Abbeville Hall of Fame inductees, others honored

July 20, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Family, friends and local officials gathered Tuesday night for the Greater Abbeville Chamber of Commerce banquet to honor residents for their efforts in promoting the county.
People filled the Wright Middle School cafeteria to support the five honorees.
Michael Genevie and James S. Jones Jr. were inducted into the Abbeville Hall of Fame.
“We usually choose one, but both were deserving,” said Cheri Standridge, executive director of the Chamber.
Genevie, who is executive director of the Abbeville Opera House, said he had no idea he’d be one of the recipients.
“I was saying that the speech was beautiful,” Genevie said.
The introduction for Genevie was halfway completed before he realized it was about him, he said.
“I thought I was coming to support the Chamber. I was genuinely shocked,” Genevie said.
As executive director of the opera house, Genevie works closely with the Chamber.
Jones also didn’t know he was getting an award.
“I was totally surprised. I thought I was here to support someone else,” he said.
Jones said it was a “tremendous honor.”
“It’s also an honor for Abbeville County,” he said. “Abbeville has been so good to me.”
There were two recipients of the Community Service Award: brothers Oscar and Shelley Reid, co-owners and managers of WZLA-FM radio.
Jana Davis received the Small Business Award. She owns Abbeville Bookkeeping and Tax Service.
S.C. Rep. Paul Agnew, who represents District 11 in the state House of Representatives, was the guest speaker.
Agnew talked about “exciting things” happening in Abbeville, referring to the new businesses and other opportunities for growth in the county.
“We must support our small businesses. Just looking on the Square, it’s apparent that small businesses are the mainstay of our community,” he said.

Kenneth Cox

WARE SHOALS — Carl Kenneth Cox, 65, of 9548 Highway 252, husband of Martha Sue Abrams Cox, died Monday, July 18, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of Ruby Burgess Cox and the late William Carl Cox Jr. He served in the Army and was a member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church. Employed for 42 years by Piggly Wiggly in Ware Shoals and Ninety Six, he retired from Bi-Lo.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Ware Shoals; a son, Eric Cox of Edgefield; two daughters, Christie Cox Finley of Ware Shoals and Shannon Cox Bradberry of Greenwood; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Ostrom and the Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10.
Pallbearers are Wallace Ricketts, Tony Mimick, Jason Cox, Joe Abrams, Larry Batson, Buddy Watson, Geary Abrams, James Abrams and Nick Ferguson.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Parker-White Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Poplar Springs Building Fund or Cemetery/Maintenance Fund, P.O. Box 124, Ware Shoals, SC 29692.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Deatra Evelyn DeGeeter

Deatra Evelyn DeGeeter, 37, of 109 Second Ave., Route 84, Carbon Cliff, Ill., died Monday, July 18, 2005 in Rock Island, Ill.
She was a daughter of Brad DeGeeter of Rock Island and Evelyn DeGeeter of Greenwood.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home.
Pallbearers are Danny Harvley, Terry Harvley, Mike Harvley, Jerry Harvley, Josh Hamrick, Donald Hollingsworth, Stanley Medlock and Ricky Dill.
Visitation is 1:30-2:30 Thursday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of an uncle, Sammy Harvley, 107 Circle St., Ninety Six.
Memorials may be made to Harley Funeral Home.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Jamie Ellis

Jamie Carol Alexander Ellis, 46, of 1122 Highside St., died Monday, July 18, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center. Born in Birmingham, Ala., she was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband Hugh “Wesley” Ellis of Greenwood; a son, Robert Sexton and a daughter, Sandra Sexton Andrews, both of Greenwood; a brother, Patrick Adam Alexander of Greenwood; a sister, Cynthia Jane Newell of Russellville, Ala.; and six grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. Thursday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by Pastor John Setzler.
Visitation is 3-4 Thursday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of Danny and Melba Lewis, 105 Longwood Lane, Gatewood.
Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1741, Greenwood, SC 29648, or to the family.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Calvin Kinard Jr.

Services for Calvin Kinard Jr. are 11 a.m. Thursday at Jacobs Chapel Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Brown, assisted by the Revs. Ulysses Parks, Bernard White and Clyde Cannon. The body will be placed in the church at 10. Burial is in The Evening Star.
Pallbearers are nephews and church officers.
Flower bearers are nieces, missionaries and Latisha Robinson.
Visitation is this evening at the home, 108 N. Bethune St.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Linda B. Lagroon

Linda B. Lagroon, 67, of National Health Care, widow of William Thomas Lagroon, died Monday, July 18, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
She was a member of Trinity Pentecostal Holiness Church and a homemaker.
Survivors include a sister, Eunice Black of Duluth, Ga.
A memorial service is 4 p.m. today at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Lauren Young, Cliff Vickers and Bryan Brock.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Pentecostal Holiness Church, Greenwood.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

The Rev. Woodrow Franklin Monroe

COLUMBIA — The Rev. Woodrow Franklin Monroe, 92, widower of Jureia Elizabeth Bright Monroe, died Saturday, July 16, 2005. A son of the late Winslow Franklin and Mattie Hulsey Monroe, he was a World War II Army veteran and served in the Medical Corps. He was a Baptist minister for 56 years.
Survivors include a son, Teddy Monroe; two daughters, Mrs. David (Sybil) Knight and Mrs. Lee (Mary Ellen) Honeycutt; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service is at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Tri-County Hospice, 166 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, S.C.29210.
Dunbar Funeral Home is in charge.

Toncie Robinson

Toncie McIlwain Robinson, 90, of 956 Sunset Drive, widow of William Edward Robinson, died Monday, July 18, 2005 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont Hospice House.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late William Leonard and Beatrice McCord McIlwain. A graduate of Due West High School and Montreat College in Black Mountain, N.C., she formerly taught at Robinson School in McCormick County. She was a member of Troy Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Sara R. Walker, with whom she made her home and Carolyn R. Greenway of Lawrenceville, Ga.; a son, William E. “Bill” Robinson Jr. of Greenwood; a brother, Charles McIlwain of Abbeville; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Roy E. Beckham. Burial is in Troy Cemetery. Pallbearers are Perry Greenway, John Greenway, Andy Robinson, Reid Walker, Johnny McClain, Calvin Haynes and Drew Greenway.
Visitation is 2-3 today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of Curtis and Sara Walker, 956 Sunset Drive.
Memorials may be made to Troy ARP Church, P.O. Box 152, Troy, SC 29848 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Dr. Jim Sockman

McCORMICK — Dr. James Hobart Sockman, DDS, “Dr. Jim”, 62, resident of 206 Chaussette Trace, husband of Penny Christian Sockman, died Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Galion, Ohio, he was a son of Hobart S. Sockman of Greenwood and the late Helen L. Culp Sockman. He attended Penn State University and graduated from Ohio State University and the Ohio State College of Dentistry. He was a member of the President’s Club and Buckeye Club, both of Ohio State University. He was also a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon and Psi Omega Dental fraternities. Dr. Sockman was the founder of Ashtabula Dental Associates and past president of the Northeastern Ohio Dental Association. Dr. Sockman was a Porsche enthusiast and enjoyed racing over the years.
He was a member of McCormick United Methodist Church and a former member and trustee of Ashtabula First United Methodist Church and Saybrook United Methodist Church in Ashtabula.
Surviving, in addition to his father and wife, are two sons, James K. Sockman of Ashtabula and John L. Sockman of Pocono Manor, PA; one daughter, Jill A. Sockman of Raleigh, NC; two sisters, Mary S. Spence of McCormick and Ann S. Kril of Saratoga Springs, NY; one brother, Dr. William P. Sockman, DDS of Chardon, OH; two grandchildren, Jessie Sockman and Sidney Sockman.
A memorial service will be conducted 3:30 p.m. Thursday from the McCormick United Methodist Church with Rev. Jerry James and Dr. Robert Titus officiating.
At a later date burial will be in the Green Valley Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, OH, where 6 generations of Sockmans have been lain to rest.
The family has gathered at the home in Savannah Lakes Village and will receive friends at the McCormick United Methodist Church Social Hall from 2:30 to 3:30 Thursday just before the service.
Memorials may be made to the National MS Society, SC Regional Office, 2711 Middleburg Dr., Suite 105, Columbia, SC 29204; or to Ohio State College of Dentistry, University Development, c/o College of Dentistry, 709 Fawcett Center, The Ohio State University, 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, OH 43210; or to the McCormick United Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 267, McCormick, SC 29835.
Please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com for additional information.
BLYTH FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Joel Cornatzer Stafford

HAMPTONVILLE, NC — Joel Cornatzer Stafford, 49, a loving husband, son and brother, died suddenly Monday, July 18 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. He was born July 7, 1956 and was a member of Bixby Presbyterian Church in Advance, NC. Joel was preceded in death by his stepfather, Richard V. Davis, his grandfather, Glen Cornatzer and grandmother, Sallie Cornatzer. Surviving are his wife, Janet Whatley Stafford, his mother, Catherine Cornatzer Davis and a sister, KarenIdol and husband, Barry. The Stafford Family will receive friends from 7-9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. The Funeral Service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Thursday, at Beulah Land Church of Jonesville by Rev. Ralph Casstevens. Burial will follow in the Bixby Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association Memorial, P.O. Box 5216 Glenn Allen, VA 23058-5216.
PAID OBITUARY

Brenda Gail Walker Weaver

CHESAPEAKE, VA — Brenda Gail Walker Weaver, 55, of 2427 Brookshire Drive, widow of Bobby Weaver died July 17, 2005 at Chesapeake General Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Prue and Leila Walker. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School in Greenwood, SC and was employed at Lawrence Pharmacy.
She is survived by a son, Kenneth Bagwell of the home, a sister, Judy Stevenson of Greenville, and two brothers, Donald Walker of Greenwood and Wayron Walker of Jesup, Georgia and three grandchildren. She was a member of Brentwood Baptist Church of Chesapeake, Virginia.
Services will be Wednesday at 2:00pm at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with The Reverend Stanley Sprouse. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30pm at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of brother, Donald Walker at 229 Lakeshore Dr., Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Irmo’s Howard quiets Greenwood’s batters

July 20, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

IRMO — The last time the Post 20 baseball team saw Irmo’s Travis Howard it was in the second round of the state playoffs two years ago where he pitched a complete-game shutout victory.
The Post 20 batters did a little bit better job of figuring out Howard Tuesday night, but the outcome remained the same.
Howard went the distance Tuesday, striking out 10 Greenwood batters in a 6-2 win over Post 20 at Dutch Fork High School to take a 1-0 lead in the second round best-of-five series.
“He has been our bulldog all season,” Irmo coach Mike Pulaski said.
“He’s not overpowering, but he has good stuff, and he always gives us a chance to win.”
Throwing mostly off-speed pitches, Howard, who finish his first season pitching for Newberry College, scattered seven hits — three more than in 2003 — while walking only three to earn his fifth win of the season and keep Irmo undefeated on its home field in 16 tries.
“We kept swinging at the curveball in the dirt,” a frustrated Post 20 coach Billy Dean Minor said. “We have to come out ready to play tomorrow or we’ll find ourselves in a big hole, down two games.
“They (Post 20) feel like they can play with this team, but they have to go out and do it on the field.”
Greenwood starter Justin Collier went pretty much stride-for-stride with Howard through the first seven innings. But after the Post 20 batters finally got something going against Howard in the eighth, tying the game at 2, things began to unravel for Collier.
Irmo’s Kyle Schumpert led off the bottom of the inning by launching a solo shot past the 350-foot marker in left-center, giving the team a 3-2 advantage.
Schumpert’s homer kickstarted the big inning that Irmo had threatened to have all game.
Jamal Kinard added a two-run double off reliever Nick Milford and Kyle Branham chipped in a run on a sacrifice fly to push the score to 6-2.
Game Two of the state tournament-qualifying series is at 7:30 tonight at Legion Field, with Game Three back at Dutch Fork.
After a three-up, three-down first inning, Irmo had the makings of a breakout inning in the second against Collier.
With runners on second and third after a double by Schumpert, Zack Waterbury scored the game’s first run on Matt Flood’s ground out to short.
But the 1-0 advantage was all Howard would come away with in the second. Collier struck out two of the next three batters to get out of the inning.
Irmo extended its lead in the seventh inning. Kinard deposited the first offering from Collier over the fence in left-center for a 2-0 score.
From the third through the seventh, Howard retired 12 of 14 Post 20 batters, allowing only one base hit.
But his dominance began to crumble in the eighth, thanks in some part to a couple of key errors.
Lovvorn led off the inning with a long fly ball that tipped off the glove of a diving Jamal Kinard. Lovvorn cruised into second on the play.
Milford followed with a grounder into the hole at short. Milford beat it out, and when the throw got by first baseman Kenay Hayes, Lovvorn came home to score Post 20’s first run, with Milford taking second.
Looking to move Milford to third, Milton Brown laid down a bunt. But Howard’s throw to first scooted under Hayes’ legs, allowing Milford to score the tying run.
But Greenwood’s control of the game’s momentum was quickly dashed behind the four-run answer from Irmo in the bottom of the inning.

When was the last time hatchet jobs not routine?

July 20, 2005

It doesn’t matter whether they’re in Columbia or Washington, D. C., throwing mud has become an everyday occurrence, it seems. Putting down political opponents has always been part of the process, of course, but in recent times it has escalated to the point where it’s turning off a lot of voters.
In fact, one of those voters in Greenwood suggests that if members of Congress and the state Legislature would spend as much time working on what’s good for the country and state as they do on digging up dirt to make into mud to throw, there’s no telling how much could be accomplished.
Good point! Be that as it may, Is anyone listening? The controversy over what Karl Rove did or did not do and whether any laws were broken is a good illustration.
Rove, political advisor to President Bush, is accused of wrongly identifying a CIA agent ….. accused by Bush critics, of course.
He hasn’t been charged with anything. Still, he’s the target du jour of the political slings and arrows debacle that has always been a staple of Washington politics. Can anyone remember when something wasn’t going on in Washington, some political hatchet job, that always keeps the political waters riled? What’s next?