Hospice House opens to public

May 9, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal senior staff writer

Hospice House might not be home, but for many future patients it will be the next best thing.
HospiceCare of the Piedmont opened its new 15-bed facility to the public over the weekend. Donors and supporters got their first look Saturday at the inside of the building, with “open house” events following the next two days for the general public.
The building will allow Hospice patients to receive more urgent medical assistance without having to be hospitalized. The new rooms are built around a central work area to allow quick access to patients and also features a variety of rooms and services for visitors.
The Greenwood facility is the second of its kind in the state and attracted curious Hospice employees from across South Carolina.
Terri Ray, a bereavement manager from Gaston, N.C., was one of those interested in seeing the future of Hospice. Her branch is planning for a similar facility, she said.
“Instead of going to a hospital for pain management, they can come in and out of here,” she said. “It keeps people out of the hospital.”
The 15,000 square-foot building is an addition to the existing administration building on Alexander Avenue. The new building includes a family room and kitchen, a children’s play area, a family study and sunroom and a chapel.
There is already a list of patients waiting to use the new rooms, said Joy Girard, the facility’s in-patient manager. The Department of Health and Environmental Control will inspect the building Wednesday, which will then allow HospiceCare to receive patients.
“It’s great for me to be a part of this,” she said. “We’ve got patients waiting to come in. We’re just waiting for DHEC.”
“We tried to make it much more homelike than institutionalized,” HospiceCare Director Nancy Corley said. “We need the hospital beds and oxygen, but it’s the decorative touches that make it more like a room than a home.”
A local quilting club created quilts for each room. Fluorescent lights also were banned from patient rooms, which are all lit using soft bulbs.
“Home is primarily where (patients) want to be for as long as they can,” Corley said. “It’s just another level of service available in our community.”

Executive director of The Museum set to take new path

May 9, 2005

By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY
Index-Journal staff writer

Lyda Carroll has been a presence at The Museum in Greenwood since the 1980s.
She started out volunteering and later became a staff member, helping with grant writing.
Beginning in June 1997, she served as interim director and, in March 1998, Carroll was hired as executive director.
After seven years at the helm, Carroll, 61, is stepping down June 30, to retire.
“It’s been a very rewarding experience,” Carroll said. “Working in a small museum is no different than working in a huge corporation. You have the same things to deal with — marketing, safety, finances and growth.
“Many years ago, The (Greenwood) Museum was referred to as a ‘mini Smithsonian’ and it really is. It has such an international and diverse collection and this museum is ‘object-based.’ It immerses you in three-dimensional history. We have things here that stimulate the imagination and allow you to understand them visually.”
For example, Carroll says it’s one thing to read about picking cotton, transporting it to market and then to a textile plant where it is woven into fabric. But, she says it’s quite another to actually see a giant loom and a massive 500-pound bale of cotton.
“The world is so big,” Carroll said. “You may not be able to travel, but if you take children to museums and galleries, that is traveling. (You are) taking them to another time in history or another place, geographically … Essentially what began The Museum was bringing the world here (to Greenwood.) We like to feel you can discover, explore and have fun here.”
The Museum was incorporated in 1967.
Through the years, scores of people have contributed scores of items with educational significance, including things handed down through generations of families and items picked up from world travels.
There are specimens of animals and minerals, antiques from foreign lands and others that hearken back to simpler times here, such as wooden desks with ink wells that were used in one-room schoolhouses and contributed to The Museum by Greenwood School District 50.
“People are motivated to contact museums when they want to share important things within a public trust,” Carroll said. “Every item may not be on exhibit all the time, and we have to change exhibits occasionally. It’s necessary to protect the item and let it ‘rest environmentally’ and not be exposed to intense light for extended periods of time.”
On average, Carroll says most museums display between 10 and 15 percent from their collections at any given time, but she says Greenwood’s museum typically displays between 20 and 25 percent.
Carroll, a widowed mother of two grown children and grandmother to a 9-year-old girl, announced her decision to retire at the beginning of the year, shortly after Sandra Johnson began her term as president of The Museum board, but her decision to retire was not publicly announced until the end of March.
“I’m ready to start a new volume in my life, not a new chapter,” Carroll said of her decision to retire. “My mother lives with me and I really think it’s time that we had time together and do some traveling. I just want to explore other options and see what’s out there.
“The Museum has such potential to grow. Leaving is an opportunity for someone else to come in and take it in a very positive direction.”
Johnson says Carroll’s shoes will be “extremely hard to fill” and that she will be greatly missed.
“She’s done amazing things at The Museum during the past seven years,” Johnson said. “She’s worked with a shoestring budget and volunteers and part-time staff and managed fund-raising.”
Johnson says the executive director position is being advertised and that interviews are in the process of being scheduled.
“We hope to have the position filled by mid-June so that we can have a transition period with Lyda and the new executive director,” Johnson said. “We’re looking for someone who can handle fund-raising, general management and find out what the community wants from The Museum. We need someone who can look to the future.”
Johnson said the new director should also be open to partnering with other organizations to move The Museum forward and broaden its appeal.
For example, she says members of the current class of the Leadership Greenwood program, sponsored through the Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce, have adopted The Museum as part of their community service requirements.
What lies ahead for Carroll?
She says she would like to eventually resume course work begun some time ago at the University of Georgia, to obtain her certification in personal property and fine art appraising.
Carroll got about halfway through the program before putting studies on hold to devote more time to The Museum.
“I was having to take time away from here to go to classes,” Carroll said. “So, I’ve taken a bit of a break and I’m going to have to wait for that cycle of classes to come up again.”
She says she would also like to remain involved with museums through consulting work.
“I think appraisal work will continue the journey I’ve already been on,” Carroll said. “My background prior to coming to The Museum was in business and marketing, but I also had an interest in the arts, antiques and history. That background prepared me for The Museum and working here definitely is preparing me for appraisal work. It’s been a progressive journey with one building on the other.”
Carroll says, “You never know what life is going to throw at you.”
She became acquainted with photographer Stan Jorstad who came to The Museum last spring for a gallery talk and booksigning. Jorstad brought to Greenwood “These Rare Lands,” a collection of his photographs taken at National Park Service properties during a 40-year span. The exhibition was organized by The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
A friendship developed and Carroll agreed to help Jorstad catalogue his work.
Their friendship has since blossomed into something more. On March 27, Easter Sunday of this year, Jorstad proposed marriage and Carroll accepted.
“The Museum can do strange and wonderful things,” Carroll quipped. “Whether it was the muses or fate, I don’t know.”
No definite plans have been made, but Lyda says she and Stan are discussing the possibility of an October wedding. For now, she says she’s planning on keeping her residence here and Stan’s planning on keeping his near Chicago. Stan says their relationship happened “gradually,” however he says, “It didn’t take me long to find out that she’s special. You just never know what’s going to happen at a show.”
Wherever she goes with her new endeavors, Carroll says she plans on keeping her ties to Greenwood.
“I can’t just walk away from things that have enriched my life,” Carroll said. “I’ve established great friendships here. When my husband Allen (now deceased) and I moved here, with our two children in the late 1970s, we made a very conscious decision to look for a place that would allow us to slow down a little bit and enjoy our family and life.
“We found a house we liked, quit our jobs and moved here from Maryland. It was a giant leap of faith. We had no jobs lined up, but you just know when it’s the right thing. I’ve had encouragement all my life to try things.”

Vikings seek state title

Emerald looks to get over hump and win 1st crown since 2000

May 9, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Cooper Tinsley has a state championship ring, as well as a state championship T-shirt and visor.
None of that fits now.
That’s because Tinsley earned those accoutrements as a seventh-grader on the 2000 Emerald High School state title golf team.
But what stings the Emerald senior more is not that his team hasn’t won a state title in its last five tries, but the fact that the past three years they’ve finished second each time by a combined 14 strokes.
Tinsley and the rest of the Region III-AA champion Vikings look to resolve the issue 11 a.m. today in the first day of the Class AA state tournament at Barnwell Country Club.
“Three years in a row of finishing second, you just kind of getting tired of losing it,” said Tinsley, the Vikings’ No. 1 golfer. “Two of those years, 2002 and 2003, we lost by only one shot both of those years, and we don’t want that to happen again.
“We have to have everybody go out and play their own game, and not make any stupid mistakes, and we should have as good a chance as anybody.”
The Vikings’ three straight second-place finishes have come against three different teams. Last season, Emerald finished runner up to Chapin, falling by 12 strokes, but the Vikings were one shot away in both 2003 and 2002.
“I don’t get out there and play so it’s not nearly as frustrating as it is for them,” Emerald coach Robin Scott said. “Finishing second in the state out of 48 teams in AA is always an honor.”
And frustrating it is, even for those golfers that haven’t had the “misfortune” of being second best.
“I don’t like placing second,” said Austin Hood, who’s in his third year on the team. “I just want to be able to say we won state.”
Brandon Trantham, who has experienced all three second-place finishes, agrees.
“For me, it’s knowing that we were the ones that got the state championship title. That would be the best feeling for me,” Trantham said. “The ring and the trophy would be nice, but the satisfaction of getting it done is what I want most.”
The Vikings enter day one of the two day event coming off a completely dominating performance in the Region III-AA tournament. Up by a baker’s dozen going into the second day, Emerald finished the tournament with a 47-stroke championship win.
Even though the rest of the Region III-AA field didn’t provide much of a challenge for his Vikings, Scott said that the improvement from day one to day two.
“After the first day we were only up 13 shots, and we could have come out and taken it for granted and let someone sneak up on us, but we didn’t,” the coach said. “We actually played better the second day than the first day.”
Tinsley, who will play golf for Lander University when it begins action in 2006, not only has the honor of being a state champion golfer, he also is the only member of the current golf team to play at the Barnwell Country Club.
However like his turn on the 2000 state champion team, it’s been quite a while since the senior has played the course. So, Tinsley said he’s not too sure how much help he’ll be to his teammates.
“I don’t remember the course very well, because it’s been over four years since I played it last,” Tinsley said.
What Scott said would be the biggest help to the Emerald team is how they respond after their Sunday practice round on the course.
“Golf is the kind of sport where you’re really challenged by the course,” Scott said. “We played the (Greenwood) country club last Sunday, the Patriot Tuesday, Stoney Point Wednesday, Hunter’s Creek Thursday and some went back to the Patriot Friday. So, I’m hoping a bunch of different places to play will make them focus more on their swings.”
Sophomore Wells Ballentine understands the difficulties of playing new courses.
“It’s sort of a scary thought playing this important match on a new course, but we’ve played on unfamiliar courses before,” Ballentine said. “That’s why the practice round is so important, because you have to look out where to hit the ball in the fairways and check out how fast the greens are running.”

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

Opinion

Sidelines bumps, grinds are products of the times

May 9, 2005

Something is always happening in the big state of Texas. That state is indeed so big that whatever happens there usually is relevant to the other 49. That, of course, includes South Carolina.
The latest flap in the Lone Star State is over cheerleaders, specifically the suggestive bumps and grinds, content of cheers, revealing uniforms and other sexual implications that might be perceived in the cheering routines.
Most cheerleaders maintain a wholesome approach to this purely American phenomenon. However, there are those who have “performed” exactly in ways that have created a backlash ….. in Texas if no other place.
Are cheerleaders taught this kind of routine? Some are, maybe, but chances are much of it has come from other influences.

LOOK AT VIDEOS AND MOTION pictures. Listen to recordings. Look at various magazines. Look at Madison Avenue and the kind of advertising it creates.
Look at just about any aspect of the social spectrum these days and consider the emphasis placed on sex. It’s all around us, no matter which way we turn.
Parents, in some cases, dress their daughters (or allow them to dress themselves) in clothes that would embarrass gray-haired grandmothers all over the country.
Consider how, little by little, then leap by leap, we have accepted changes in morality and how we look at everything around us.
Don’t forget cheerleaders, America’s icons, like those of professional football teams. Some of them give sexuality a whole new meaning.

THEIR COSTUMES DON’T leave much to the imagination. Entertainers, too, make sex a staple of marketing. The only thing that is just as bad, perhaps, is how so many these days take pride in dressing like bums ….. or worse.
It should be worth watching to see how Texas handles this issue. It also should be worth watching to see how parents handle it. They can recognize the ol’ handwriting on the wall and take a more critical approach. Or, they can complain and tell Texas and anybody else who sees a problem to mind their own business.
The way things are these days, not much in the way of social influences is handled responsibly, or is improved or reformed, without parental involvement.
This time it’s cheerleading. But, then, that’s only one area of many, it seems, where parental involvement, counsel and discipline are needed.

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

Obituaries

Donald Eugene ‘Duck’ Cobb

Donald Eugene “Duck” Cobb, 59, of 108 Segers Drive, died Saturday, May 7, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by the Cremation Society of South Carolina, Greenville.

Thomas Meredith

Thomas L. Meredith, of 207 Wellington Drive, husband of Frances Hudgens, died Sunday, May 8, 2005 at Magnolia Manor.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home.

Thelma Watts Nicholson

Thelma Watts Nicholson, 74, of 914 Taggart St., widow of Claven ‘C.B.’ Nicholson, died Friday, May 6, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Ben and Josie Watts. She was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church and the Women’s Home Aid Society No. 11. She was a retiree of Eastwill Sportswear and employed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James McDonald for many years.
Survivors include three daughters, Joann Nicholson of the home, Emma Mae Gilliam of Ninety Six and Carrie Lee Forrest of Greenwood; two sons, James Marion Nicholson of the home and Booker T. Nicholson of League City, Texas; 15 grandchildren, two reared in the home, Demarkis Nicholson and Travis Nicholson, 32 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eula Mae Cannon and Dorothy Watson, both of Greenwood.
Services are 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Adams, assisted by the Revs. Ernest Cannon, Michael Butler, Lahoma Mosley and Norris Turner. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons, Russell Gilliam, Travis Nicholson, Brandon Gilliam, Richard Frazier, Curtis Cannon and Bennie Lee Watts.
Flower bearers are granddaughters, great-granddaughters, Ann Cannon and Mary Leake.
The family is at the home of Carrie Lee Forrest, 112 Shelton Ave. in the Bell Meade Community.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Mary Medlock Thompson

Mary Medlock Thompson, longtime resident of Greenwood, SC, died on Saturday, May 7, 2005 at the age of 95.
Born July 4, 1909, Mrs. Thompson was a daughter of the late Kate Bullock Medlock and James T. Medlock. She was a 1930 graduate of Lander University and taught school briefly in Lowndesville, SC, before marrying William Gamewell Thompson. She was active in the Lander Alumni and was honored with a celebration of her 90th birthday with a surprise party given by her family at Lander, which was attended by friends and members of her graduating class. A stone was placed on the Memory Walk at Lander in her honor. Mrs. Thompson was a partner in running a family business, The Washerteria, and was actively involved in school, church, politics and civic activities.
Mrs. Thompson was a devoted Christian throughout her life. She loved God, her church, family, friends and her community. A lifelong member of Main Street United Methodist Church, Mrs. Thompson served as a Sunday school teacher in both the adult and children’s classes and was a member of The Upper Room Sunday School Class. She was very active in the United Methodist Women’s Circle and served as an officer for the District United Methodist Women, attending many church conferences in Columbia for the UMW. She was a member of The Iris Garden Club and loved gardening and growing her roses.
Mrs. Thompson was the last surviving member of her family of four brothers and three sisters and was also preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Jo Thompson Ouzts.
She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Brooks S. Stuart of Kiawah, SC and four grandchildren who loved her dearly, Teresa Stuart Hough of Spartanburg, Ashley Stuart Lindsey of Erie, CO, Michael Winston Stuart of Wilmington, NC and Leslie Ouzts; four great grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 10th at Main Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. James D. Dennis, Jr. and Dr. Ted Morton officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Michael Stuart, Billy Hough, Dr. Melvin Medlock, Travis Medlock, Perry Thompson and Brooks S. Stuart.
The family is at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Teresa Hough, 116 Cinder Creek Road, Spartanburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 211 North Main Street, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Lander University, 320 Stanley Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com PAID OBITUARY

Kyle Thompson

ABBEVILLE — Kyle Knox Thompson, 44, of 1472 Highway 284, wife of William “Billy” Thompson, died Friday, May 6, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Georgia, she was a daughter of James “Jimmy” Knox of Greenville and Alice Faye Knox of Abbeville. She was a homemaker, former Pro Shop manager at High Meadows Country Club and attended Main Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a son, Jeffery Thompson of the home; a daughter, Taylor Thompson of the home; two sisters, Patti Nickles and Mary Hyman, both of Abbeville; a half sister, Jamie Knox of Greenville and a grandson.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Bob Clemons.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the home of Mrs. Ruthie Harris, 208 South Main St., Abbeville.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Abner Booker T. Washington

DUE WEST — Abner Booker T. Washington, 63, of 88 Holmes Road, Route 2, Donalds, died Saturday, May 7, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
He was a son of the late L.T. Washington and Essie Corley Washington.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Abbeville & White Mortuary.