Abbeville School District seeing
numerous administration changes

June 7, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — With each school year, there are always changes, with schools getting new teachers and having some retire. In the last few weeks, there have been changes within the county school district, not with teachers but principals.
One change occurred last week with former Abbeville High School Principal Beth Taylor. Taylor, who occupied her position for five years, is taking the leap to another Lakelands school district where she will be the new principal at Greenwood High for the 2005-06 school year.
Meanwhile, Steve Glenn, former assistant principal for Abbeville High, had his sights set on leaving the district and heading to the principalship of the new Brewer Middle School in Greenwood.
Glenn, however, has decided to stay with the Abbeville district and instead will assume the Abbeville High principalship that Taylor is vacating.
Another change evident this coming year involves former Long Cane Elementary Principal Barry Jacks who will head Wright Middle this year.
The current issue of administrators moving to different districts within the Lakelands raises the question of whether a smaller district such as Abbeville could compete for talented personnel with larger District 50.
Abbeville Superintendent Mike Campbell addressed the circumstances in which the district finds itself.
Campbell said it is difficult to compete with other districts because Abbeville’s salary scale is below other districts such as Greenwood.
“In this case, the school is larger,” he said.
Campbell said the Abbeville board is aware that they are losing administrators partially because of financial considerations.
Campbell said, in his opinion, the consensus of the board members is that they need to address the situation.
“In this year’s budget there is a $1,500 to $3,000 raise for administrators,” he said.
There is also a need to continue to look at compensation packages until the district can bring these packages in line with other districts, he said.
Campbell has been asked to provide salary scales of administrators and teachers comparing area districts.
“We have a $1,000 raise in the budget extra for teachers,” Campbell said.
This decision has not yet received final approval from the board, however. “Everyone has to understand that every raise is contingent upon resources available,” he said.
As to personnel leaving, Campbell said it is a bittersweet situation.
“We are proud that they’ve matured and prospered in our schools and that they are able to secure a position with more responsibility,” he said.
Campbell said he is disappointed that the district will be losing people with exemplary skills.
As to the changes of administrators within the district, he said the district is always looking to fit a leader’s skills with the needs of the schools.
“My personal philosophy is leaders need a change after a few years,” Campbell said, “and some changes were necessary because of attrition.”
Jacks who is one of those administrators moving within the district said he’s looking forward to his new position.
“I’m working with some of those same children I had at Long Cane and I will have an advantage of knowing half the students,” Jacks said of his move to Wright Middle.
He said he’s looking forward to working with the “good staff” already in place.
Before the principal changes, Jacks had agreed to work at the alternative school.
“I was needed more at the middle school and so I agreed to go there,” he said.
Jacks also said of the administrative change that is bringing in a new superintendent, Ivan Randolph, that new blood in the school system was, at times, good.
“It revitalizes and reinvigorates folks,” he said.
Glenn asked to be released from his contract with Greenwood School District 50, said Randy Vaughn, assistant superintendent for human resources. Glenn was not available to comment on his reasons for staying in the Abbeville district.
“He signed a contract to come to Brewer,” Vaughn said of Glenn’s initial intentions.
He said the district is currently interviewing candidates to fill that vacancy.
“We are moving ahead and actively interviewing candidates for that position,” Vaughn said.
He said they hope to fill the vacancy at Brewer soon.
In a letter issued to Brewer staff, District 50 Superintendent Bill Steed sought to explain the change.
An excerpt from the letter says, “We regret that due to restructuring within the Abbeville School District, Mr. Glenn has been named principal of Abbeville High School. Our district has released him at his request so that he may assume this leadership role at Abbeville High School.”
The letter goes on to wish Glenn success in Abbeville.
There is an open position for a principal at the alternative school that the Abbeville School District is currently advertising.
“We hope to have someone at the first of next week. We have had some candidates respond,” Campbell said.
Charles Costner, who was at Wright Middle, will head Long Cane Elementary, while Todd Rainey will head Diamond Hill Elementary.

Robert Boland

WARE SHOALS — Robert A. Boland Jr., 57, of 11 Camak Ave., died Monday, June 6, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Ware Shoals, he was a son of the late Robert A. Boland Sr. and Pauline Pitt Boland. He was a member of First Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sisters, Mary Jo Crawford of Simpsonville, Brenda Sims of Fountain Inn, Lois Madden of Gray Court and Lynn Traynham of Ware Shoals.
Graveside services are 4 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Marcus Bishop.
Pallbearers are Scott Crawford, Matt Sims, Jay Traynham, Joe Madden, Mickey Boland, Don Jackson, Joey Madden and Joe Pitt.
Visitation is after the service in the mausoleum chapel.
The family is at 12 Green Acres Circle, Ware Shoals.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge.

Wilbert ‘Suir’ Booker

Wilbert Lewis “Suir” Booker, 52, of 318 Baldwin Ave., died Saturday, June 4, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of William Thomas Booker and the late Janie G. Booker. He was a member of Flint Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his father of Greenwood; a daughter, Lanisha Kinard of the home; a sister, Diane Payne of Columbia; five brothers, the Rev. William H. Booker Sr. of Promised Land, Ronald Booker of Clinton, Md., Cornell Booker and Robert Booker, both of Greenwood and the Rev. Arthur Kemp of Bradley; four grandchildren, two reared in the home, Symone Williams and Aaron Harper.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Flint Hill Missionary Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. William H. Booker Sr. and the Rev. Darryl K. Hamilton presiding. Assisting are the Revs. Arthur L. Kemp and Willie Evans, Bishop Emanuel Spearman and Minister William H. Booker Jr. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Ronald Booker Sr., Ronald Booker Jr., Cornell I. Booker, Kevin Booker, Robert Booker and Bruce Moore.
Flower bearers are Gladys Moore, Patricia Gilchrist, Beverly B. White, Elease Spearman, Mary B. Gilchrist and Thelma A. Carter.
Honorary escorts are Brewer High School Class of 1970 members.
The family is at the home and at his father’s home, 307 Watson Court.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Dorothy Clayton

Dorothy Allen Clayton, 98, formerly of Janeway, died Monday, June 6, 2005 at Wesley Commons. Visitation is 2-3 Wednesday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a son, David Clayton, 306 Glenwood St., Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Roger Keith Daniel

CATAWBA — Roger Keith Daniel, 50, 491 Rowells Road, husband of Jackie Peagler Daniel, died Sunday, June 5, 2005 at Wallace Thomson Hospital in Union.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Aleen Rushton Hallman

NINETY SIX, SC – Aleen Rushton Hallman, 79, of 220 Lowell Street, widow of Silas Jethrope Hallman, Jr. died, Sunday, June 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda County; a daughter of the late Henry Curtis and Mattie Freeland Rushton. She was retired from the Sloan Plant of Greenwood Mills, where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons and daughter in laws Ronnie and Linda Hallman and Gene and Kathy Hallman both of Ninety Six; a sister Lois Berry of Ward, SC; two brothers Ray Rushton of Salem, VA. And Jr. Rushton of Goldsboro, NC; three grandchildren Ronnie Hallman Jr., Curtis Eugene Hallman Jr. and Jessica Homovich and one great grandson John Silas Homovich.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Baptist Church with the Rev. Louie Murray officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Hallman Jr., Curtis Eugene Hallman Jr., Brad Rushton, Everett Homovich, Randy Rushton, Robert Berry, and Tim Edwards.
Honorary escorts will be Ricky and Jesse Rushton.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Tuesday night from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. and will be placed in the church at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorials may be made to a charity of ones choice.
Online condolences may sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Trudy M. Louden

McCORMICK — Services for Trudy Martin Louden, of 502 Highway 378 W., are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Eddie J. Freeman. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is at the home.
Viewing is after 1 p.m. today at G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Edgefield.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary is in charge.

Martha Jane Nelson Williams

Martha Jane Nelson Williams, 90, of 1110 Marshall Road, Wesley Commons, died Sunday, June 5, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Lillie West Nelson. She was a member of Mount Herman Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Larry K. Williams of Charleston and James David Williams of Simpsonville; four daughters, Martha Mildred Brown of Laurens, Lillie Akali of Greenville, Marian Carter and Thelma J. Williams, both of Charleston; a brother, George W. Nelson of Augusta, Ga.; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home of Vivian Williams-Covington, 303 Taggart Ave., Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Lowry T. Young

ABBEVILLE, SC – Lowry T. Young, 80, of 1210 Hwy. 20 Abbeville, husband of Margaret F. Newell Young, died Saturday, June 4, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital. He was born in Abbeville County to the late Grady C. and Dora Temple Young.
Mr. Young was a member of Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church where he served on the property committee for many years, also a member of the Long Canites, Senior Group. He served in the United States Air Force during WWII in the 15th Airforce Division. Mr. Young retired from Abbeville Milliken Plant after 40 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Dot Ferguson.
Surviving Mr. Young is his wife of 60 years of the home, three daughters, Patsy Manly and her husband Mike of Abbeville, Anita Porterfield and her husband Don of Pearisburg, VA, and Laura Deutch and her husband Ariel of Nashville, TN, four grandchildren, Carol Hall, Michael Manly, Chrissy Porter-field, and Mattis Deutch, four great-grandchildren. Josh Hall, Olivia, Elizabeth, and Seth Manly, two step-grandchildren, Ric Porterfield and Paula Smallwood, and one step-great-grandchild, Anderson Small-wood, two brothers, Conrad Young of Abbeville, and Eugene Young of Easley, one sister, Anna Shealy of Greenville, SC.
Funeral services will be 11:00AM Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at Upper Long Cane Presby-terian Church. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
The family is at the residence.
Memorial Contributions in Memory of Mr. Young may be sent to the Upper Long Cane Church - Building Fund, 194 Hwy 20, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Young family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Young family
PAID OBITUARY

Chief John Henry Young earned respect of people

June 7, 2005

John Henry – Johnny – Young was a quiet, dignified man. He loved his hometown of Greenwood to a fault, and it showed. He gave it the best years of his life, too ….. 36 years serving and protecting people and property, first as a city policeman, then as chief of the force until his retirement in 1986.
Johnny, as friends called him, was not a pretentious person. He never presumed to be anything but what he was, a simple, god-fearing friend of everyone he met.
His quiet demeanor, however, could not camouflage the strength of character that marked his life. Whether it was spending time with his family, or on the job helping make the Emerald City a peaceful and safe community, he worked to maintain an environment where people were not afraid to take a walk in the evening or let their children play without fretting for their safety.

NO ONE EVER HAD TO WONDER where Chief Young stood. He was strictly a law-and-order, no-nonsense man. However, no one had to wonder, either, whether they would get a fair shake if trouble ever came around. Fairness was second nature to this strong but gentle soul.
As chief of police, Johnny Young never expected anyone to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself. He put himself in harms’ way more than his family would like, but that was the sense of duty and obligation he lived everyday. He was a leader, no question about it. He was never hesitant in making tough decisions, but he also led by example.

JOHN HENRY YOUNG WAS the quintessential public servant. It was evident in the respect he was shown by people of every station in life. For him, though, respect was never one-sided. It was always a two-way street. Respect begets respect, and Chief Young was living proof.
Perhaps the greatest compliment anyone could receive, though, comes from peers. In Johnny Young’s case it was no different. He got high marks all around, and they were earned during a lifetime of working to keep his community a quality place for quality people.
In the final analysis, he was a policeman’s policeman. What greater recognition could anyone receive for a job well done?