season series

December 13, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Turnovers are perhaps the most damaging aspect on a high school basketball team’s statistic sheet.
The Greenwood girls team can attest to that.
The Lady Eagles were defeated, 58-50, by North Augusta Monday night in at Greenwood High School, dropping the team to 2-3 on the season.
The Lady Yellow Jackets won the first meeting, 58-53, in North Augusta Nov. 28.
It was a close game throughout, with turnovers sealing the Lady Eagles’ unfortunate fate in the fourth quarter. Greenwood coach Susan Thompson said she knew her team needed to play as mistake-free as possible if it hoped to defeat the Lady Jackets.
“We got in foul trouble early on and it was kind of an uphill battle from that point,” Thompson said. “The turnovers late in the game didn’t help anything, either.”
Lady Eagles reserve center Brantley Sacoco agreed.
“The turnovers are what killed us at the end,” Sacoco said. “I think we have improved though. We played well together tonight.”
Sacoco led Greenwood with 15 points. She scored 10 of her points in the first half, with several hoops coming on 15-foot jumpers near the foul line. Thompson said she was pleased with the play of her young center.
“She is really the only one we have down low who can hit that shot near the free-throw line,” Thompson said. “We do some switching her in and out between defense and offense, because she does have a little trouble with the press sometimes.”
The press Thompson referred to is the full-court defensive pressure the Lady Eagles began using in wins last week’s wins over Saluda and Emerald.
However, North Augusta was able to pass out of the pressure and get into the frontcourt with relative ease throughout the contest.
Thompson said she was surprised her team was not able to have more success with the defensive strategy.
“I’m not one to give up on something, and we won’t give up on this one,” Thompson said. “I don’t care if we’re getting beat 100 to nothing, we’ll press. The girls were excited when we started using it against Saluda last week, but tonight they weren’t as excited.”
Things were looking good for Greenwood early on.
The Lady Eagles got a running jumper from Ashly Chandler to get on the scoreboard. The rest of the quarter belonged to Sacoco. She popped in 10 points in the quarter on a variety of short jumpers to help give Greenwood a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
North Augusta quickly caught up with the Lady Eagles in the second quarter.
Lady Jackets’ Sarah Myer popped in two of her four 3-pointers at the beginning of the quarter. Sydnei Moss also dropped in a pair of silky jumpers vault North Augusta into the lead. The Lady Jackets carried a slim 25-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Lady Eagles will take on Saluda tonight at home.
“It’s always tough to play a team twice,” Thompson said. “Our girls will have to try not to be too over confident.”

Luther Bradley example of best of teacher/coach

December 13, 2005

It is a characteristic of youth that is all too familiar to most of us, not to mention descriptive. That is, as young as we are, regardless of color, religion or any other circumstance, we think we know it all.
That, of course, could have serious and negative consequences ….. and for some, unfortunately, it does. If we’re lucky, though, someone comes along to make us realize how clueless we really are. It could be a parent, a preacher, or maybe a friend. More often than we might imagine, though, it turns out to be a teacher or athletic coach. For some, they’re one and the same.
Luther Bradley was one of them. He also was one of the best, and countless kids at Greenwood’s segregated Brewer High School were the beneficiaries of his wisdom, friendship. And influence.

BRADLEY, WHO DIED LAST WEEK at age 78, was a teacher, and he coached football, basketball, baseball and track. During his tenure from 1952 to 1968, he helped many youths build foundations, not only in athletics, but for life.
His own accomplishments enhanced his influence on the people he touched along the way. Among his many achievements, Bradley was a Black College All-American football player at South Carolina State College, where he made his mark in many ways. He was a member of his alma mater’s Hall of Fame and was among the first inducted into the Greenwood Athletics Hall of Fame.
Greenwood’s Mayor Floyd Nicholson, and successful coach and Minister Willie Harrison are among many who have succeeded in life, thanks in great part to the caring and teaching of Luther Bradley. Both have high praise for a man who played an important role in their development and their lives.

BOTH, AS HAVE OTHERS, PUT the lessons he taught to good use over the years, as they have had a positive influence on many others.
Discipline was always a factor with Bradley, but it was discipline coupled with caring that made a lasting impression.
Luther Bradley Jr., who played on two national championship teams at Notre Dame before playing professional football, said it best, perhaps. More than anything, he said of his father. he wanted the kids to continue their education. “…He would talk to them about college and then spend hours talking to colleges to get them in. That is his legacy.”
For most of us who “know it all” when we are young, there is no better legacy for youth than preaching education. But, then, it’s a lesson for all people of all ages.