Abbeville church, community provide
homes for hurricane-displaced families

September 11, 2005

By SHAVONNE POTTS
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — It’s a new world for two families starting over after leaving their homes to escape the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.
Two weeks ago, Andrea Jeffries and best friend Angelia Nelson, both 24, left their hometown of Pass Christian, Miss., after hearing about Hurricane Katrina.
To them, the hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico seemed like any other that had struck their area in previous years. They would use their time away to travel to Atlanta, leaving the children with their fathers in Mississippi.
“We weren’t expecting it to be bad,” Jeffries said. “It was like a mini vacation. We were planning to go back.”
The fathers later evacuated with the children. It proved to be a wise decision. Their homes were destroyed.
Jeffries and Nelson went home to devastation, death and separation from their family.
After returning to Atlanta, Jeffries then traveled with daughter Alyssa, 5, and Nelson’s three children, daughters Shadae, 6, Levon, 3, and son Trevon Tyson, 5 months old, to Abbeville with all they could fit in Jeffries’ car.
The families received help from Randy Taylor, pastor of Main Street United Methodist Church in Abbeville, along with others who brought them food, clothes, furniture, toiletries and other items.
“We went to Georgia and brought them back,” Taylor said.
He worked with another church, Life Point Ministries in Atlanta, to get the family to Abbeville.
Taylor drove to Georgia to meet them, and they followed him to South Carolina.
Taylor said he works with an organization called the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which assists churches in direct ministry to people in need in the areas of emergency response, hunger and poverty, and refugees and immigration.
UMCOR maintains a group of trained disaster-response specialists for reinforcement of national efforts.
The church donated a house, and the Agan family, of Abbeville, offered another. Church members worked for about a week to fix up the houses and make sure the families had what they needed.
“It’s the wonderful, giving spirit of the people of Abbeville,” Taylor said.
The children began school Friday, and the two families are settling in with help from the community.
But, it’s remembering what they left at home in Mississippi that haunts them, making their relocation seem surreal.
“I went down a road that I drive down every day. Everything was so displaced,” Nelson said.
She said they weren’t sure where they were going as they drove into town on streets she didn’t recognized anymore.
“It smelled of dead bodies and there was no green scenery, just mud, clay and brown,” Jeffries said.
“You know half the people you were smelling were probably your friends,” Nelson said.
Jeffries and Nelson had to walk a little more than two miles in mud and water to their homes since they were not allowed to drive into town.
What they saw upset and amazed them.
There were houses in a Texaco parking lot and a car thrown through a window in Nelson’s apartment. Her mother was rescued by climbing through a hole cut in the roof after her home was flooded.
“There was whole apartment buildings in the street,” Nelson said.
Some houses and buildings were not damaged, while others a few blocks down the street were missing or obliterated.
“It was like a dream,” she said. “Apartment buildings moved and houses were blown blocks away.”
Jeffries talked about her apartment, where she found things that didn’t belong there, such as a neighbor’s wallet on her couch and other debris that found its way inside.
She was surprised at how her refrigerator was in the middle of the kitchen, and other things were scattered on the floor, but a glass of Kool-Aid remained on the table, untouched and as she’d left it.
Jeffries said she lived on the second floor and there was ample time for her to grab several things, but she did not.
Her apartment had little water damage and there were some things she wanted to take, such as her grandfather clock.
They probably will not soon forget the homes, they said, which were marked with orange spray paint to indicate that people either survived or died.
There was an “X” with a zero on a home if people were saved or no bodies were found, Nelson said, while a spray-painted number indicated how many people died in a home.
Nelson was unable to salvage anything from her home. She lost everything, including her car.
The only thing she salvaged from her mother’s apartment was a plaque with the Prayer of Serenity inscribed on it.
Her mother’s apartment was damaged by water and she lost everything.
Nelson left her mother in what many are calling “Tent City” with her cell phone so that she could keep in contact with her.
For days the two were separated from their children and later reunited in Mississippi before returning to Atlanta.
But there still remains family unaccounted for back home.
“I can’t find my sister, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles,” she said.
Many of Nelson’s family lived in Waveland, Miss., which was left in ruins.
She was able to talk with her mother for the first time in a while without any power outages or other interruptions.
“It’s crazy how we’re here, but we’re here,” Jeffries said.
She said she felt like they were meant to be in South Carolina.
The move to another state didn’t come without bumps.
There were days at hotels, nights spent in the car and a day when the kindness of a man and his wife provided the night’s meal.
“We didn’t hear from anybody for like a week,” Jeffries said.
She said the only thing they knew of their hometown is what they saw on the news.
Nelson said she thinks the children sort of understand what happened, but most of all they miss home.
“I think once they start a routine it will be better for them,” she said.
“We gladly thank the people and different churches,” Nelson said.
“The whole community has just been so nice,” Jeffries said.

Greenwood County districts enroll students from Gulf area

September 11, 2005

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

Area schools have opened their doors and their hearts to students and their families evacuated from their homes after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Greenwood District 50 and District 51 in Ware Shoals have enrolled seven students from Louisiana and Mississippi. School officials say they are doing everything in their power to ease the situation for students and help them regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.
“We’re trying to make them feel as comfortable and as happy as they can be right now,” District 50 Superintendent Bill Steed said. “We know that they’ve been through a pretty tough ordeal — some of them lost everything — and our goal is just to make them comfortable as quickly as possible.”
Five students have enrolled in District 50 while staying with family or friends in the Greenwood area after evacuating from their homes. Steed said he was not fully aware of whether the students were from New Orleans proper, Mississippi or other affected areas, but they are from evacuated regions of the Gulf.
“We’re not 100 percent sure how long they will be with us, but our main effort is to make sure they’re comfortable for as long as they’re here, whether it’s three days or three months,” Steed said. “We want to help them get back into a routine.”
Four of the evacuees in District 50 are enrolled in elementary schools and the fifth is a middle school student.
In District 51, both students, one an eighth-grader, the other an 11th-grader, are attending Ware Shoals High School, which has both senior and junior high grades. Both are from the same small town outside New Orleans, but had never met, said guidance counselor Gene Wood.
“They know each other now, that’s for certain,” he said. “The good thing is that both young men are fitting in very well. They both miss home and we’ve talked about that, but we’re trying to make them feel as at home here as we can.”
With the destruction and chaos ongoing in Louisiana and Mississippi, student records and transcripts either have been destroyed or are unavailable, so students are being admitted with few questions, officials said. According to state law, when a child is considered homeless, he or she is automatically enrolled into public schools and is signed up for free lunch.
“We don’t even ask them to fill out forms,” Wood said.
In addition, counseling services have been made available to evacuated students.
In District 51, schools have been raising money and accepting donations to benefit Katrina evacuees, including the two students in Ware Shoals.
“We’ve been getting donations from faculty and staff, from parents and members of the community … The depths of compassion I’ve seen here have just amazed me,” Wood said. “It’s particularly touching to see parents who don’t have a lot come in and make donations to help those who have nothing. It makes you feel good about people and the community we are blessed to live in.”
District 50 schools have been working with the American Red Cross and Emergency Services to aid evacuees.

Matilda W. Caldwell

Matilda Wardlaw Caldwell, 91, of 708 Gray St., widow of Alfred Caldwell, died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 at her home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Tom and Frances Scurry Wardlaw. She was a member of Mount Tabor Baptist Church and Women’s Aide Society No. 55.
Survivors include a son, Jimmy Caldwell of the home; four sisters, Mrs. L.V. (Laura) Griffin of Cleveland, Ohio, Emma Cunningham and Rose Latimer, both of Greenwood and Mary House of Nashville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren, two reared in the home, Melissa Lyles and Jonathan Kinard; eight great-grandchildren, two reared in the home, Shay Aiken and Toy Childs.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Keith Hilley

GREENWOOD — Keith Allen Hilley, 42, of 213 Sagewood Rd., son of Katherine Walker Hilley and the late John David Hilley, died Saturday, September 10, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was employed by Greenwood Mills, a member of South Greenwood Pentecostal Holiness Church where he was the secretary/treasure of the Christian Education Ministries department and also operated the sound system.
Surviving in addition to his mother of the home, a brother Steve and sister in law Tammy Hilley, two nieces Lindsey and Kayla Hilley all of Greenwood.
He was preceded in death by a brother David Hilley.
Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ray Boggs, Rev. James Young, and the Rev. Lawrence Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Philip White, Johnny Rhodes, Larry Rachels, Johnny Ferguson, Jimmy Norris, Mike Hilley, James Owens, and Mickey Goodman.
Honorary escorts will be the men of the church, and Dr. Mark Bartz.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 7-9 at Harley Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to South Greenwood Pentecostal Church, P O Drawer C, Greenwood, SC 29646. The Family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rudy Hudson

Rudolph English “Rudy” Hudson, 63, of 410 North St., widower of Elaine Shirley Hudson, died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Florence, he was a son of the late Robbie English and Maggie Player Hudson. He was a former employee at Hunters Creek and a member of New Life Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include a sister, Patricia H. Hoard of Cherryville, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Missy Tripp of Greenwood; and two step-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Tim Ellenberg and Dr. Phillip Morris. Burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are Tommy Shirley, Dorton Shirley, Sam C. Crouch, Jay Little, Rondy Shirley, Terry Shirley and Rip Shirley.
Visitation is 1-2 Monday at the funeral home.
The family is at the home.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Faye Walters

GREENWOOD — Janice Faye Henderson Walters, 57, of 202 Dublin Road, wife of Wayne Walters, died Saturday, September 10, 2005 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Tullie Alvin “Pete” and Elizabeth Weeks Henderson. She was a graduate of the College of Commerce and was employed by Greene & Co. She was a member of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, where she served as a lay speaker and previously served as treasurer of the Administrative Board and a Sunday School teacher in adult and children’s classes. She was a member of the Cheerful Workers Sunday School Class, the Hannah Circle of the United Methodist Women, a participant in the Ga-Lina walk to Emmaus #51, and a member of the Disaster Preparedness Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Kaye H. Campbell.
Surviving is her husband of the home; a daughter, Melissa Faye Looper and husband James A. of Hodges; a grandson, Jackson Alexander Looper; a nephew, Derrick Campbell of Hodges, two uncles, Carl P. Weeks, Jr. of Easley, Leon and Vanzea Henderson of Palmetto GA, two aunts Gertrude McKelley, and Annie Mae Henderson of Greenwood.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lowell Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dick Waldrep and the Rev. Bob Allen officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Alton McDaniel, Robert Adams, Derrick Campbell, Jim Ballard, Woody Owensby and J. Michael Looper.
Honorary escort will be members of the Cheerful Workers Sunday School Class and the Hannah Circle of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, co-workers from Greene & Co. and Eleanor Wideman.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
The family is at the home in Emerald Place.
Memorials may be made to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Lady Bearcats 2nd at own race

September 11, 2005

By MICHAEL STONE
Index-Journal sports editor

Ivana Petrovic had three goals for Saturday’s Connie Maxwell Cross Country Invitational.
The Lander senior wanted to run faster than last week’s 20:48, she wanted to run faster than last year’s time of 20:30 and she wanted to finish in the top 5 in the team’s only home race of the year.
Petrovic achieved all three goals and led the Lady Bearcats to a second-place finish in the meet.
Southern Wesleyan won the women’s team title with 50 points, with Lander second at 72, just ahead of Anderson College (74).
Petrovic covered the 5K course in 20 minutes, 12 seconds, giving her a third-place finish behind Anderson’s Jennifer Hitt (19:14) and Diana Willard (19:35).
“Today was pretty good,” Petrovic said. “This is our home course and we wanted to run well in front of our fans.”
Petrovic had plenty of help running well.
Margaret Mobley was 13th for the Lady Bearcats, finishing in 21:40, with Olga Nunez-Lopez 16th in 21:45, Anna Lohmann 18th in 21:50 and Kate Deyerle 22nd in 22:22.
Mobley, Nunez-Lopez and Lohmann improved at least 10 seconds from the team’s season-opening run at the Spartanburg Eye Opener Sept. 3.
“We ran as a real tight group, from 2-3-4-5,” Lander coach Bob Stoner. “It was (Deyerle’s) first race of year and she ran better than she did all last year.”
Erskien’s women’s team finished in eighth place, with Alicia Lopez leading the way. Lopez placed 26th in 22:44.
Kristen Koch was 30th for the Lady Fleet in 22:57, with Lauren Cross 44th in 24:34, Catherine Meggs 45th in 24:36 and Sarah Wittle 51st in 25.09.
Anderson’s Ethan Schaffner won the men’s 8K race in 27:04 and led the Trojans to the team title. Anderson finished with 43 points, three ahead of Spartanburg Methodist (46), with Presbyterian third (99).
Emerald High School graduate David Payne led Southern Wesleyan, placing fourth in 27:41, while Greenwood High School graduate Dale McVicker was 12th in 29:13 for SMC.
Erskine’s men’s team finished seventh overall. John Sell led the Fleet, taking eighth in 28:16. Brad Shillinglaw was 25th in 31:12, Takaaki Shioya was 36th in 32:11, Hunter Gaffney was 37th in 32:23 and Jason Windley was 56th in 34:30.
Lander runs again next Saturday at the Winthrop Invitational.

A new culture of hatred a threat to all Americans

September 11, 2005

There is a sickness eroding the civility of this nation. It’s eating away at the foundations of all that we, as a people, hold dear. It is hate. It is more than that. It’s pathological hate.
Much of that hate is directed at President Bush. Hateful rhetoric from his detractors has become a knee-jerk phenomenon that substitutes divisiveness for unity.
Some of those detractors would surely say they’re only exercising their freedom of speech. In many cases, that’s true. When it is, it’s obvious. In other cases, though, it goes far beyond freedom of speech. It is character assassination with a vengeance that is devoid of any reason. It is an over-kill that defies logic.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that the president of the United States is not subject to criticism, the same as anyone else.

CRITICISM AND HATEFUL speech, though, are not the same.
Some people have been heard to say President Bush should be shot. Others have been just as vehement with their derogatory verbal assaults. Some of it, in fact, has been so harsh and far-out that if it were aimed at some other individuals in our society it would be considered a hate crime.
It’s funny, though. It seems some of the people who want punishment for anyone who commits what they consider a hate crime, are the same people who direct their vocal hatred at Mr. Bush. We see it in South Carolina.
Taking verbal jabs at presidents and other politicians is a normal pursuit, especially in a free society. That’s always been integral to the American political scene.

THESE DAYS, THOUGH, IT’S become something else. It’s taken a turn to the dark side and has no resemblance to the expected, but normal, give and take of political jousting.
The dangers of creating a culture of hate, and that’s what we’ve done, is the effect it will have on young and impressionable minds. For example, what happens when high-profile figures keep directing patently hateful and abusive language at a president? Those young minds reason that hate rhetoric is acceptable and, thus, hatred is, too.
It’s not a one-sided thing, either. It develops and grows from many political directions. It cannot be conducive to politics of respect that makes fairness to all a way of life, not simply a goal.
The majority of the American people, it seems, are weary of politics as usual. They want time-tested give-and-take that allows for disagreement but encourages compromise for the good of all. We’d best take a little introspective inventory of ourselves or the pendulum might swing so far one way it can never swing back.