Lee-Grigg found guilty, gets 1 year probation

January 29, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Former MEG’s House director Rebecca Lee-Grigg received a one-year probationary sentence Friday after a Greenwood County jury found her guilty of forgery.
Lee-Grigg was accused of illegally filing a reimbursement request for $189 for victims services with SCVAN. The expenses stem from a 2003 effort by the shelter to protect a victim of domestic violence by changing her identity, and then later relocating her out of the state.
“I am upset enough that this case broke the spirit of a woman who was out there helping the less fortunate, the homeless, the domestically abused,” defense attorney Jim Bannister told the jury during closing arguments. “Send her home with the dignity and respect she has left.”
“This case is not about MEG’s House,” said S.C. Attorney General’s Office prosecutor Jim Bogle. “It’s not about the good things Rebecca Lee-Grigg did while she was there. It’s not about the good and necessary relief she offered (to the victim.) “Sometimes good people do bad things,” he said.
It took the jury about three hours of deliberations to reach a unanimous verdict. Around 2:45 p.m., the jury passed a note to Judge Wyatt Saunders notifying him that they were deadlocked — six voting “guilty,” four “not guilty” and two jurors undecided.
It was the second note passed to the judge during deliberations. The first requested a “clear definition” of criminal intent.
Saunders urged jurors to work out their differences, and 45 minutes later a unanimous verdict was announced. He sentenced Lee-Grigg to two years in prison, suspended to a year of probation.
Lee-Grigg was indicted last year following a State Law Enforcement Division investigation into a reimbursement request for a 2003 out-of-state trip paid for primarily by the city of Greenwood. The Greenwood Police Department loaned MEG’s House a car, driver and other assistance to help in the relocation, but was unable to offer direct financial support for an accompanying victims advocate.
When the trip was complete, Lee-Grigg asked for federal funds from SCVAN to reimburse her for the cost of the trip, even though the city had paid for many of the expenses.
Lee-Grigg says she filed for the request on the advice of Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks, and considered it an “in-kind” donation from the city.
“I never had any intention of doing anything to defraud anyone,” she said during testimony Thursday. “I would apply directly (for reimbursement) rather than have him apply and present me a check.”
Lee-Grigg said she altered some of the receipts as a means to mask the identity of those involved with the trip, specifically the city’s Victim Services Coordinator Beth Pendley. She folded receipts to hide Pendley’s name before faxing them to SCVAN, and in one case used liquid paper to cover a name.
Consequently, the receipts filed with SCVAN contained no names, and few addresses or specific locations pertaining to the trip.
“We have 10 days to file an appeal, which we will,” Bannister said after sentencing. “There was some evidence we were hoping to get in that we were unable to get in, and we had some problems with the indictment as it was presented. We will be presenting these issues to the Court of Appeals in due course.”

Wallace McBride covers Greenwood and general assignments in the Lakelands. He can be reached at 223-1812, or: wmcbride@indexjournal.com

Panthers get win

January 29, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

ABBEVILLE — Much has changed for the Panthers since their first meeting with Walhalla, and all for the better.
Since suffering a 20-point loss to the Razorbacks in the Region I-AA opener, the Abbeville High School boys basketball team picked up its fifth straight win Friday with an 85-72 victory at Moffatt Memorial Gymnasium.
Walhalla (10-7 overall, 2-4 Region I-AA) has lost four of its last five games since the first meeting.
With the win, Abbeville (13-6, 5-1) remains in a first-place tie in the region standings with Liberty.
The two teams play at Liberty Tuesday.
Courtney Tate led the Panthers with 21 points and seven rebounds. Elon Deveaux finished with 12 points and five assists, while Jamar Washington added 10 points and five boards.
The two teams battled back-and-forth through most of the first quarter, until Deveaux sank a 3-foot runner with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the quarter to give the Panthers up for good at 11-10.
The field goal was the start of an 11-3 that Abbeville used to close out the quarter with a 20-13 advantage.
The Panthers saw their lead stretch into double digits in the second quarter. Courtney Marshall followed a free throw from Alonzo Patterson with a 3-pointer to put Abbeville up 28-17 with 5:36 to go before the half.
The Razorbacks went on a run to draw to within a field goal. Down 32-22, Walhalla’s Tait Oliver knocked down one of his five 3s to start a 7-2 run. Oliver, who finished with a game-high 22 points, hit a 10-foot baseline jumper to make it 32-29 with 2:36 left in the half.
Tate helped Abbeville regain the double-digit advantage by scoring seven of the team’s final nine points of the half, giving the Panthers a 43-33 lead at halftime.
Abbeville opened the second half with another 7-2 run. Ty Suit capped by a 4-foot hook shot to put the Panthers up 50-35 with 5:53 left in the third.
Walhalla cut the deficit to seven (66-59) midway through the fourth quarter on a layup from Eric Kelley, who finished with 17 points.
But the Razorbacks would get no closer than that. Despite getting only one field goal over the final 5:30 of play, the Panthers were able to maintain their lead by hitting just enough free throws. Abbeville was 17 of 28 from the foul line through that time, including 9-of-12 in the final minute.

Lady Razorbacks top AHS

January 29, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

ABBEVILLE — The Walhalla High School girls basketball team remained undefeated in Region I-AA play with a 63-43 win over Abbeville Friday night at Moffatt Memorial Stadium.
Amanda Griffith kept the Lady Razorbacks (13-7 overall, 6-0 region) in sole possession of first place in region with a game-high 22 points and 13 rebounds. Teammates Corie Murphy and Rachel Pace added 14 and 10 points, respectively, for Walhalla.
Tecoya London led the way for the Lady Panthers, scoring 19 points and dishing out four assists. Lakia Bailey was the only other Abbeville player in double figures with 11 points to go along with seven rebounds.
Abbeville’s Amber Gillard drilled a long-range jumper with her toes on the 3-point line to give the Lady Panthers a 12-10 lead with 1:27 left in the first quarter.
That lead lasted about 30 seconds, as Griffith was fouled on a short jumper and knocked down the free throw for the three-point play, giving the Lady Razorbacks the lead for good.
Walhalla’s Rachel Pace followed that up with a layin off a no-look pass from a driving Griffith for one of her six assists, putting the team up 15-12 to close out the first quarter.
The difference was three again when Bailey swished her only 3-pointer of the game to make it 23-20 with 3:57 left in the half. But the Lady Panthers would have to wait until early in the second half before adding to their point total.
Walhalla closed out the remainder of the half with an 8-0 run, getting scoring from four different players, to take a 31-20 advantage into the half. The Lady Razorbacks opened the second half with a pair of free throws from Murphy to make it a 13-point lead.
London ended Abbeville’s 5-minute, 19-second scoreless streak with a deep 3-pointer with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.
Murphy matched the 3-ball on Walhalla’s ensuing possession, giving the Lady Razorbacks a 36-23 lead.
The Lady Panthers responded with a 5-0 run over the next 1:09 of play to cut the deficit into single digits, at 36-28. But Walhalla’s Lacey Williams took a pass from Griffith and dropped in a layin to push the Lady Razorbacks lead to 10 with 4:01 left in the third. The Walhalla lead stayed in double digits the rest of the way.

Opinion

Forget partisan politics; work for common good

January 29, 2005

In South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s State of the State address this week, he emphasized something that should get the attention of everyone ….. although the way things have become, in Columbia and Washington, that’s not likely to happen. And that’s unfortunate.
In presenting his proposals for legislative action, Sanford told lawmakers, “… I do know if we work together, not as Republicans and Democrats, but as South Carolinians, we can make a real difference in more than the budget and the economy – but actually in people’s lives … “
During his inaugural speech, President George Bush similarly asked Congress to forego politics and work together for the good of the American people.

POLITICAL OPPONENTS, BOTH in Columbia and Washington, gave lip service to the idea ….. but only in words. It has become standard operating procedure to say one thing but do something else. It has become one of those situations where what is done speaks so loudly nobody can hear what is said. Everything, it appears, is predicated on what political advantage can be squeezed out of it, no matter what it is. It also appears that everything is based on getting elected or re-elected with the primary object of that being holding or acquiring power over things that can and often do affect the lives of others.
It hasn’t always been that way, of course. Throughout the history of this nation there has been disagreement. That’s expected. That’s politics. There was a time, though, that after the fussin’ was through, and the decisions made, opposing forces closed ranks and marched together for the good of everyone. Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, all at least worked together for common goals.

THAT’S WHAT’S SO FRUSTRATING and destructive these days of petty partisan politics. Most of the time – there are variations, of course – the goals of every party and politician are the same ….. or at least similar. Somewhere along the way, though, it changed. If a Republican president or governor made a speech, a Democrat had to give the Democratic response. When Democrats were in power, it worked just the opposite.
If all lawmakers ever get back to the realization that all of them ought to be working for the good of all people, and that their respective goals are not all that much different, maybe they’ll get back to cooperating for the common good.
They’re not adversaries at war. They’re public servants. The way it appears, too many have forgotten that.

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

Obituaries

Danny Allen

Danny Ray Allen, 55, of 123 Edinborough Circle, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

Lt. Col. Jeff Ashley

WATERLOO — Lt. Col. Jeff Marty Ashley, 46, of 312 Trailwood Drive, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 at his home.
Visitation is 6-9 Sunday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a sister, Robbie Jo Able, 125 Wilson Bridge Road, Ninety Six.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Charles Culbertson II

GRAY COURT — Charles Marion Culbertson II, 55, husband of Dianne Tucker Culbertson, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 at Ocracoke Island, N.C.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Norma Culbertson Evans and the late Marion Culbertson. He was a former president and chief operating officer of Kemet Electronics Corp., retiring after 25 years.
He was a board member with the International Association of Companies using tantalum, Tantalum International Consortium, serving as president in 1999, Department of Natural Resources Board of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Greenville YMCA Endowment Board of Directors. He was also past president of Cambridge Chapter, SCSAR, district vice-president of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and was on the SAR National War Graves Committee. A Mason and a Shriner, he was a benefactor of the Endowed Scholarship and the Chemical Engineering Department, Clemson University, and the new Gray Court Community Park. He helped establish the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society. A member of Laurens County School Board for eight years and Dials United Methodist Church, he was a former member, deacon, teacher and lay speaker with Warrior Creek Baptist Church, a past Webelos Scout Leader and Cub Scout Pack Master.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Chad Culbertson and Tucker Culbertson; his mother of Ware Shoals; and a brother, Cary Culbertson of Shreveport, La.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Dials United Methodist Church. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 3-5 Sunday at Fletcher Funeral Service.
Memorials may be made to Dials United Methodist Church, 11829 Highway 101 S., Gray Court, SC 29645.
Fletcher Funeral Service, Fountain Inn, is in charge.

David Gentry

NINETY SIX — William David Gentry, 49, of 109 Cruger Court, husband of Cindy Wheless Gentry, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 at his home.
Visitation is 6-8 Sunday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Johnny Willie Harts

COLUMBIA — Deacon Johnny Willie Harts, husband of Mary Smith Harts, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Leonard Harts Sr. and Florence RederHarts. He was a member and deacon of Pleasant Rock Baptist Church, an Army veteran and a retired employee of Sears.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Latrell Harts and Renee McCants; three brothers, Conell Harts, Charles Harts and Leonard Harts Jr.; two sisters, Willie Mae Mabley and Cleo Harrison.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Rock Baptist Church, Ninety Six. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home, 2930 Colonial Drive, is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Nancy O’Bryant

GREENWOOD – Nancy Hodge O’Bryant, 58, resident of 205 Center Street, beloved wife of James R. “Jimmy” O’Bryant entered Heaven after a courageous battle with cancer on January 26, 2005 at her home.
Born in Charleston, SC, August 4, 1946, she was a daughter of the late Alix Jackson and Leona Mixson Hodge. Her early childhood was spent in Pinewood, SC and she then became a resident of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home for eleven years, a place that was very dear to her heart. She was employed in Greenwood and Aiken by CableVantage, Inc. division of the Liberty Corporation of Greenville.
A member of Harris Baptist Church and the Master’s Disciples Sunday School class of the church, she was also a member and Past Worthy Matron of the Joppa Lodge Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are her children who were the apple of her eye; William A “Bill” Cockrell, Kathy O. and Wells Thomason, Stacy O. Deale, all of Greenwood and Candice “Candy” C. Robertson of Gilbert; five adored grandchildren, Ansley G. Robertson, Jimmy W. Thomason,Holley K. Thomason, Thomas O. Thomason and Abbey R. Deale; three wonderful sisters and their husbands, Elinor H. andL. Russell Smith of Fort Mill, Helen H. and B. Steven Troxel of Pineville and Faye H. Smith of Rock Hill; a sister-in-law, Judy O. McClain of Greenwood; nieces and nephews, Dr. Jane S. Himarious of Arlington, TX, L. Russell Smith, Jr., of Little River, J. Patrick Smith of Fort Mill, Barbara E. Batton of Pineville, Matthew B. Evans of Kingstree, Robert E. Evans of Pineville, Lewis P. Smith, Jr. and J. Alan Smith, both of Rock Hill, Jamie McClain of Greenwood and Rev.Jefferey McClain of Ohio.
She was predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Lewis P. Smith, Jr. and James E. McClain, Jr. Funeral services will be conducted at 3PM Saturday at Harris Baptist Church with Rev. Frank Thomas, Rev. Jeff McClain and Rev. Doug Kauffmann officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers will be James Bowers, Jim Edwards, Frankie Rhodes, Carl Weeks, Roy Yelton and Jimmy Burnette.
Honorary escort will be employees of CableVantage and the alumni of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home along with Claude McElhannon, John Rhodes, William “Bill” Cockrell, Sr., Wells Thomason, Derek Deale, Tommy Robertson, Ruple Harley, III, John Alewine, David Crotts, Hoyt Hembree, Dr. Ben Davis, Dr. Don Johnson, George Teasley, Rev. Miller Murphy, Eric Taylor, John Sheriff, Marion Carnell, Sam Riley, Jimmy Britt and Hugh Riley.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 2PM Saturday.
The family is at the home on Center Street and received friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE O’BRYANT FAMILY.
PAID OBITUARY

Margret Waller Rice

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Margret Waller Rice died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Coleman and Maggie Waller. She was a homemaker and was of the Methodist faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Lovelace and Brenda Ragland of Columbus; a sister, Bernice Waller Wimmes and a brother, Coleman Waller, both of Greenwood; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at Dhiel Whikker Funeral Home in Columbus.
Announcement courtesy of Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Fred Douglas Aiken in Friday’s paper, service details were omitted from the information given to The Index-Journal. The services will be conducted by Pastor Calvin Branch, assisted by the Revs. David E. Morton Jr., Henry Quarles and Eddie Freeman. The body will be placed in Full Gospel Tabernacle Fellowship Church at noon.