Bill aims to protect prayer

Rep. Barrett proposing legislation that allows blessings in public forums

November 18, 2005

By VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor

A councilman bows his head to lead prayer. His council and the audience at the council’s meeting are blessed in the name of God and the prayer is closed in the name of Jesus. He and his council are sued, and they settle the case out of court because the prayer established the Christian faith as the community’s religion.
Far fetched? Not so far fetched now that congressional protection is being sought for elected and appointed public officials who pray in public forums.
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., said Thursday he will introduce legislation — The Public Prayer Protection Act — that, in effect, will protect officials when they offer a prayer that evokes the name of a specific deity. Basically, the proposed law allows public officials to pray any way they want, without the threat of a lawsuit going to federal court.
“Historically, the city council has had an opening prayer,” said Greenwood City Manager Steve Brown. “I have not been involved in any discussions about (not praying to) a deity. That’s not to say they haven’t talked among themselves.”
Greenwood County Council also opens its meetings with prayer, most often by the clerk to council or the assistant county manager. Neither of these hired people would be protected under Barrett’s bill.
He said extending the protection to people other than elected or appointed public officials probably would make the legislation more difficult to pass.
“This is a baby step,” Barrett said, in a conference call from Washington. “It allows elected (and appointed) public officials to pray in public as they see fit, no matter their orientation.”
The protection is provided in the form of a change in federal law that says public prayer is not an establishment of religion, and lawsuits by people or groups that think it is will be handled in state, not federal, courts.
If a person sues, and the issue makes its way through the state court system, that state’s Supreme Court would be the last word. There would be no appeal on to the federal court system, Barrett said.
That is because, Barrett said, the federal judiciary is filled with judges who are appointed for life. “They’ve lost accountability,” he said. “State judges are up for reconfirmation.”
Issues regarding public prayer are better decided at that level than by “a federal activist judge,” he said.
Barrett said he has never been challenged personally when he has offered a Christian prayer in public. To people who might be offended by hearing their town council offer a Christian prayer, he said he would say the person “doesn’t have to be in the room.”
“What the Constitution says is you don’t have to believe as I believe. Any public official can stand up and pray. If he wants to be inclusive, fine. If he wants to be specific, fine,” Barrett said. “The intent of the legislation is exactly what the ACLU is trying to address. If a prayer ends in Jesus’ name, the ACLU says it’s an establishment of religion. This bill says it is not an establishment of religion by mentioning any deity.”
Public prayer controversies recently have erupted in Anderson and Oconee counties. The ACLU claims that a 2004 case involving Great Falls “creates an all-out ban on sectarian prayer by public officials including federal, state and local legislators,” a statement from Barrett’s office said.
The Congressman said Thursday that he “absolutely” supports S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster’s offer to defend local governments sued in public prayer cases.
Barrett said he has not had the chance yet to “shop around” his prayer protection bill, so he could not give a timetable for a vote. He also couldn’t speculate if he would be labeled a lawmaker of the “extreme right” for introducing the legislation.
“I’ve been called a lot of things from time to time,” Barrett said, “but this is the original intent of the Constitution, what the framers had in mind.”

Illustrator teaches Greenwood students
art doesn’t have to be perfect to be good

November 18, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

Students at Mathews Elementary School were amazed Thursday as they watched the paint-splattered hands of an artist race across paper, turning a series of sweeping lines and loops into a detailed work of art.
Children’s book illustrator Michael P. White traveled from Atlanta to share with students how a story can evolve from a single image.
Using pencils and an airbrush, he filled an entire sketchbook with some of his favorite images, making up stories to go with them and soliciting a little help from students as the stories progressed.
He also walked students through a step-by-step process for creating their own works of art based on a drawing he calls “Chicken a la King,” a chicken who sports Elvis’ style.
“Sometimes the wildest ideas make the most phenomenal stories,” he told students. “Every storybook starts with a spark of imagination.”
White has illustrated books including “The Horrible Hair Day” by Lesley Stewart and “The Library Dragon” by Carmen Agra Deedy. He is in the process of authoring his first book, “Pup Tents.”
White’s visit was part of an interactive language arts program called “The Start of Something Big.” The program was created to teach students that little ideas can turn into something great.
White walked students through the process he goes through when he illustrates a children’s book, taking a story and then bringing it to life with images. Then he reversed that process, showing students how an image can spark an idea for a story.
“I’m not just trying to make artists,” White said. “I’m also making authors.”
Students were divided into groups, and throughout the day, White spoke to students in every grade level from kindergarten-fifth, adjusting his program to suit each age group. He told students that he practices drawing for eight hours every day and spends about 2 1/2 years working on each book he illustrates.
“All the students have been entranced,” said Beth Beale, media specialist at Mathews, of the program.
As the program ended, students said the most important thing they learned from White is that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be good.
“I learned you don’t have to erase it if you mess up, you can just make it part of the design,” said Justin Watson, a third-grader.
“You can just make it better and not get mad if you mess up,” said Lauren Smith, also a third-grader.
As a gift to students and faculty at Mathews, White left the works he created there. Beale said two of the images, the schools mascot and a picture featuring the school’s name, will be framed and displayed at the school. The rest of the images likely will be auctioned or raffled to raise money for school programs and projects.

Opinion

Time for all to remember: Keep game in perspective

November 18, 2005

Games are played for fun ….. or should be. Once in a while, though, humans being human and all that, games turn into something else, something that brings out the worst in many of us. We all need to work on that.
With the annual Carolina-Clemson football game coming up it’s time to remember that it is all in fun. After last year’s brawling debacle at the end of the game at Death Valley, it’s even more important to put the historic rivalry in perspective.
The game this year will be played at USC’s Williams-Brice Stadium, and the folks there have already planned to beef up security ….. just in case. In fact, the Carolina-Florida game last Saturday was used as a kind of dress rehearsal for this week.

COACHES AND OFFICIALS from both universities have focused on the kind of behavior they expect from their respective players. They hope a hand-shaking event prior to the game will set the right tone.
How about the fans? On both sides, they know that cheering their teams is a big part of the game. It wouldn’t be much fun if they couldn’t give their teams a verbal boost. At the same time, they also should remember that deriding the other team is not only brutish, it’s bush league.
It might be wishful thinking, but what a pleasure – and surprise – it would be if opposing fans applauded players on the other side for good play. That would be taking the high road, to be sure. Fans can indeed affect attitudes. They can inspire or incite. Remember. It’s a game. It’s supposed to be fun. To borrow a phrase, just do it.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
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Obituaries

Rebecca M. Akins

McCORMICK — Rebecca M. Akins, 91, of 1 Holiday Road, widow of Ernest Akins, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 at McCormick Healthcare Center.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Timothy and Annie Bell Lomax Eakins. She was a seamstress and a member of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, Hodges.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Thomas (Elaine) Graves of Cincinnati; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

John T. Arnett

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — John T. Arnett, 57, husband of Moreen Arnett, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 at Bellvue Hospital in New York City.
Born in McCormick, S.C., he was a son of the late Calvin and Estelle Arnett. He attended Ellison School in Calhoun Falls, S.C. Moving to Brooklyn, he retired as a driver with I & E Tire Co. Survivors include his wife of the home; four sons, John, John, Johnathan and Timothy; two daughters, Yvette and Kamila; two brothers, Ike Scott and General Arnett.
Graveside services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville, S.C., conducted by the Revs. Larry Merrill and Johnnie Waller.
Visitation is 6-8 Saturday at Friendly Funeral Home, Calhoun Falls.
The family is at the home of Mrs. Nelson Lee, 714 Highway 81 N., Calhoun Falls.
Friendly Funeral Home is in charge.

Tom Begley

SIMPSONVILLE — Wiley Thomas “Tom” Begley, 59, of 2 Trotters Ridge Lane, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005.
Born in Princeton, W.Va., he was a son of the late Wiley M. and Helen Crawford Begley. He was a graduate of Lander University, Greenwood, a mortgage banker with New Commerce Bank (now South Carolina Bank & Trust) and a member of Simpsonville United Methodist Church and the Army National Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Gail Suber Begley of the home; a daughter, Casi Shannon Begley of Concord, N.C.; a son, Matthew Thomas Begley of Simpsonville; a brother, Gerald Wayne Begley of Rock Hill.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Simpsonville United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. M. Cooper Stonestreet, Dr. Gareth Scott and Don McKinney. Burial is in Cannon Memorial Park.
Visitation is 12-1 Saturday at Mackey Mortuary.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Interim Hospice.
The Mackey Mortuary, Greenville, is in charge.

Carrie Rebecca Bowen

BRONX, N.Y. — Services for Carrie Rebecca Bowen are 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cokesbury, S.C., conducted by the Rev. Dr. Arthur E. Crews, assisted by Pastor Tim Bradley, Minister Calvin Cross and the Revs. Raul Bradley, Myron Hill and James Walker. The body will be placed in the church at 10. Burial is in The Evening Star.
Pallbearers are John Butler, James Wilson, Eric Pickney, Luther Smith and James Barrett Smith. Flower bearers are family members.
The family is at the home of an aunt, Eugenia Evans, 3531 Ridge Road, Hodges, S.C.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C., is in charge.

Lee Brookshire Sr.

Lee Arvil Brookshire Sr., 90, of 711 E. Durst Ave., husband of Effie Mae Turmon Brookshire, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 at Richard M. Campbell Veteran’s Nursing Home, Anderson.
Visitation is 6-8 Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Donna Clark

BRADLEY — Donna Marie Mars Clark, 50, of 623 Rushville Road, wife of Thomas Clark, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Marion S. and Joyce Wells Mars. She was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Joy Nation of Bradley and Kayla Rodgers of Greenwood; two sons, Jamie Mars and Marion Clark, both of Bradley; a brother, Lee Mars of Hodges; 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service is 4 p.m. Sunday at the home, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Catoe.
Visitation is after the service.
Memorials may be made to the account of Donna Clark, c/o Harley Funeral Home, PO Box 777, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Ellen S. Edwards

MILPITAS, Calif. — Maggie Ellen Sharpe Edwards, 83, of 60 Wilson Way, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 at El Camino Hospital, Mountain View.
Born in Chappells, S.C., she was a daughter of the late James Floyd and Mary Tallent Sharpe. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Lynda Burgess of Sunnyvale and Cheryl Edwards of Milpitas; a son, Jeff Edwards of Sacramento; grandchildren reared in the home, Marcus Edwards and Amanda Leyva; two brothers, Claude Sharpe of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Sam Sharpe of Roanoke, Va.; three other grandchildren.
Graveside services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Landrum, S.C., conducted by the Rev. Albert Teague.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C., is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Tommy Haire

NINETY SIX — Thomas Samuel “Tommy” Haire, 40, of 602 McKenzie Road, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 in Edgefield County from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Clyde and Madge Padgett Haire. He was employed by Anderson Hardwood Floors, Clinton, and was a staff sergeant in the S.C. National Guard, 111th Signal Battalion. He was a member of Hopewell Congregational Holiness Church.
Survivors include his parents of the home.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Louie Murray. Burial with military honors is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Willie Charlie Hill

PLUM BRANCH — Services for Willie Charlie Hill are 2 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Spring Baptist Church, Plum Branch, conducted by the Rev. Chuck Smallwood, pastor, assisted by the Revs. J.P. Chamberlain, James W. Price, Felton Price Jr. and Otis Cunningham. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers are church trustees and members of Mims High School Class of 1960.
Flower bearers are friends of the family.
The family is at the home, 2197 Upper Mill Road.
Walker Funeral Home, McCormick, is in charge.

Beulah Macaione

SPARTANBURG, SC — Beulah Anderson Macaione, 86, passed away Nov. 17, 2005 at the home of her daughter.
Mrs. Macaione resided in Abbeville for over 50 years and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church prior to moving to Morningside Assisted Living in Greenwood, SC. While residing in Greenwood, she was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
She was the wife of the late John A. Macaione of Abbeville. The daughter of the late John Walter and Addie Kenney Anderson of Greenwood.
Survivors are: 2 daughters Anita Butler and her husband Archie of Spartanburg; Mary Ann Shealy and her husband Terry of Greenwood; a sister Hilda Davis of Greenwood. Her grandchildren Patrick O’Neal Butler and his wife Kari of Atlanta; Anna Lauren Shealy and Addison Shealy of Greenwood.
She was preceded in death by 3 sisters Ruth Peeler, Velma Garvin and Bertha Wilson and a brother Ray Anderson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Saturday Nov. 19, 2005 at 11:00 AM from Sacred Heart Catholic Church conducted by Father Richard Harris. The burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM prior to services at the church on Sat., Nov. 19, 2005.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Mary Ann Shealy, 424 Saddle Hill Rd., Greenwood, SC.
Memorials may be made to Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home C/O Spartanburg Re-gional Hospice, 120 Haywood Ave., Suite 300, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
Online condolences may be made at www.chandlerjacksonfh.com
PAID OBITUARY

Margaret D. McDaniel

EDGEFIELD, SC — Mrs, Margaret Devore McDaniel, 83, of Lanham Rd., widow of the late Herbert E. McDaniel, died Thursday at University Hospital.
A Memorial Service will be held Sunday at 12:30 P.M. at Republican Baptist Church. Private burial will be held at a later date at Pineview Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. McDaniel was a native of Greenwood County and daughter of the late John W. and Lottie Metts Devore. She was a member of Republican Baptist Church, a homemaker, and always brought humor and joy and made everybody smile.
Survivors include 1 son, Allison McDaniel and his wife Monti, North Augusta, 1 Sister, Mary D. Hollis, Belton, 1 Brother, G. Clayton and his wife Irene Devore, Greenwood. Grandchildren, Michelle and husband Troy W. Roberts, Darryl McDaniel, Deborah McDaniel, Rebecca and husband Rob Sandoval, Jon C. and wife Kerry Doyle McDaniel; Great-Grandchildren, Zach DeBernardi, Jennifer Rish, Michele Rish, Isaac McDaniel, Jessica Roberts, Kathryn Frances Roberts, Celia Sandoval, Great-Great-Grandson, Leyton Watson. She is predeceased by a son and his wife, Michael Evans and Barbara Yon McDaniel.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Republican Baptist Church, 610 Republican Rd., Clarks Hill, SC. 29821.
A reception will be held after the service in the church fellowship hall.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Earline King Pope

Services for Earline King Pope, of 106 Beech Court, are 2 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Rock Baptist Church, Ninety Six, with the Rev. Robert Taylor officiating, the Rev. Raymond Adams presiding and the Revs. Juliett Curry and Joseph Caldwell assisting. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Kevin Bonds, Wayne Morton, Ron Holloway, Howard Logan, James Griffin, John Griffin and Marvin Martin.
Flower bearers are ladies of the church.
Visitation is at the home.
Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

William Lee Smith

Services for William Lee Smith, of 112 Spring Woods Trail, are 3 p.m. Saturday at Grace Community Church, conducted by Pastors Rodney Shultz and Martin Lester. The body will be placed in the church at 2. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Frank Moss, Charles Elmore, Howard Owens, Robert Anty, Rudy Williams and Barry Middleton.
Flower bearers are Jameena Norman, Alicia Williams, Josie Wideman, Frenchton Moss, Tricie Riley and Jalessa Bone.
Visitation is 2-3 Saturday at the church.
Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Frances Zanetti

Frances Meyer Zanetti, 97, formerly of Ashley House, widow of Angelo Zanetti, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 at National Health Care of Greenwood.
The family is at the home of James and Barbara Zanetti, 109 Stonewood Drive.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.