Greenwood residents who visited India hope people
donate to tsunami relief

January 7, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

After having visited India not more than two months ago on a mission trip, Greenwood residents Michael and Linda Davis say they hope people get involved with the tsunami relief effort.
A series of tsunamis spawned by an underwater earthquake Dec. 26 struck parts of southern Asia, including India, killing thousands.
The couple traveled to India in November, staying mostly in Nasik, east of Bombay, for a little more than two weeks. Nasik was not directly hit by the natural disaster but was affected by the devastation in the country.
“We would encourage all churches to get involved,” Michael Davis said. “There is a huge opportunity for Americans to show the love of Christ.”
Many of the areas the couple toured were impoverished. “The economy has been made worse. I can’t imagine,” Davis said.
There were very few big houses in the areas they visited. Most people lived in apartments. Those who didn’t lived in mud huts.
Their contact and host, the Rev. Mohan Ram, heard about the Davises’ ministry and asked them to be the featured speakers for his leadership conference.
Michael and Linda Davis are Global Outreach Pastors at Grace Community Church in Greenwood. They are also founders of Brothers and Sisters in Christ Ministries, and they minister at churches, leadership conferences, youth rallies and revivals.
“We did a school of revival for young Christians, a seminar for emerging leaders, a three-day revival and we spoke at different Christian churches,” Michael Davis said.
At their seminars, the couple taught about basic Christianity.
Many of the young people who attended the children’s revival were between 17-20 years of age, Linda Davis said.
“They seemed very eager to learn. We had so many people who decided to become a Christian,” she said.
Rev. Ram passed out flyers to people in the area to inform them about the conference. When the couple arrived at the hotel where the conference was, it was surprising to them how many people were crammed into the room.
“Every inch of the floor space, in the halls and at the altar was filled,” Michael Davis said.
There were about 700 people on the first night.
“We were excited at their exceptional openness that they had,” Linda Davis said.
People seemed very curious and wanted to hear what they had to say. “I felt that God had softened their hearts,” she said.
The couple gave their testimony among other guest speakers.
The Davises said Ram would like to see them travel back to India this year. Both said they would like to return.
They are both licensed pastors and certified personality trainers, teaching people how to relate to each other.
“We work with parents to teach them how to relate to their teens, couples how to relate to each other and with pastors on how to relate to their congregation,” Linda Davis said.
This year they expect to go to Peru, Greece, Nicaragua and Honduras.
For information about missions or the Davises’ ministry, visit the Web site at www.basicministries316.com or call 943-0707.

Shavonne Potts covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3306, or: spotts@indexjournal.com.

James A. Robinson

DONALDS — James Alvin Robinson, 85, of 234 Freely Road, husband of Minnie Vivian Holmes Robinson, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005 at his home.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of the late Allen W. and Nannie Lou Nix Robinson. He was a member of Dunn Creek Baptist Church and a retired employee of Riegel Textiles.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, William Gary Robinson of Greenwood; three sisters, Era Robinson and Willie Thackston, both of Greenwood and Elma Anderson of Atlanta; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, with the Rev. Larry Nelson officiating and the Rev. Harold Chapman presiding. Assisting are the Revs. Cornell Richardson and Johnny Henderson. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Robert E. Robinson, Brian Childress, Cornell Sanders, Thomas Murray, Brandon Childress and Rodney Edwards.
Flower bearers are Sonya Chappell, Debra Childress, Felicia Chappelle, Janet Ligon, Jamella Hackett and Ruth King.
Visitation is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Victor W. Spivey

UNION MILLS, N.C. — Victor Wendell Spivey, 82, widower of Lucille Rita Carlos Spivey, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005 in Union Mills after an illness.
Born in Tabor City, he was a son of the late Victor Grantham Spivey and Retha Mary Prince Spivey. He worked in administration for the Horry County Detention Center and was a World War II Navy veteran. He was a member of the American Legion, D.A.V., Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club and Loris First Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Bruce Allen Spivey of Union Mills and Barry Spivey of Loris, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Hayne (Donna Maria) Boozer of Greenwood, S.C., and Mrs. Carson (June Ellen) Lewis of Eastover, S.C.; three brothers, Earl Spivey Sr. and Herman Spivey, both of Loris and Donald “Buddy” Spivey of Palm Coast, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Rory Thigpen and Earl Spivey. Burial with military honors is in Twin City Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 93, Loris, SC 29569.
Hardwick Funeral Home, Loris, is in charge.

Leola Bryant Swingler

WASHINGTON — Leola Bryant Swingler, 66, of 1421 North Carolina Ave. N.E., widow of Jesse Swingler, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 at Howard University Hospital.
Born in Edgefield County, she was a daughter of the late Ulysses and Annie Hall Bryant. She was a member of Southern Baptist Church in Washington.
Survivors include four sons, Gonza L. Bryant of Greenwood, Stanley Bryant, Christopher Swingler and Jesse Swingler Jr., all of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Mrs. Paul (Christine) Askew of Washington, D.C.; four brothers, Rubin Bryant of New York, his twin brother, Leroy Bryant, and Isaac Bryant, both of Greenwood and Julian Bryant of Virginia; three sisters, Mrs. William (Dollie) Alexander and Annie Marshburn, both of Greenwood and Elizabeth Jones of Detroit; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Family is at the home of a son Gonza Bryant, 1318 Lincoln Ave., Greenwood.
Pope Funeral Home is in charge of Washington arrangements.
Local services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Horace D. Trawick Sr.

ABBEVILLE — Horace David Trawick Sr., 90, formerly of Mobile, Ala., widower of Virginia Collins Quigley Trawick, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 at a daughter’s home.
Born in Evergreen, Ala., he was a son of the late Sim and Eugenia Sanders Trawick. He worked in the management of a sawmill company for many years and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a son, H. David Trawick Jr. of Loxley, Ala.; four daughters, Sharon Jane Trawick and Dianna E. Elliott, both of Abbeville, Glenda D. Trawick of Summerville and Allyson K. Tirado of Lawrenceville, Ga.; two brothers, Glessner Trawick of Mobile and Elton Trawick of Hawaii; a sister, Maxine Balzli of Mobile; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be announced later.
Burial is in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
Harris Funeral Home is in charge.

Closeness bringing wins

Unselfish Tigers have started the season with 12-1 record

January 7, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

SALUDA — The Saluda High School boys basketball team enters tonight’s final non-region game at Chapin with a chance to tie for the program’s top start in seven years.
The Tigers, who already defeated Chapin 58-49 this season, opened 2004-05 with a seven-game winning streak, and their 12-1 record is the best start since the 1998-99 team won 13 of its first 14 games.
The only thing that separated the Tigers from doing what the 1984-85 team did in starting the season with 13 straight victories was a four-point loss to defending Class A state champion Great Falls in the Newberry Christmas tournament.
And those in the Tigers’ program credit the team’s successful start to its cohesive nature.
“Last year, we played as hard as we’ve done this year, but we seem to be playing more together this season,” senior point guard Jarvis Abney said. “We’ve been playing ball together all our lives. So, we’re very close. I think that closeness has helped us.”
Tigers coach Jimmy Kinard believes it’s that team unity that has allowed his players to accept a more workman-like approach to the game.
The team is averaging 74 points a game, but Kinard is getting almost 18 points each game from his bench players.
The spread-the-wealth attitude also has worked its way into the starting lineup. While Saluda’s starting five is providing an average of 56 points a game, there are four players averaging in double figures. “People are accepting their roles,” Kinard said. “People know that I’m here to play defense or I’m here to run the offense or I’m here to get rebounds. It keeps from having discontent when some people aren’t scoring as much as they want.”
It didn’t take Abney long to understand what his coach was talking about in accepting his role. At the start of the season, Kinard moved Abney, who is one of three senior co-captains, moved from his normal shooting to point guard. A position the senior never played before.
“I look at being a role player as a positive thing,” Abney said. “A role player is just a basketball player.
“I don’t care if I ever score as long as we win. If I score 50 points and we lose, I’m not happy. “I can score, but I get crazy off getting assists now.”
Like Abney, the Tigers’ other two co-captains, Rodrecus Tolen and Montez Mathis, are not the team’s leading scorers.
That role is filled by junior Markese Holloway and sophomore Trevor Deloach, who was the team’s leading scorer last season. Holloway, a first-year starter, leads the Tigers with 16 points a game, while Deloach is adding almost 14 a contest.
But Tolen and Mathis, who are both two-year starters, are happy to fill their roles.
“My job is to go out there and compete as hard as I can and leave everything on the floor,” said Tolen, who is averaging 10 points a game. “I do whatever I can to help the team get that ‘W’.”
Mathis, who provides 11 a night, knows the breakdown for the starting five.
“Trevor is the scorer, Markese is our all-around guy, Jarvis is the passer, and Rod is all hustle,” the senior shooting guard said. “Me, I don’t rebound. I’m the outside shooter.”
Even though Abney, Mathis, Tolen and the rest of the Tigers are delighted with their record this early in the season, but they are in no way satisfied. That’s because the 12-1 start doesn’t help them achieve either of their two main goals: win the Region III title for the first time since 1997-98 and reach the state championship game for the first time in 27 years.
“We may be 12-1, but we have to understand that the region games are the most important games,” Tolen said. “Going to the playoffs depends on region play. So, we have to go out there and win as many as we can.”
This year’s team doesn’t want a repeat of what happened to the 1998-99 Tigers team, which opened the year at 13-1 then went 5-5 in region play.
“We’re happy with our early success, but it has definitely raised expectations,” Kinard said. “And it’s not easy for the team, because the heart of our schedule lies ahead of us in region play.
“We know that Emerald and Batesburg-Leesville are two very strong teams, and with Ninety Six, Newberry and Mid-Carolina are definitely formidable foes.”

Ron Cox covers prep sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ronc@indexjournal.com

What’s real motive behind AG nominee’s opposition?

January 7, 2005

Don’t be misled. The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings that began Thursday on Alberto Gonzales as nominee to be the first Hispanic U. S. Attorney General affects South Carolina as much as any other part of the nation.
Gonzales opponents used his legal briefing on what constitutes torture of prisoners captured in Iraq and Afghanistan to denounce him. They charged that he “paved the way for the horrific torture (by American troops) at Abu Ghraib” prison in Iraq. They disagree with his opinion that terrorists who don’t officially represent any nation should not have the same Geneva Convention protections that regular prisoners of war have.

MANY SOUTH CAROLINIANS also are of the opinion that terrorist prisoners from Iraq and Afghanistan are not representing any national government and thus should not be given the same consideration as regular prisoners of war. Giving that opinion in no way suggests or condones torture. It was a legal opinion.
That, however, apparently doesn’t matter. The organized campaign against Gonzales has appeared to be more of an effort to belittle President Bush than anything else. Gonzales has the qualifications, so there’s nothing there to use to reject him.
Gonzales is the second Hispanic to be opposed by some of the loudest Democrats. Remember Miguel Estrada? He faced the same kind of opposition when he was nominated by Bush to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He, too, had the necessary qualifications.

IT WOULDN’T BE A SURPRISE if someone accused Gonzales opponents of prejudice against Hispanic nominees because they are Hispanic.
Gonzales, of course, is the personification of the American Dream. He was the second of eight children born to Mexican migrant workers in Texas. His parents never got beyond elementary school, but Alberto spent four years in the U. S. Air Force, got his undergraduate degree from college and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He was later appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by then Texas Gov. Bush and went on to be one of Bush’s top White House advisors.
Most major Hispanic groups support Gonzales. That, however, made no difference to some who stand against him. Nevertheless, he should be confirmed, and what appears to be an effort to embarrass the president – and nothing more –should be taken for what it is: sour grapes.