Counselor helps residents cope with loss
as holidays near

November 21, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

For someone who has recently lost a loved one, the holidays can be a particularly difficult time.
“The holidays may actually be the worst time in the grieving process,” said Sue Nickerson, an area grief counselor who leads a monthly grief support group.
With the emphasis on family and togetherness, those who are bereaved are often left feeling dread and anxiety as the holidays approach, Nickerson said.
To help area families cope with their loss of a loved one and deal with the holidays, Nickerson spoke at a candlelight memorial service Sunday at Harley Funeral Home. She was joined by husband John Nickerson, an area pastor.
Nickerson told the group that they might need to ask for help to get through the holidays and that asking for help is okay.
“Friends and family members will understand if you ask them for help,” she said. “If you don’t, they may not realize that you need it. If you don’t share how you’re feeling, they may think you’re doing fine.”
Expressing feelings is a major part of getting through grief, she said. Her advice is to “allow feelings to happen.”
“If you want to cry, then cry. If you want to rage, then rage,” she said. “You need to get those feelings out. Denying them means they’re still there.”
Nickerson said it can be helpful to talk about the person who has died, sharing stories and saying the person’s name. That can also make others more comfortable talking about the deceased in your presence, she said.
Grief is unique to every person, Nickerson told the group. It might take a longer amount of time for one person than for another and people shouldn’t feel pressured to rush the process, she said.
The most important thing when dealing with grief is to be kind to oneself, according to Nickerson. She recommends that the bereaved look after their own needs and not push themselves to do too much.
“Handling your own emotions may be the only thing you can manage right now and that’s fine,” she said.
When it comes to dealing with the holidays, Nickerson said there are three ways to approach things. You can either choose to celebrate as usual, avoid the holidays altogether or do something brand new. Celebrating as usual can be very painful, but, for some, it’s the best way of handling things, she said.
For those who avoid the holidays and choose to skip the shopping, decorating and other traditions, Nickerson advises getting out of town. Going on a skiing trip or to a resort where you can’t see other continuing their traditions might be a good option. For those who can’t afford to travel, she suggested going to the movies for a brief escape.
Simply changing traditions can also be helpful and can relieve some of the normal holiday pressures. For example, having a holiday dinner at a restaurant can relieve the pressure of having to prepare a large meal and entertain others.
Following Nickerson’s words, her husband offered some Bible verses to help cope with grief. He cited Hebrews 4:15-16 and Isaiah 65:19 for help in understanding how God responds to our grief.

Ga. Tech HOF inducts Greenwood resident

November 21, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

A Greenwood resident recently reaped the rewards of five decades of service to the Georgia Tech basketball program.
Charlie Radford, who has lived in Greenwood since 1966, was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame Nov. 4. Radford was elected on his first ballot.
Radford was the Yellow Jackets’ head basketball manager from 1949-52. He has been organizing and administering the school’s letterman basketball game since 1985. The letterman’s game has become an enormously popular contest with former Yellow Jackets’ basketball stars, with more than 100 alumni participating each year.
“It’s a big honor for me,” Radford said. “Five members of the 1950-51 team are already in the hall, and now they chose me. I’m extremely pleased the committee chose me.”
Radford, who worked as a supervisor at the Monsanto plant in Greenwood from 1966-85, said he and members of the 1950-51 Georgia Tech team have been having get-togethers and reunions for 20 years. The camaraderie and bond they formed at the school five decades ago has remained strong all these years.
The duties of a head manager of a basketball team in the 1950s were starkly different than those of today.
“At the hall of fame induction, the gentleman who introduced me made a good illustration about the differences between then and now,” Radford said. “He held up a Georgia Tech media guide from today. It was 300 pages and in full color. Then, he held up one from 1950. It was six pages long and had one black-and-white picture of the team.
In Radford’s tenure, the team traveled with two coaches and a manager. Today, the Yellow Jackets travel with a full support staff with numerous coaches, managers, trainers and even a team dentist.
According to Radford’s hall-of-fame inductee bio, he was the team’s part-time trainer, sports information director, ticket manger, clergyman and driver. When it came to Georgia Tech basketball, his work was never done.
“I remember one time, I had to run to the drug store during the game and get a player some laxatives,” Radford said. “I was taping ankles and doing things like that all the time.”
Radford recalled a run-in he had with the Kentucky basketball program during the 1950-51 SEC Tournament.
Georgia Tech, which was in the SEC at the time, traveled to Louisville, Ky., for the event, and was slated to take on the Wildcats, led by famed coach Adolph Rupp. The team hotel was adjacent to Freedom Hall, so the Yellow Jackets changed into their uniforms in the hotel and made their way across the street in full gear. “We stopped traffic, believe me,” Radford said.
Georgia Tech took the floor and began warming up using the balls on a rack near the court. Radford said it had always been custom for the home team to provide basketballs for warm-ups. When Kentucky took the floor, to the delight of the home state crowd, they found the Yellow Jackets using their basketballs.
“The fellow from Kentucky came over and told me those were Kentucky’s balls,” Radford said. “So I had to high tail it over to our hotel and bring back a bag of basketballs. It was something else.”
Radford recalled another colorful story from the 1950-51 campaign.
The team traveled out west for several games during the Christmas holidays, and made its way back to Houston for a New Year’s Day game against Rice.
“We were staying in the Shamrock Hotel,” Radford said. “It was New Year’s Eve, so of course there were a bunch of pretty girls in their dresses parading about the hotel. When we showed up, they latched onto our players immediately.
“The next morning, the team was getting ready to get on the bus to go play Rice. A bunch of those girls came to tell the guys goodbye. The funny thing is, there were people in the hotel lobby who were getting all choked up because they thought the guys were soldiers leaving for Korea, and their girlfriends were seeing them for the last time. It was really just a bunch of one night stands.”
Georgia Tech inducted seven other athletes into the hall of fame besides Radford, including professional golfer Stewart Cink and Oakland A’s outfielder Jay Payton. The group was honored at a banquet at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, and was introduced to the crowd at hafltime of the Nov. 5 football game between Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
“It was a real thrill,” Radford said. “Bobby Cremins was at the banquet. Kenny Anderson, Mark Price were there. In all there were 300 people there. It was really special to me”
Radford has kept busy since his retirement from Monsanto. He volunteers with the United Way, and helped create the Monsanto Retiree Organization. He also volunteers at his church on a regular basis.
“When I was working I never kept a calendar,” Radford said. “But since I retired, I’ve been so busy that I have to check my book before I can agree to something. And, honestly, I like staying busy.”

Opinion

It may be time to elect new leaders in Capitol

November 21, 2005

A growing number of Republican South Carolinians are joining their counterparts across the country, as well as many Democrats, in laying much of the nation’s troubles at the feet of President Bush. Some of those problems can indeed be attributed to the action, or inaction. of the White House. Still, a big part of the negative attention should be paid to Congress ….. both the Senate and House.
Specifically, the pointing finger should be aimed at the leadership of both bodies, particularly Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert. As far as the American people can see, both of them leave a lot to be desired in overseeing the business within their purview.
Of course, the reality of it all is that guilty or not, the president is where it all comes down. President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that said it plainly: “The buck stops here.”

IT’S NOT OUT OF THE ordinary, then, for Congress to be the beneficiary when critics lambaste the president while overlooking the congressional role in government.
One of the primary concerns is that many Republicans all over the country are questioning Bush’s effectiveness and some of his policies. Much of that would be different, though, if Frist and Hastert remembered their party is in control and if they acted and led from that position of political power.
For many of the Republican faithful, both men approach their jobs as if they were in the minority and appear to be reluctant, or downright afraid, to play political hardball.

TOO OFTEN THEY APPEAR weak as they kowtow to pressures applied by Democrats, naturally. What’s more, they don’t seem to be able to persuade members of their own party to work together. It’s especially obvious when they work at cross purposes with the White House ….. which seems to occur too often.
Maybe it’s time for the members of each body to elect new leaders. The way it looks, they couldn’t do any worse.
Maybe there’s more being accomplished than is obvious. If there is, Frist and Hastert, and other members, should let the public know they are standing up for what they believe. As it is, that doesn’t appear to be happening.

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

Obituaries

Chris Petersen

TEGA CAY — Chris Petersen, 33, of 1110 Windsong Bay Lane, died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of George Petersen and Marguerite Petersen Russell. He graduated from UNC-Charlotte and was a sales manager for Wellman Inc. He was a member of Lake City Presbyterian Church.
Surviving include his wife, Kim Petersen; his children, Nathan Petersen and Paige Petersen, both of the home; his father of Ninety Six; his mother of Blairsville, Ga.; and a sister, Anne Howard of Greer.
A memorial service is 4 p.m. Tuesday at Lake City Presbyterian Church, Lake City.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Wolfe Funeral Home, Fort Mill, and at the church after the service.
Memorials may be made to Petersen Children Scholarship Fund, c/o Dawn Nettle at Wachovia Bank, 3766 Renee Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.
Wolfe Funeral Home is in charge.

James T. Walker

WASHINGTON — James T. Walker, 82, widower of Bettye Fisher Walker, died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at his home.
Born in Edgefield, S.C., he was a son of the late Tom and Everlean Peterson Walker. A veteran of the Korean War, he retired after 45 years with HUD in Washington. He was a former member of Springfield Baptist Church, Edgefield, and former Worship Grand Master of Eureka Lodge.
Survivors include a son, James Bernard Walker of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Louise W. Puckett of Greenwood, S.C.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The local family is at the home of his sister, 801 Franklin Ave., Greenwood.
Services will be announced at a later date.
Pope Funeral Home is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

Otto Williams

EDGEFIELD — Services for Otto Williams are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Flint Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Greenwood, with the Rev. John R. Brightharp officiating and the Rev. Annette Edwards presiding. Assisting are the Revs. William Booker, Willie Evans, Darren Jones and Carroll Wells. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are great-nephews and friends.
Flower bearers are great-nieces and friends.
The family is at the home of a niece, Lillie Ruth Jones, 108 Pelzer St., Greenwood.
Robinson and Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood, is in charge.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com