Residents honor loved ones

HospiceCare offers message of hope at sunrise service

March 28, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

At the same time that the rain made its slow cascade down the sides of umbrellas, groups of people began to file into the Oakbrook Memorial Park mausoleum for a sunrise service to honor and remember those they have lost.
The Sunday service marks the 19th year the HospiceCare of the Piedmont Inc. was host of the event.
Many people also attended to show their support to the agency.
“We come today in hope and because he lives we shall live also,” said the Rev. Tom Cartledge, Hospice chaplain.
Many of the people who attended the service began their Easter at the yearly service.
Cartledge told of a woman whom he met a few years ago at a sunrise service who made the drive from south Georgia beginning at 2:30 a.m.
However, she did not attend this year.
Cartledge spoke about love, reading from the Bible scripture I Corinthians 13, where it discusses the many things that love does and does not consist of, including that love bears all things and is long suffering as well as not easily provoked.
“Hospice feels very strongly that we do this for the community. We see this as something we like to do,” Hospice Executive Director Nancy Corley said.
Terry Gilchrist and his wife, Alice, sang hymns during the service.
“We feel like Hospice does a lot for the community,” Gilchrist said about why he attends the service. “We know it’s a wonderful organization and they do great things.”
Gilchrist said that although he and his wife have not used Hospice services themselves, they do volunteer.
The service is a special way to remember loved ones for Brenda Stewart, of Ninety Six.
“This is a special service for Hospice because of so much that they do and it seems more special because of Hospice,” Stewart said.
This is the second Hope for Hospice service that Stewart has attended.

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

Opinion

Pair of education issues getting parents involved

March 28, 2005

It’s sometimes said that more parents should get involved in education, particularly in the schools their children attend. It’s hard to imagine any circumstances where they are more involved than in a couple of present situations.
In Greenwood, discussions on rezoning Northside and Brewer Middle Schools in School District 50 have gotten more parents involved than anything in recent times. Parents on both sides of the question have not been shy about making their feelings known, either.
Regardless of which side anyone is on, it’s encouraging to see that much interest in what’s going on. If that kind of enthusiasm extended to other school matters, chances are improvements would come more easily.
On another education issue, all over South Carolina the “Put Parents in Charge” proposal by Governor Mark Sanford continues to stir debate on both sides of the question.
Outside of football, band and other extracurricular activities, these two things have indeed gotten more parents “involved” maybe more than anyone expected ….. or wanted by some.

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

Obituaries

Charlotte Blackwell

Mabel Charlotte Evans Blackwell, 46, of 120 Windsor Oaks Court, wife of Charles Blackwell, died Sunday, March 27, 2005 at her home.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Clarence T. Bowen Sr.

Clarence Thomas “Papa Bowen” Bowen Sr., 94, of 438 Pelzer St., widower of Patricia Parrish Bowen, died Sunday, March 27, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Visitation is 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his daughter, Janelle Seabolt, 115 Pope St., Hyde Park.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Billy S. Cooper

CITRA, FLA. — Billy Symmes Cooper, 76, of 4810 E. Highway 316, husband of Ethel Turner Cooper, died Saturday, March 26, 2005 at St. Martin de Porres Veterans Nursing Home in Lake Charles, La.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Josie D. and Louise McFerrin Cooper. Formerly of Greenwood, he made his home in Florida since 1963. He was a Navy veteran of WWII and was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Ocala, Fla.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Diane C. Hart of Ocala, Fla. and Dawn C. Hanratty of Citra, Fla.; three sisters, Bobbie C. Weeks and Florine C. McCoy, both of Greenwood and Annie C. Varner of Columbia; four grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Jason Garner. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Mike Weeks, Steve Brown, Tom Hart, Tom Owen, John Turner and Gavin Brown.
Visitation is 10-11 Tuesday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of his sister, Mrs. Lester (Bobbie) Weeks, 1729 Durst Ave.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Kathryn W. Moore

Kathryn White Moore, 84, of 209 Forest Lane, died Sunday, March 27, 2005 at NHC Heath Care Center.
She was a daughter of the late Paul and Nannie Irwin White.
Surviving are two sons, Barry Moore of Fort Payne, AL and Allan Moore of Greenwood; a sister, Mrs. Harry (Evelyn) Yopp of Atlanta, GA and 12 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Vernon B. Moore and a son, David Moore.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Mary Lee Middleton Perrin

McCORMICK — Mary Lee Perrin, 67, of Archery Road, widow of Willie Perrin Sr., died Sunday, March 27, 2005 at her home.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late Rosa Middleton. She was a member of Little Mill Baptist Church, Women’s Home Aide Society No. 87 and a retired textile employee. Survivors include six daughters, Linda P. Cade, Ella Perrin and Melissa Perrin, all of McCormick, Lula P. Widmon of Dublin, Ga., Valerie P. Aikens of Abbeville and Shirley P. Norman of Little Rock, Ark.; two sons, Willie Perrin Jr. of McCormick and Patrick Perrin of Greenwood; five sisters, Dorothy Wilson, Louise Carter and Jessie Mae Bennett, all of Bridgeport, Conn., Patricia Middleton of Anderson and Sarah Jane Byrd of Greenwood; two brothers, Boggs Middleton of Conway, S.C. and Charles Middleton of Appling, Ga., a granddaughter, Ashuna Perrin, reared in the home, nine other grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
The family is at the home, Route One, Archery Road.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Barbara H. Wiley

Barbara Harris Wiley, 70, of 228 Crescent Drive, widow of John Benjamin Wiley, Jr., died Saturday, March 26, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Troy and Elizabeth Sue Nabors Harris. She was a dietician at Mathews Elementary School and Greenwood High School and was a very active member of Tranquil United Methodist Church, where she was involved in children’s ministries for more than 40 years.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sheila Wiley Anderson.
Surviving is a son, John Michael Wiley of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Benjamin Wells Anderson, Caroline Chalmers Wiley, Anna Elizabeth Wiley and Calla Eileen Anderson and a great granddaughter.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tranquil United Methodist Church with the Rev. James Patterson officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Long, Jimmy Rodgers, Rhett Copeland, Dennis Wiley, David McDaniel, Johnny Harrison and Danny Brothers.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The family is at the home of her son, Mike Wiley, 213 Melrose Terrace.
Memorials may be made to Tranquil United Methodist Church, 1702 McCormick Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY