Staff, volunteers with The Salvation Army
take Christmas to those who are in need

December 21, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

What would Christmas be without presents under the tree and a big meal on the dining room table?
Staff and volunteers with The Salvation Army worked Monday and Tuesday to ensure that families in the Lakelands have just that on Christmas Day.
Bags of toys and boxes of Christmas dinners were distributed to families and people who are struggling with financial problems this Christmas season.
Capt. Susan May, with The Salvation Army, said the organization began taking applications in October for its Christmas assistance programs, such as the Angel Tree, which began nationwide in 1979.
Names of children who qualified for assistance were printed on paper angels, which also included information such as age, clothing size and even a “dream gift,” and the angels were distributed to the public and private community.
May said some area businesses set up Angel Trees at their locations for customers and employees to select an Angel to sponsor.
Some businesses and churches also adopted numerous Angels to sponsor, she added.
During the two-day operation, large plastic bags of games, dolls, clothing and other items lined the floor of the store at the old Winn Dixie building on South Main Street in Greenwood. More than 730 children from Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties were assisted by this year’s program.
Along with the toys, volunteers and staff distributed about 570 boxes of Christmas dinners during the operation. The food, which included ham, canned vegetables, bread and dessert mixes, was donated by schools in Greenwood School District 50, May said.
May said adverse economic factors, such as the rising cost of fuel, have made it difficult for some residents to provide for their families this Christmas.
“We wanted to bring Christmas to those who don’t receive it,” she said. “They seem so grateful to get help because some of them wouldn’t be able to make it without this — those are the ones that really touch your heart.” For volunteers Munyaradzi Pamacheche and Farai Chiutsi, Zimbabwe natives who are studying at Lander University, the generosity of the community was touching.
In Zimbabwe, Pamacheche said, children in need only receive small shoeboxes of items at Christmas. Both said they enjoyed contributing their time to help the community.
“If I don’t have money to buy something, I give my services to help people,” Chiutsi said.
Several years ago, Christina Barnett said she was one of those receiving supplies at Christmas. This year, however, she was one of the volunteers.
“I’m giving back what was given. They gave us a Christmas when we didn’t have one,” she said. “This service lets people know that, when they are at their wit’s end, there are other avenues out there to help.”

Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

Limestone gives LU holiday blues

Lady Bearcats fall to the Lady Saints
in their final game before Christmas

December 21, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

Christmas vacation is coming just in time for the Lander women’s basketball.
The Lady Bearcats fell, 71-60, to Limestone Tuesday at Finis Horne Arena. With the loss, Lander falls to 3-5 on the year, while Limestone moves to 4-5.
Lander does not play again until Jan. 4, when the team returns to Peach Belt Conference play against North Georgia.
Lander had trouble shooting the ball throughout the game.
The Lady Bearcats shot 34 percent from the field and an abysmal 3-of-19 from behind the 3-point line. Lander coach Kevin Pederson said his team has to start shooting better.
“We just didn’t hit shots,” Pederson said. “If you don’t make shots, and you don’t make plays, you will not win basketball games.”
The Lady Bearcats did get a solid performance from center Tara Nyikavaranda. The 6-foot-2 native of Zambia had a double-double, scoring 11 points and snatching 10 rebounds.
“Tara was just about the only bright spot for us,” Pederson said.
“She really got aggressive for us in the paint and, honestly, she played well.”
Junior forward Lashaundra Dubose led Lander in scoring with 15 points, while sophomore guard Shatora Irby popped in 12.
Meanwhile, Monica Adams and Melissa Devore formed a solid double threat for Limestone. Devore led all scorers with 22 points, and Adams turned in a double-double from her center position, scoring 15 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
“(Devore and Adams) were big-time players,” Pederson said.
“They didn’t just make shots, they made big shots at big times. (Adams) played her game and played within herself, and she had a really good game.”
Limestone was in control of the game virtually from the opening tip.
After Dubose hit a running layup to give Lander the 2-0 lead — the only lead the Lady Bearcats would enjoy — the Lady Saints went on a 10-0 run.
During the run, Limestone got back-to-back 3-pointers from Tiffany Jones and Jodeana Pirtle. The Lady Bearcats called their first timeout down 10-2 with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
Lander trailed by as much as 21 points in the opening 20 minutes. However, the team went on a 6-0 run to close the half, using a full-court press and three layups to cut Limestone’s lead to 36-21 by the break and seemingly give itself a small amount of momentum.
“We made several small runs, but we were inconsistent,” Pederson said.
“Right now, I don’t think we have a long way to go ability-wise. But I think we have a long way to go mentality wise.”
Lander did cut deeply into the Lady Saints lead in the second half.
Two hard-fought layups by Nyikavaranda and a 3-pointer from the corner by Bryony Crouch brought the Lady Bearcats to within nine at 57-48 with 6:39 remaining.
That was as close as Lander would come. DeVore hit several key baskets down the stretch to seal the win for Limestone.
“It’s tough to drop a game like this one at home,” Pederson said. “We’re not at the point where we’re going to win a lot of games on the road. So it becomes even more important to take care of business at home.”
LIMESTONE (71) DeVore 9-17 2-2 22, Adams 7-9 1-3 15, Jones 4-13 3-5 13, Pirtle 4-6 0-0 11, Veiera 2-6 0-0 4, Dukes 1-5 0-0 2, Graves 1-1 0-0 2, Mitchell 0-1 2-2 2 Totals 28-60 8-12 71 LANDER (60) Dubose 6-11 2-2 15, Irby 3-11 5-8 12, Nyikavaranda 5-11 1-5 11, Crouch 2-7 2-2 7Glaxe 3-12 0-0 6, Ward 2-4 2-2 6 Hukill 1-7 1-2 3 Totals 22-64 13-21 60 Halftime—Limestone 36, Lander 21 3-Point goals—limestone 7-19 (Pirtle 3-5, Jones 2-6, DeVore 2-5), 3-19 (Dubose 1-1, Irby 1-4, Crouch 1-5), Fouled out—None Rebounds—Limestone 44 (Adams 13), Lander 37 (Nyikavaranda 10)Assists—Limestone 15 (DeVore 5), Lander 5 (Dubose 4) Total fouls—Limestone 18, Lander 16 Technicals—None Ejections— None A—117 Records: Limestone 4-5, Lander 3-5

Opinion

No to ‘Merry Christmas’
makes a big difference

December 21, 2005

There’s been a storm of protest, in Greenwood as much as anywhere, about substituting a “Happy Holidays” greeting for the traditional “Merry Christmas” greeting. There are people on both sides of the issue – religiously and secularly – as might be expected, and the clamor is not likely to subside any time soon.
“Happy Holidays” is, of course, a perfectly good and acceptable expression of best wishes. After all, the word holiday began as “holy day” long ago.
Anyway, the objections are not necessarily because some of us say happy holidays. What is objectionable, though, is when employers tell employees not to say Merry Christmas. That prohibition does indeed send the message that someone is purposely acting to make sure Christ is eliminated from the day and the season.
How foolish. The birth of Christ is, of course, the reason there is a holiday ….. or holy day. If we are directed to take Christ out of this particular holy day, it really won’t be much of a Merry Christmas. It means He is denied once again.
Can anyone hear a cock crowing?


Who gets best coverage? Yes or no? Is the so-called elite media waging a biased news war against President George Bush and his administration?
It seems obvious that is indeed a consideration, even though those involved would surely deny it.
However, what they do speaks so much louder than what they say it’s all but impossible to miss.
The “news” coverage of the war in Iraq ought to be proof enough for any doubting Thomases. Take two opposing lawmakers, for example. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a disillusioned hawk, became a favorite of the elite media when he called for the immediate withdrawal of U. S. forces from Iraq. Everything this former Marine had to say for weeks was made into big news, time after time after time. When he became a Bush critic, everything he said, and maybe more, was on top of the news.
Then there is Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, also a Democrat. When he went to Iraq and then said Congress and the American people should support President Bush, that we have to win the war, he hardly got noticed ….. by the elite media or the syndicated writers.
Biased coverage? Write your own editorial.

Obituaries

Bertha Ree Bates

HODGES — Services for Bertha Ree Henderson Bates, formerly of Hodges, are 1 p.m. Thursday at Pine Grove A.M.E. Church, conducted by Dr. Hiram Spain Jr., assisted by the Rev. Gregory Singleton. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
The family is at the home of a sister-in-law, Edvina Henderson, 3313 Ridge Road.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.

Dan Cunningham

PLUM BRANCH — Deacon Dan Cunningham, 95, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005 in Plum Branch.
Born in Old Edgefield County, he was a son of the late Walter and Emma Brown Cunningham. He was the oldest deacon of Mount Moriah Baptist Church and retired from the U.S. Forest Service. He was a member of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge No. 96, Mount Moriah Burial Aide and Cedar Spring Burial Aide societies. He was twice married, first to the late Minnie Cunningham and second to the late Murdis Moton Cunningham.
Survivors include three daughters, Zellena Terry of Philadelphia, Mrs. Patrick (Shirley) Bussey of Plum Branch and Mrs. Giles (Deloris) McManus of Edgefield; four sons, Tommy Cunningham, Walter Cunningham, Joe A. Cunningham and Charlie Cunningham, all of Plum Branch; five stepdaughters, Bernice Cunningham of Maryland, Julia Witherspoon of Columbia, Jessie Bowie of McCormick, Merry Miles of Columbia and Audrey Moton of Atlanta; nine stepsons, Abe Moton, Will Moton, Clayton Moton, Eddie Moton, Lawrence Moton and Charlie Moton, all of Edgefield, Lewis Moton of Virginia, Lonnie Moton and Franklin Moton, both of Greenwood; 34 grandchildren; and 43 great-grandchildren.
Services are at noon Friday at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Melvin Gordon, pastor. Assisting are the Revs. Eddie Freeman, Otis Cunningham, James Price and Minister Veronica Mars. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m.
The family is at the home of a daughter Shirley C. Bussey, Minnie Cunningham Road, Plum Branch.B Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Dorothy Edwards

NINETY SIX — Dorothy Elizabeth Edwards, 80, of 109 Park St., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005 at the Hospice House. Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late James Robert and Mary Jane Perry Edwards. She retired from Greenwood Mills, Ninety Six Plant, where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of Cambridge United Methodist Church.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Elmwood Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Gayle Summey.
Visitation is after the service in Cambridge United Methodist Church social hall.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, c/o HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or Cambridge United Methodist Church, PO Box 328, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Lois Rouse Gray

ABBEVILLE — Lois Rouse Gray, 53, wife of Geno Gray, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005 at her home.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late Gertrude Rouse Findley. She was a member of Mount Canaan Baptist Church, where she was church secretary and a member of the Deaconess Board and Women’s Home Aide Society. A graduate of J.S. Wright High School and Piedmont Technical College School of Nursing, she was employed on the nursing staff at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
Survivors include her husband of the home, a daughter, Tilaka S. Gray of Atlanta and two grandchildren. The family is at the home, 1851 Secession Extension.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Patsy Johnson

Patsy Griffin Johnson, 47, of 205 Kingston Road, wife of David E. Johnson, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005.
Born in McDuffie County, Ga., she was a daughter of Rachel Farmer Griffin and the late Eugene Griffin and a graduate of Ware Shoals High School. She was a member of Harmony Methodist Church and the Rainbow Girls.
Survivors include her husband of the home; her mother of Ware Shoals; a daughter, Sheena Owings Beckham of Greenwood; a son, Joseph D. Johnson of the home; a half brother, Buddy Griffin of Laurens; a half sister, Dorothy Bull of Ottawa, Tenn.; and a grandchild.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Oakbrook Memorial Park, conducted by the Rev. David Clegg. Visitation is 6:30-8:30 tonight at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home in Wellington Green.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

David Walker

HODGES — Services for David Walker, 65, of Lot 4, Nation Road, are changed to noon today at Dunn Creek Baptist Church. Also, assisting with the services are the Revs. Delores Henderson and Stella Dodson. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge.

Earl Whitlock

GREENWOOD, SC — Colie Earl Whitlock, 79, of 108 Orchard Park Drive, husband of Helen King Whitlock, died Monday, December 19, 2005 at the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home in Anderson.
Born in Lexington, NC, he was a son of the late Hugh and Lois Riddle Whitlock, but was raised in the home of his uncle and aunt, Ed “Skinny” and Hazel Riddle. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School; retired from the US Postal Service and was a US Navy veteran of World War II. His passion in his youth was baseball, where he played in the textile league for Panola and later coached Dixie Youth baseball. Upon retiring, he took up golf and was a member of Parkland and served as a ranger at Hunter’s Creek. He was a member and former deacon of Laurel Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He was a member of the Tarantella Dance Club.
He was twice married, first to the late Mildred Snelling Whitlock.
Surviving is his wife of the home; two sons, Gregg Whitlock of Greenville and Phil Whitlock of Hilton Head Island; a stepdaughter, Judy Corriher of Greenwood; two stepsons, Jeffery Lagrone of Abbeville and Darrell Lagrone of Greenwood; a sister, Annell McManus of Greenwood; grandchildren, Christopher Whitlock, Patrick Whitlock, Jeffrey Whitlock, David Everhart, Mary Helen Eppelsheimer, Emily Corriher, Anna Katharine Lagrone, Nathaniel Lagrone, Jack Lagrone and William Lagrone.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Todd Johnson and the Rev. Jim Johnston officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Kent McManus, Stanley McManus, Jeff Lagone, Doug Corriher, Mark Riddle and Kyle Harrison. Honorary escort will be his golfing friends, friends of Laurel Baptist Church, nieces, nephews, Darrell Lagrone, Ray Riddle and Calvin Parkman.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home, 4605 Belton Highway, Anderson, SC 29621.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY