World Series pitcher, Ninety Six native, dies

February 2, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

More than a decade ago, William Symmes “Bill” Voiselle summed up his life in two sentences.
“Everything I got, I owe it to baseball,” Voiselle said in a 1991 story that appeared in Sports Collector’s Digest. “I’m a little ol’ cotton mill boy – never had nothing and never been nowhere.”
The humble Voiselle, who died Monday at 86, was understating the truth, while at the same time reflecting the values he grew up with.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds during his playing days, Voiselle was anything but little. His professional baseball career took him across the United States and to Canada.
He was an All-Star major-league pitcher who had a nine-year career and pitched in the 1948 World Series.
But Voiselle also loved the Ninety Six community where he grew up.
After he was traded to the Boston Braves in 1947, Voiselle had to get special permission from baseball commissioner A.B. “Happy” Chandler to wear uniform No. 96 to honor the town.
When he retired, he returned to his beloved Ninety Six for the chance to play baseball with his brothers, Jim and Claude, again — this time for the Ninety Six mill team in the Central Carolina Textile League.
“Back then we didn’t make much money playing baseball,” said Jim Voiselle, who along with Claude played in the minor leagues. “We played for the fun of it.
“I think he was great. He just had a good attitude and he loved to play ball.”
And he wasn’t forgotten after his pro career.
In 1999, The Index-Journal named Voiselle one of the top 100 most influential sports figures from Greenwood and the Lakelands area.
In 2001, he was honored by the South Carolina House of Representatives, along with Negro League player and Greenwood native Chino Smith, before a Lander-Erskine baseball game for bringing “honor and glory to the State of South Carolina.”
“He was just a wonderful guy, and everybody loved him to death,” said Bubba Summers, of Ninety Six, Voiselle’s neighbor for more than 50 years. “If you didn’t know him, you really missed out.”
Voiselle came from a baseball-playing family. The four brothers – Carl, Bill, Jim and Claude, nicknamed “Diz” – all played.
In the ’30s, the brothers went to school in the morning and, by the time they were 14, they were working in the cotton mill in the afternoon.
They still found time for baseball, and the four helped turn the Ninety Six High School team into one of the most feared prep squads in the Upstate.
“We had a coach that made us play Erskine College and Presbyterian College in exhibition games,” said Jim Voiselle, Bill’s younger brother by two years. “That’s how good a ball team we had at Ninety Six.”
“Diz” Voiselle remembers a game Bill pitched against Saluda, probably the one that propelled him into professional baseball.
“Back then, (Bill) could just rare back and fire it,” the 82-year-old said. “One year here, he was being scouted by Bill Laval, out of Newberry, and we were playing Saluda, and he struck out 19 batters in one game.
“Next thing you knew, he had signed with the Red Sox.”
Bill Voiselle made his major-league debut with the New York Giants in 1942.
He pitched for several minor-league teams in 1942 and ’43, coming up to the big club at the end of the season to pitch in a handful of games.
Voiselle made six appearances for the Giants in those two years, pitching 40 innings.
In 1944, Voiselle took the National League by storm.
Still a rookie, Voiselle went 21-16, starting 41 games for the Giants and was the only pitcher with a winning record on a team that went 67-87.
Voiselle pitched in 43 games, starting 41 and pitching 25 complete games. His 312.667 innings pitched and 167 strikeouts led the National League. No rookie has matched his complete game- or innings-pitched total since.
Voiselle was named to the 1944 All-Star team and finished fifth in MVP voting, just a few votes behind Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial.
He was named baseball’s Most Valuable Pitcher by The Sporting News.
Voiselle would have been named The Rookie of the Year, but Major League Baseball did not start that award until 1947. Instead, he earned the honor from the Chicago chapter of the Baseball Writers of America Association, which started giving out rookie awards in 1940.
Voiselle played for then player-manager Mel Ott and earned the ire of his boss on one famous occasion in 1945.
The Giants had a rule forbidding pitchers to throw a strike if they were ahead in an 0-2 count. Voiselle faced such a situation in a game and intended an 0-2 pitch to be high and inside. But the batter reached up and smacked the ball for a hit, and the Giants eventually lost the game.
Ott fined Voiselle $500, 10 times the normal amount. And he was earning just $3,500 at the time.
Voiselle pitched for two-plus more seasons for the Giants before being traded to the Boston Braves.
In 1948, Voiselle teamed with Warren Spann and Johnny Sain to form the top pitching rotation in the majors and led the Braves to the World Series.
Voiselle made two appearances in the ’48 Fall Classic against the Cleveland Indians and was the starting pitcher in Game 6, which the Indians won 4-3 to win the world title.
Even though he was a major leaguer, Voiselle never forgot his community.
In 1949, he helped put together a benefit exhibition game for Jackie Spearman, a Ninety Six woman with cancer.
“He brought in a bunch of major-league players, and they filled in the park at Ninety Six,” said George Voiselle, Bill’s nephew. “He was a real caring person to all us kids. Teachers would have him talk to students, and he never turned anyone down.”
Voiselle spent one more season with the Braves, then was traded to the Chicago Cubs and pitched one final season in the big leagues.
He played minor-league ball for parts of seven more seasons before retiring for good.
In his nine-year major-league career, Voiselle went 74-84 with a 3.83 earned-run average, 74 complete games and 637 strikeouts.
He pitched 502 games in the minors, going 88-107, with a 3.72 ERA.
In 1955, he pitched in 72 games for AAA Richmond, then a minor-league record.
When Voiselle and his wife, Virginia, moved back to Ninety Six, he didn’t give up on baseball.
He continued to pitch for the Ninety Six team in the Central Carolina League in-between stints in the minors. He was doing what he had done as a little boy – playing baseball with his brothers.
Greenwood’s Ray Riddle, who played with the Clinton Cavaliers in the 1950s, remembers battling against Voiselle in those Friday night games.
“He had lost his real hard fastball, but he still had a good curveball. He was always a very good fellow, just wonderful to be around,” Riddle said.
Voiselle also had a sense of humor.
Riddle remembers one game Voiselle was pitching where the Clinton first baseman, Charlie Gaffney, was getting the better of the Ninety Six resident.
Voiselle had given up two hits to Gaffney and when the first baseman came up for the third time, Voiselle tried a different strategy.
“Bill took his glove off and threw his glove up there for (Gaffney) to hit, and Gaffney hit that over his head,” Riddle said. “He was just a lot of fun.”
Greenwood’s Earl Proctor played with Voiselle for just one season, in 1956.
One game Voiselle was schedule to pitch, the team’s catcher didn’t show up, and Proctor took his place behind the plate — although he didn’t stay there long.
“I spent more time going back to the backstop than I did at home plate,” Proctor laughed. “He could still throw it.”
Even after he stopped playing, Voiselle never lost his passion for baseball.
He would often watch Ninety Six games, and later major league games on television, with family and friends.
Voiselle had the uncanny ability to predict which pitchers would do well and which would have long nights.
“He was smart and he always knew how the game was going to come out,” Summers said. “He could tell you just by looking at a pitcher if he was going to make it or not.”
Long after his playing days were over, Voiselle was still influencing baseball fans.
Greenwood’s Dean Lollis runs the Web site www.historicbaseball.com, which contains information on the more than 900 professional baseball players from South Carolina.
Lollis was at Legion Field when Voiselle was honored a few years ago and remembers seeing Voiselle “smiling from ear-to-ear just before the ceremony started.”
“The umpire of the game walked over to shake Mr. Voiselle’s hand,” said Lollis, who presented Voiselle the House’s proclamation before the game. “The umpire had been scheduled to call another game that afternoon, but he had switched to be at the Lander game because Mr. Voiselle was going to be there.”
That’s the kind of respect he earned from baseball fans — and from the Ninety Six community.

School districts face consolidation issue again

February 2, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Less than a month into the new session of the S.C. General Assembly, many school district superintendents are experiencing a sense of déjà vu.
School district consolidation — a concept believed dead at the close of the last session —  has reared its head again. A bill filed by State Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, calls for the elimination of all multi-county school districts, consolidating these territories inside county boundaries.
Gov. Mark Sanford has put forth a similar measure in his budget, which boasts of saving the state $26 million by consolidating school districts with fewer than 2,500 students by the 2006-2007 school year.
“It didn’t have legs last year, and I certainly hope it doesn’t this year,” said State Rep. Mike Pitts. “But who knows? It’s still early in the two-year session.”
Viers’ proposal would merge the state’s 85 school districts into 46 counties, while Sanford would require 22 districts to consolidate.
“The goal here is to redirect upwards of $20 million directly to the classroom, as opposed to being spent on duplicating administration,” said Will Folks, a spokesman for Sanford’s office.
“The bottom line is we’ve got too many school districts in South Carolina.”
The concept has found little support from local school officials, though.
“I don’t believe it will move this year, either, because there are so many political forces to reckon with in countywide consolidation,” said Fay Sprouse, superintendent for School District 51, Ware Shoals.
Under Viers’ proposal, Spartanburg County would be forced to merge seven districts, she said.
Anderson, York and Lexington counties each have four or more school districts.
Nationwide, 74 percent of all school districts have 2,500 or fewer students, according to a written statement on the Ware Shoals school district Web site.
“Ware Shoals School District — with 1,200 students — may be small, but we offer a quality education with a personal touch,” Sprouse said. “The administration, teachers and parents know each other, which enhances communication.”
Dan Powell, District 52, Ninety Six superintendent, said merely eliminating the salaries of superintendents in small districts such as Ware Shoals and Ninety Six would not realize Sanford’s projected $26 million in savings.
“You’d obviously have to close some schools and get rid of a lot of staff,” he said. There are presently 306 students who commute to Ninety Six from outside the district. The district has a total of 1,604 students.
“Putting us in a larger school district is not the answer for Ninety Six,” he said.
“I’m not certain that that’s the most effective way to go about educating our people,” said State Sen. Billy O’Dell. “I think the smaller districts are doing a great job in some cases — and in some cases they aren’t. But I don’t see eliminating them as the answer to our educational problem.”
“I don’t think bigger always means better,” said State Rep. Anne Parks. “I think it would take away from the individualism that each one has. (Sanford’s) sole purpose, he says, is to save money. I think we need to take a close look at whether it would save money in each school district or not.”
State Rep. Gene Pinson questioned the true nature of the consolidation, specifically how a countywide school district would manage the larger area without maintaining a similar number of employees.
“It sounds good to consolidate, but when you consolidate and you don’t downsize, what are you going to gain?” he asked. “Besides, we’ve got so many traditional ties with local school districts and hometown communities.”
“It makes sense in the Pee Dee and the Lowstate, because you have a good many school districts that are less than 1,000 students there,” said Pitts. “The geography of the Upstate is far different and makes it a much more complex issue.”
Pitts said some schools are also privy to special tax district funds, an issue that has not been addressed.
“Hillcrest High School in Fountain Inn dips into Laurens County, and people have been paying taxes for years — it’s a special purpose district,” he said. “That would have to be eliminated.” Ware Shoals’ district is divided into three counties, Pinson said.
“You’ve got the high school in Greenwood County, the middle school is in Abbeville County, and the elementary school is in Laurens County,” he said. “What kind of impact is consolidation going to have there?”
“I think what’s unfair is that we’ve got a lot of kids that continue to be held back,” Folks said. “We continue to spend too much on bureaucracy. Money we do spend on education has to be spent better.”

GHS can’t top Wren

Hurricanes keep Eagles from snapping skid

February 2, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Wren High School boys basketball team finished with a regular season sweep of Greenwood with a 49-43 win over the Eagles Tuesday night at Greenwood gymnasium.
The Hurricanes move to 4-3 in region play in their first foray in Region I-AAAA.
With the loss, the Eagles’ region record drops to 1-5 and with only three games remaining, the team is in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in more than four seasons.
Greenwood looks to snap its five-game losing streak Friday night against two-time defending region champion T.L. Hanna, which entered Tuesday undefeated and first place in region play.
Seniors Lucky Hamby and Matt Boswell led the way for Wren with 17 and 14 points, respectively. The two combined for 17 of the Hurricane’s 28 second-half points.
Greenwood got 12 points apiece from Xavier Dye and John Phelps.
After trailing by as much as nine in the first half, Greenwood fought back in the third period, outscoring the Hurricanes 17-11 to tie the game at 31 at the end of the quarter.
Phelps drained a 3-pointer from the right corner - his only long ball of the night - to give the Eagles a 36-34 lead with 4 minutes, 17 seconds remaining. It was Greenwood’s first lead since the team was ahead 9-8 at the start of the second quarter.
The two teams traded baskets, but the Eagles didn’t lose their lead until Hamby was fouled after knocking down a 15-foot jumper with 2:50 left in the game. The senior point guard completed the three-point play to put the Hurricanes ahead 39-38.
Greenwood re-claimed the lead (40-39) on a pair of free throws from Dye with 2:29 remaining. Hamby, moving without the ball, cut to the basket, took a pass from Steven Gmerek and dropped in the layup to brake a 42-all tie with 39 seconds remaining. Hamby’s field goal put Wren up for good, as the Hurricanes went on a 7-1 run in the final seconds to earn the victory.
Greenwood led 9-6 after the first quarter of play, but the Hurricanes gained control by opening the second on a 12-0 run, taking advantage of a 5-minute, 45-second Eagles scoreless streak.
Phelps ended the drought by hitting one of two technical foul shots to make it 18-10 with 3:02 left in the half. Free throw shooting was a problem for Greenwood in the first half, as the team made only four of 13 foul shots.

Lady Eagles can’t stop Kotcella in region loss

February 2, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

If not for Brooke Kotcella, Greenwood would have won in a runaway.
But unfortunately for the struggling Lady Eagles, the Wren junior standout was present and accounted for in the Lady Hurricanes’ 43-34 victory Tuesday night at the Greenwood gymnasium.
Kotcella finished with a game-high 23 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks in the win for Wren (18-3 overall, 6-1 Region I-AAAA).
The 5-foot-10 forward scored 17 of the team’s 22 first-half point total, while accounting for 10 of her team’s 16 field goals.
Greenwood (7-9, 1-6) got another solid performance from junior point guard Ashly Chandler, who led the Lady Eagles with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Chandler started a Greenwood run with a breakaway layup midway through the fourth quarter to bring the Lady Eagles within a point.
Teammates Vijya Corbett and Ashley Latham followed with a 3-pointer and a putback to make it 35-34 with 3 minutes, 55 seconds remaining.
However, Latham’s bucket was the Lady Eagles’ last of the game, as the Lady Hurricanes scored the last eight points of the game.
The Lady Eagles maintained the lead throughout most of the first quarter, going up 8-5 on Corbett’s 17-foot jumper with 2:15 seconds left in the first quarter.
But Kotcella would end any thought of a Lady Eagles upset, scoring all of Wren’s points on a 9-3 run. Her putback capped the run and gave the Lady Hurricanes a 14-11 advantage with 5:30 left in the first half.
Chandler responded with back-to-back baskets, with a 16-foot jumper and a layup of a steal from teammate Jacena Thompson to give Greenwood the 15-14 lead with 4:30 left.
The lead lasted almost a minute before Kotcella’s 3-foot turnaround jumper, which started an 8-0 run for Wren.
One of Kotcella’s triplet sisters, Maureen, provided the Lady Hurricanes’ first field goal not to come from Brooke with a fastbreak layup during the run.
Iris Franklin capped the 4-minute, 23-second Greenwood scoreless streak with a pair of free throws, putting Wren up 22-15 with 1:08 left in the half.

Three lead Lady ’Cats to victory

February 2, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Special to The Index-Journal

Three players scored in double digits to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 45-28 victory over the Lady Panthers in Region III-AA play.
Meagan Frazier led the way with 12 points for Ninety Six. Haven Jenkins and Sarah Caldwell each popped in 10 points for the Lady Wildcats.
“Haven and Meagan work well together,” said Ninety Six coach Bridgett Lee. “They look for each other out there all the time.”
The Wildcats were able to get the victory despite the absence of regular starter Amanda Chrisley, who is serving a three-game suspension for being ejected against Mid-Carolina last Friday. “We missed her shooting out there,” said Lee.
As the low score indicates, the game was a physical, defensive contest, marred with fouls and injury timeouts. “Every time these two teams play it’s like this, both coaches agree on that,” said Lee.
Ninety Six got out of the gate quickly in the first period. Frazier scored four points in the period, both on slashing lay-ups. Jenkins also popped in four points in the period, two on a long jumper, and two more on a hard-nosed put back off of a rebound. The Lady Wildcats led 11-2 at the end of the period.
Ninety Six would maintain their lead in the second period, due in large part to clutch free-throw shooting. Frazier and Caldwell each made good on several of the free tosses in the period. Ninety Six led 21-13 at halftime.
The physical nature of the contest would continue in the third period, with hard fouls leading to several near fights. However, Ninety Six would again make good on their free throws, with Jenkins calmly sinking four straight late in the period. The Lady Wildcats were up 32-21 at the end of the third.
The Lady Wildcats pulled away in the fourth period. A streaking fast-break lay-up by Asia Etheredge was the icing on the cake of the 45-28 Ninety Six victory.
“I was thrilled to get the region win,” said Lee.
The Lady Wildcats (8-7 overall, 4-3 region) will travel on Friday to take on Saluda.

Opinion

Military ‘death benefit’ should indeed be more

February 2, 2005

There have been several deaths of South Carolinians while they were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of now, their families receive a “death benefit” of only $12,420 ….. under the circumstances, a paltry sum.
It’s only right, then, that President Bush is seeking to increase that amount to a tax-free $100,000. It would be retroactive to October 7, 2001. That’s when the U. S. invaded Afghanistan in response to the 9-11-01 terrorist attack on America. It also would apply to casualties in any future combat.
Bush also would have the Pentagon increase life insurance benefits for members of the military. The present $250,000 coverage, which is offered at a subsidized rate to all service members under the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance program, would go to $400,000.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY the premiums on the extra $150,000 for troops serving in a combat zone. Various veterans organizations and some members of Congress have supported increased benefits in the so-called “death gratuity.” What is expected to be proposed may not satisfy some, and that’s understandable. Anything, though, is better than it is.
David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said, “We think the nation ought to make a larger one-time payment, quite apart from insurance, should you be killed in a combat area of operations. We can never – in any program – give someone back their loved one. There is nothing we can do about the hurt, to make it go away. But we can make your circumstances reasonable, in terms of finances.”

INDEED THEY (GOVERNMENT) can ….. and should have done that long before now. Nevertheless, as they say, better late than never.
Most Americans called to active duty in Iraq have served without complaining. That is testimony to how they feel about accepting the call from their country. There are some who take a different view, of course, but most do their duty and keep on going. Having their lives disrupted is bad enough, to be sure, but when they lose them in that service, their families deserve better treatment. In many cases, they have lost the bread-winner. More than that, though, they are emotionally devastated. As Mr. Chu said, money can’t change that. But, it certainly addresses the practical problems that face survivors.
The little they now receive is an insult heaped on top of the pain and the loss these families feel. That should be rectified. The president is doing the right thing.

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

Obituaries

Emma Caroline, Zoe Nell, Chase Michael Bailey

RALEIGH, NC – Emma Caroline, Zoe Nell and Chase Michael Bailey infant children of Brian and Kim Bailey were born and passed into heaven on January 31, 2005.
Surviving in addition to their parents are maternal grandparents, George W. and Nancy West of Greenwood, SC; paternal grandparents Michael and Cheryl Bailey of Parkersburg, WV; great-grandparents, Maurice and Elaine Glibert and Betty Bailey of Parkersburg, WV and aunt Jane Shults of San Diego, CA and uncle Brent Bailey of Parkersburg, WV.
A memorial service was held in Raleigh for family members.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the March of Dimes, 4112 Pleasant Valley Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.

Earl A. Botts, Sr.

ABBEVILLE – Earl A. Botts, Sr., 65, of 113 Hunter St. died Monday, January 31, 2005 at his residence. He was born in Greenwood County to the late Clarence M. and Sallie Anderson Botts.
Mr. Botts was a graduate of Greenwood High School, he coached American Legion Baseball for several years in Abbeville, and was a big supporter of the Abbeville Booster Club. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, and had retired after many years from CSX Railroad.
Surviving Mr. Botts is a very special friend of 33 years, Ann Botts of Greenwood, two sons, Kipling Todd Botts of San Francisco, CA, and Earl “Andy” Botts of Abbeville, two daughters, Judy B. Snyder and her husband Larry of Aiken, and Tina B. Gwinn and her husband Daniel of Spartanburg, three grandchildren, Kristen Leigh Botts, Heather Nicole Botts, both of Greenwood and Spencer Reed Snyder of Aiken.
The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be l:00PM Thursday, February 3, 2005 in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Faith Home of Greenwood, PO Box 39, Greenwood, SC 29648. The family is at the home of Ann Botts, 102 Orchard Park Dr., Greenwood, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to the Botts family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Botts family.
PAID OBITUARY

Jesse Bouchillon

ABBEVILLE — Jesse Bouchillon, 16, of 531 Bouchillon Road, Nation Community, son of Dave Bouchillon, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 at his home.
Services will be announced by Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.

Velma Donovan

Velma Lane Donovan, 95, widow of William Andrew Donovan, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 at Wesley Commons.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Robin Graham

SALUDA — Robin Graham, 39, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
A native of Saluda County, she was a daughter of Carrie Morris and Norman S. Turner. She was a member of New Life Apostolic Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Audiernna Graham of Saluda; two sons, Carlos Terry and Cortez Terry of Saluda; her mother and stepfather, Marion Morris of Saluda; her father and stepmother, Mary Turner of North Augusta; three sisters, Mrs. Willie (Paula) Robertson of Saluda, Mrs. Melvin (Karen) Frazier of Greenwood, Mrs. James (Virginia) Lamas of Augusta; a brother, Douglas Key of North Augusta.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church.
Visitation is at the home of Paula and Willie Robertson.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield, is in charge.

Bobby E. Herring

January 31, 1936 - January 31, 2005
ANDERSON, SC – Mr. Bobby E. Herring, age 69, husband of Martha LeCroy Herring of 2605 E. North Avenue, Anderson, SC, died Monday, January 31, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville.
Born in Anderson, SC on January 31, 1936, Mr. Herring was a son of the late Welton S. Herring and Sarah Crawford Herring. He was a graduate of Boys’ High School and Erskine College. He was retired from Atlantic Richfield Company as Vice President of Transportation and was also affiliated with Abney Mills for 19 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Anderson.
In addition to his wife, Martha LeCroy Herring of the home; he is survived by a son, Lance E. Herring of Marathon Key, FL; two daughters, Anne-Marie Moore of Anderson, SC and Patti Whims of Greenville, SC; brother, Alan Herring of Anderson, SC; sister, Faye Hallman of Birmingham, AL and four grandchildren, Matthew Aaron Moore, Caitlin Crawford Moore, Zoe Elizabeth Armstrong and Reilly Elizabeth Whims.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 3:00 pm in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home officiated by Dr. James R. Thomason and the Reverend James Dyar. Interment will follow in New Silverbrook Cemetery, Anderson, SC.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, February 3, 2005 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
The family will be at the residence, 2605 E. North Avenue, Anderson, SC.
Memorials may be made to Anderson Emergency Kitchen, Inc., “The Soup Kitchen”, P.O. Box 515, Anderson, SC 29622.
THE MCDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

James Robards

COLUMBIA — James Woodward Robards, 66, of C.M. Tucker Nursing Home, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005 at Richland Memorial Hospital.
Born in Oxford, N.C., he was a son of the late Henry Watkins and Sybil Parrant Robards. He formerly served in the Army National Guard and was formerly employed by Greenwood Mills. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood.
Survivors include a daughter, Dana Robards Balchin Henderson of Hartsville; a brother, John Robards of Greenwood; a sister, Betty Robards of Orlando, Fla.; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren.
A memorial service is 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by Greg Henderson.
Memorials may be made to The Tucker Center, c/o Linda Epting, Volunteer Services, Stone Building No. 122, 2200 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29203.
Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Wylie T. Smith

Wylie T. Smith, 89, formerly of 3007 Highway 25 S., widower of Sue Quarles Smith, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda, he was a son of the late Bennett P. and Delitha Seabelle Thomas Smith. He retired from the City of Greenwood and was a member of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church and the Tom Bryan Sunday School Class.
Survivors include a brother, the Rev. C.E. Smith of Hudson, Fla.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Robert H. Woodyard and Leland S. Scott. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Cornelius E. Smith Jr., Matthew Woodyard, Bill Hale, Wayne Quarles, Earl Quarles and Ben Quarles.
Honorary escorts are members of the Tom Bryan Sunday School Class of the church. Visitation is 6-8 Thursday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a niece, Vivian Woodyard, 3007 Highway 25 S.
Memorials may be made to Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church, 509 Kirksey Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Terri M. Tompkins

Terri M. Tompkins, 200 Holman St., Apt. 5-D, wife of Curtis Lee Tompkins, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of Annie Lee Brown and the late Henry Brown Jr. She was a former employee of Merry Maids and a member of Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Survivors include her mother of Greenwood; her husband of Greenwood; two sons, Curtis Dwight Tompkins and Marcus Antonia Tompkins of Greenwood; a daughter, Latonya Williams of Greenwood; four brothers, John Jennings of Aiken, Willie Jennings, Ronnie Brown, Keith Brown, all of Greenwood; a sister, Melissa Brown of Greenwood; 10 grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Bill Voiselle

NINETY SIX — William Symmes “Bill” Voiselle, 86, of 105 Lowell St., husband of Virginia Bowlware Voiselle, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Claude and Della Duncan Voiselle. He was a major league pitcher, pitching a 21-16 record and 3.02 earned run average for the New York Giants in 1944, the year he was named the National League Most Valuable Rookie. With the Boston Braves in 1948, he pitched in the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. He retired from major league baseball in 1957 as a member of the Chicago Cubs. One of the area’s Textile Baseball League stars, he played on the Ninety Six team for many years.
Survivors include his wife of the home and two brothers, James Voiselle and Claude Voiselle, both of Ninety Six.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Chuck Sprouse and David McCarthy. Burial is in Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Bill Voiselle Sr., Victor Voiselle, Wendell Voiselle, Jimmy Willingham, John Voiselle and Larry Jones.
Honorary escorts are Gene Porth, Russ Cook and Pat Dixon.
Visitation is 9-10:30 Thursday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 85, Ninety Six, SC 29666 or Cambridge United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 328, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

L. E. Watkins

CHAPPELLS – L.E. (Earl) Watkins, 88, resident of 94 Watkins Circle, loving husband of Daisy Gibson Watkins, died January 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born December 8, 1916, he was a son of the late Robert Elkin and Mary Senn Watkins. He was a graduate of Ninety Six High School, attended Newberry College and was a US Army Veteran of World War II. Mr. Watkins was a substitute mail carrier for over 16 years, retired as Postmaster of Chappells and was a retired Dairy Farmer. He was currently a Farmer and Cattleman.
Mr. Watkins was a member of Chappells Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Clerk of Sunday School and various church boards. He was instrumental in the development of Chappells Volunteer Fire Department where he served as a Volunteer Fireman for many years.
Mr. Watkins was predeceased by a son, William Robert Watkins.
Surviving is his loving wife, Daisy Gibson Watkins of the home. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Thursday from the Chappells Baptist Church with Rev. James Rodgers and Rev. Joe Dempsey officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Kevin Black, Dee Clamp, Dr. Richard Christian, Jr., Davey Hiott, Robert Hill, Jr., Jake Montgomery, Milton Senn, Phillip Tinsley and Walt Sammons.
Honorary escort will be Deacons of Chappells Baptist Church.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home in Greenwood and will be placed in the church at 10:00 AM Thursday.
The family is at the home on Watkins Circle and will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:30 to 7:30 Wednesday evening.
Memorials may be made to Chappells Baptist Church, PO Box 6026, Chappells, SC 29037 or to Chappells Volunteer Fire Dept., c/o Chief Tony Johnson, 310 Holloway Cove Road, Chappells, SC 29037.
For additional information please visit
www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Watkins family.
PAID OBITUARY

Winona Watkins

GREENWOOD — Winona Penn Watkins, 86, of 1110 Marshall Road, widow of Edward H. Watkins, Sr., died Monday, January 31, 2005.
Born in Callison, SC, she was the daughter of Edward Erle and Macie Satterfield Penn. She graduated from Peterson Business School and retired from School District 50, where she worked as a secretary for Magnolia and Merrywood Schools.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Greenwood where she was active in the Benson Sunday School Class.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Ben Milazza of Wilmington, Delaware; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward H. Watkins, Jr. and Kathleen Watkins of Hodges; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Watkins was predeceased by a brother, James W. Penn of Anderson.
Funeral services will be held at 3PM Thursday, February 3 at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating.
Burial will follow at Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Penn, Bob Joyner, Pat Penn, Jim Field, Pat Satterfield and Phil White. The family is at 205 Windsor Road in Hodges and will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 3 PM Thursday.
Memorials may be made to Edgewood Cemetery Fund, c/o First Baptist Church, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649 or to American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 60 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE WATKINS FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY

CORRECTION

For the obituary for Helen Kingsmore in Monday’s paper, a relative was identified incorrectly in the information provided to The Index-Journal. Survivors include a former son-in-law, George M. Bryant.