‘This is the worst thing Ninety Six has ever seen’

Residents cope with loss of mill to raging fire

March 13, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

NINETY SIX — Strong winds offered some reprieve from the clouds of smoke that still stalked the streets of the mill village Saturday morning.
The historic Ninety Six Plant No. 10, closed since the late 1980s, was destroyed by fire Thursday night. The blaze burned itself out by the following morning but still smoldered over the weekend. Firefighters at the scene predicted that smoke from ruins would be a problem for the village for the remainder of the week.
Acrid plumes of smoke didn’t deter the curious from getting a closer look, though. Once-quiet streets were busy with traffic Saturday.
“I know all of these people,” said Jennifer Dorn, 22, “but none of them live here.”
Dorn got her first look at the scene Saturday, visiting with her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy.
“This is the worst thing Ninety Six has ever seen,” she said. “I live about six miles from here and could see the fire from my house.”
“It’s just devastating,” said Diane Bryan, who paused in the mill’s parking lot with her husband Dixon. “It looks like a war zone. I grew up right down the street.”
“It was rat infested, snakes — nobody was keeping it up,” Dixon said. “Now maybe they’ll haul the debris out.”
News of the fire traveled quickly Thursday night, and sometimes delivered to Ninety Six residents from unlikely sources.
“I didn’t even know it was burning,” said Sandra Staggs. “My nephew called me from Spartanburg to tell me it was burning.”
Staggs visited the scene of the fire Saturday with her mother, Amozine Fortner, a former employee of the mill.
“It’s a sad feeling,” said Fortner, 82.
“I worked down here a while,” said Milton Fowler, who photographed the plant’s few standing walls. “I was down here (Friday) but forgot my camera. I just came back here to get some pictures.”
The heightened traffic around the mill ruins could create a safety hazard, warns Lower Lake Greenwood Fire Chief Jerry Roberts.
“Stay outside of the fence,” he advised. “When those walls fall, it’s going to be like an explosion. There’s a lot of sentimental value — I understand that. But I want people to be alive to tell their grandchildren about the fire.”
“I made 25 years here in the mill,” said Paul Ballard, 84, who observed the ruins from outside the security fence. “It’s sort of dear to me. I live right up the street here.”
Ballard said Thursday night he sat on the back porch of Cambridge United Methodist Church and watched the action.
“I sat up there for two hours. I figured I’d never see a fire of that magnitude again,” he said.
“It’s part of my grandmother’s history,” said Tina Hughes, who took pictures of the building’s remains with her daughter and sister-in-law. “I’m glad my maw-maw’s not alive to see this, to see that much of her memories gone.”

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

James Robert Crawford

BATESBURG — James Robert Crawford, 91, husband of Carrie Mae Riser Crawford, died Friday, March 11, 2005.
Born in Laurens, he was a son of the late John Robert and Maida Jonelle Bagwell Crawford. He was a member of Johnston United Methodist Church, the adult Sunday school class, Lodge No. 181 in Johnston and was former master of the lodge. He was a mason member for over 60 years and supervisor with Riegel Textile Company for 47 years.
Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Mrs. Robert (Wilma) Parnell and Mrs. Tommy (Edna) Nichols, both of Columbia.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. N. Keith Polk Jr.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Milton Shealy Funeral Home and following the service Monday in the family room at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Milton Shealy Funeral Home is in charge.

LaQuaevyhn Jamiyas Dunlap

LaQuaevyhn Jamiyas Dunlap, infant, of 105 Osborne Ave., died Friday, March 11, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
He was a son of James Alvin Dunlap and Freda Larisa Jackson.
Survivors include his father of Atlanta, mother of the home; a brother, James Alvin Dunlap Jr. of Greenwood; maternal grandmother, Mauressa Jackson of Greenwood; maternal grandfather, Freddie Elum of Hodges; paternal grandmother, Sally Williams of Greenwood; maternal great-grandmothers, Maude Jackson of Greenwood and Alice Harris of Hodges.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at The Evening Star Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Apostle Jessie Simmons.
The family is at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@emeraldis.com

Genora Talbert Jones

McCORMICK — Services for Genora Talbert Jones are 2 p.m. Monday at the New Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Haskell. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are church officers and friends of the family.
Flower bearers are members of the Women’s Home Aide Society.
The family is at the home of a niece, Eartha Lee Lester, Westowne Apts. No. H4, McCormick.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Hollie Martin Sr.

Services for Hollie Martin Sr., of 110 Ashcroft Drive, are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Olive Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. H.T. Ligon, assisted by Elders Thomas Richardson and Carl McCluney. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Demetrius Middleton, Rodney Johnson, Daryl Chandler, King David Cason III, Sammy Young and Herbert D. Martin.
Flower bearers are Barbara Cason, Yvette Wilson, Cherita Fair, Jennifer Martin, Colleen Carroll, Roslyn Smith and Lisa Atkinson.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Ruth McCravy

Ruth Hallman McCravy, of 105 Milford Springs Road, widow of Hugh D. “Rex” McCravy, died Saturday, March 12, 2005 at National Health Care Center.
Born in Gilbert, she was a daughter of the late Perry Hampton and Anna Smith Hallman. She was a homemaker and a member of Laurel Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Sam McCravy of Greenwood; six sisters, Lola Anderson, Melba Price, Shirley Brundrick, Floy Taylor and Lois Waites, all of Columbia, Reba LaFlen of North Myrtle Beach; a brother, Larry Hallman of Columbia; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Services are 3 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Todd Johnson and Wade Burton. Burial is in Bethlehem Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Layne Alexander, Matt McCravy, Lee Alexander, Kent Davis, Ronnie Addison and Gerald Rinehart.
Honorary escorts are men of the church, Jimmy McCarthy, Calvin Ramsey and Tommy Calliham. Visitation is 1-2:30 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of her son, 1015 Sweetwater Road, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to Laurel Baptist Church, 330 Sample Road, Greenwood, The Faith Home, 144 Faith Home Road, Greenwood or to Bethlehem Cemetery, c/o Anne Motsinger, 109 Fuller St., Greenwood, S.C. 29649.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneral home.com

Mollie F. Smith Sanders

ORANGEBURG — Mollie F. Smith Sanders, 91, died Saturday, March 12, 2005.
Survivors include four sons, Billy R. Smith of Charleston, A. Foy Smith of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Phillip D. Smith of Mill Creek and Perry W. Smith of Orangeburg; a stepson, Daniel B. “Sonny” of Cordova; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. Burial is in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation is 7-9 p.m. tonight at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc.
Thompson Funeral Home Inc. is in charge.

Dr. Jack Scurry

John Carroll “Dr. Jack” Scurry, M.D., 86, of 600 Tranquil Road, widower of Julia Porter Scurry, died Saturday, March 12, 2005 at his home.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA, October 25, 1918, he was a son of the late Dr. Carroll Jenkins and Lila Malone Scurry. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School, Erskine College and received his Medical Doctorate Degree from Louisiana State University. He was a US Army Veteran of World War II serving in Patton’s Army as a Medical Officer. After the war Dr. Scurry returned to Greenwood where he was associated at The Scurry Clinic with his father and brother, the late Dr. Brooks Scurry, in general practice and surgery. He also served a term as Chief of Staff at Self Memorial Hospital. At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was Medical Director for Greenwood Mills.
Dr. Scurry was one of the original developers of Palmetto Dunes at Hilton Head and served on the first South Carolina Coastal Council. He was an avid out doorman and quail hunter.
He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Jane S. Kiser of Bluffton and Harriet S. Johnson of Greenville, two sons, John C. Scurry Jr., of Greenwood and Wick Porter Scurry of Bluffton. A sister, Elizabeth S. “Gay” Charles of Greenwood. Eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Monday at Main Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Dennis and Rev. Paul Frey officiating.
Burial will be at the family plot at the residence on Tranquil Road.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
Honorary escort will be Dr. John Harrison, Dr. Stanley Baker, Timothy Hackett, Herman McGee, Frank Reynolds, Dr. Richard Hunton, Dr.Wiley Price, Abney Wallace, Russell Lawrence and special care givers, Hattie Bolden and Willa Morgan.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1:00 PM Monday.
The family will receive friends at the home on Tranquil Road.
Memorials may be made to the Julia Porter Scurry Foundation, C/O Abney Wallace, PO Box 3258, Greenwood, SC 29648.
For additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home is assisting the Scurry Family.
PAID OBITUARY

Cooper C. Watson

EDGEFIELD — Cooper Calhoun Watson, 74, of Gray Street, husband of Mildred Quarles Watson, died Friday, March 11, 2005 at University Hospital.
Born in Edgefield County, he was a retired building contractor and a member of Berea Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Diann McCary, Edgefield; two stepsons, Willie Langley and Edward Langley, both of Edgefield; a stepdaughter, Lynn Quarles, Trenton; a sister, Joanne Painter, Edgefield; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Cooley. Burial is in Sunset Gardens Memorial Park in Edgefield.
Visitation is 4-6 today at Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home, Inc.
The family is at the home.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge.

Tripling their fun

Benjamin triplets lead GCS baseball squad

March 13, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

Opposing baseball coaches taking a quick glance at the Greenwood Christian School lineup might think that coach Chad Woodson has made a mistake when they see the name M. Benjamin written in three times.
But Woodson knows exactly what he is doing.
The Benjamin triplets —Matthew, Mark and Michael —make up one-third of the starting lineup for the Hawks.
And Woodson said the sophomores will be key components for Greenwood Christian for the next three years.
“They are great kids from a good family, and they are good ballplayers,” said Woodson, in his second year coaching the Hawks. “And they are good for the team, because they bring a lot of excitement to the game. People want to watch them play.”
The Benjamins helped Greenwood Christian to a 7-7 mark last season.
Both Matthew and Michael pitch, with the one who’s not pitching playing shortstop. Mark catches and will pitch on occasion.
Baseball isn’t something new to the Benjamins. The brothers have been playing together for a decade, starting with T-ball in Abbeville.
“Baseball’s fun,” said Matthew, the oldest of the triplets by about 10 minutes. “It gives us something to look forward too, instead of just coming home after school.”
Besides looking alike, the trio has similar tastes. All three are Atlanta Braves fans, and Michael and Mark said Chipper Jones is their favorite player.
There is a little “friendly rivalry” between the three.
When asked who is the best player, Matthew said he was, because he is a better pitcher. Michael claimed he was the best, while Mark said all three are about the same.
“If I see (Matthew) get a double, I want to get a triple,” Michael, the middle brother, said. The brothers use their rivalry to improve their abilities, Woodson said.
“They do push each other, but they also help each other,” Woodson said. “They work hard to make each other better.”
They were plenty good in the Hawks’ season-opening game Saturday, a 9-5 victory against Westminster in the Augusta Christian Baseball Tournament.
Matthew pitched a six-hitter and went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and scored three runs.
Michael was 2-for-3 with a double and scored twice, while Mark went 2-for-3 with a triple and a team-high four RBIs.
Baseball isn’t the only sport where the Benjamins were the Greenwood Christian uniform.
The three played basketball for the Hawks, the first time the trio played hoops together.
While basketball was fun, it will always take a back seat to baseball, Mark said.
Besides, all three can make a mark in baseball, Woodson said.
“They have the potential, if they continue to improve, that all three could play at the next level,” the coach said.
There have been plenty of brothers that played baseball together in the pros.
Why can’t there be an Atlanta Braves’ lineup that features three Benjamins?
“That’s our dream, to play baseball in the major leagues,” Michael said. “I would like to always play together.”

Michael Stone is the sports editor of The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: mstone@indexjournal.com

Teach children to read, but don’t forget mother

March 13, 2005

Too many South Carolinians cannot read. No one needs reminding how devastating that can be.
There is, however, a new effort to help, with the Education Oversight Committee and South Carolina’s daily newspapers working together. It should have a positive impact. Still, it’s encouraging to see others take up the fight ….. like America’s First Lady Laura Bush.
In a recent speech to an international group at Georgetown University, Mrs. Bush brought the following valuable perspective:
“Research tells us that a child’s ability to thrive is closely linked with his mother’s education level. That’s why mother and child literacy should be at the heart of our efforts to increase literacy around the world. Our mothers are our first teachers. They introduce us to the joys of reading and learning. From them, we learn lessons that will influence us throughout our lives.

“RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT children who are read to from a very early age are more likely to begin reading themselves at an early age. They’re more likely to excel in school. They’re more likely to graduate secondary school and go to college. By reading to a young child, a mother helps that child develop language. She teaches him how to hold a book and follow words. And she also links books and reading with the safety and the comfort of a mother’s arms and a mother’s voice. Many of the brilliant and ambitious young people who come to you from higher education started their journey with parents who read to them and who taught them to love the written word.

“THE VALUE OF LITERACY goes beyond books. A mother who can read also knows how to follow the instructions on a bottle of medicine. She can read the label on a food container. She can read a newspaper and learn about the world around her. She can conduct basic business transactions and know whether she’s getting a fair deal. And she has more options for helping to support her family. Literacy is a significant first step toward building a better life. And maternal literacy can be a significant step toward a better life for the whole family.”
Adding emphasis, Mrs. Bush said, “When we work with mothers and children in literacy programs, we can help two generations at once.”
The bottom line? Teach children to read ….. but don’t neglect to teach the mother that cannot. Reading is the key to the future for everyone, young and old.