Area war veterans honor people
who sacrificed for rights of others

September 17, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

For some who have answered the call to duty for their country, the decision was one that took them straight into the hands of the enemy, where they were forced to remain as prisoners of war for weeks, months or even years.
For those who still are missing in action, their tour of duty will not be complete until their brothers of war fulfill their promise to bring each and every one of them home.
Greenwood and Lakelands area veterans gathered Friday at American Legion Post 20 for the 2005 Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day ceremony, giving thanks to and honoring those who have sacrificed their freedom — and lives — for the rights of others.
Gene McDaniel, commander of Post 20, said nearly 30 local POWs and widows of POWs were invited to the ceremony, which included speeches from several veterans who were imprisoned during World War II.
“Other than those who lost their lives, they have sacrificed more than anybody else for our freedom,” McDaniel said. “We want to honor those heroes who have spent so much time in prison. We don’t know how much they’ve suffered.”
Gov. Mark Sanford also signed a proclamation declaring Friday as POW/MIA Recognition Day throughout the state.
For World War II Army veteran John Adair, of Greenwood, eight months and two days of imprisonment with German troops is an experience he can still remember even after 60 years.
The then 20-year-old had crossed into Belgium with his infantry company, when he found himself at the mercy of the enemy.
“They rode us around town to show us off, and the children would throw apples at us. We would catch them and eat them,” he said, adding that the men were forced to sleep on the ground at night.
Eventually, Adair was sent to work on a German farm, where he spent the majority of his imprisonment doing farm work and cutting ice to store for winter. Though his time as a prisoner of war was difficult, he said it might have saved his life.
“If I hadn’t been captured, I guess I’d have gotten killed in the Battle of the Bulge,” he said.
When Clinton resident Bob Reasoner, an Air Force veteran, was shot down over enemy territory, his severe burns forced him to remain in the hospital for months following his capture by Germans in October 1943.
As one of the only Americans at the hospital, Reasoner said language barriers made communication difficult, but he learned how to use a kind of primitive sign language to talk with other prisoners.
For Reasoner, his nearly one year of imprisonment in Germany had an especially touching ending.
The boat carrying the young soldier back to the United States pulled into New York on Sept. 26, 1944. It was his 26th birthday.
“That was the first time I felt safe,” he said, adding that seeing the Statue of Liberty was an “amazing” feeling. “I knew then that I was home.”
With more than 88,000 soldiers reported MIA since World War II, Fred Malone, a Vietnam War and Navy veteran, said those who remain missing have not been forgotten by their families or their fellow soldiers.
“When you go into combat, you make a pledge to your buddies not to leave them behind,” he said. “It’s an unwritten law to do all you can to help get them back alive. If you can’t do that, you bring their bodies back.”
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Defense organized the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, comprised of men from all branches of service who are charged with the task of finding those who have yet to return home from their tour of duty, Malone said.
“It’s human nature that, if you have a loved one, you want to know what has happened to that person and you want to know where they are,” he said, adding that finding a missing soldier brings much needed closure to family and friends.
“We’ll never quit looking. We’ll bring them back one way or another.”

Megan Varner covers general assignments in Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811, ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com

William O. Ashmore Sr.

BELTON — William Ozzie Ashmore Sr., 74, of 1244 Chapman Road, husband of Shirley Walker Ashmore, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 at his home.
The family is at the home.
Cox Funeral Home is in charge.

Francis L. Auman

ASHEBORO — Francis Lilly Auman, age 86, of 500 Mountain Top Dr., Asheboro died Thursday, September 15, 2005 at Clapps Convalescent Nursing Home, Asheboro.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 2:00 PM at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Roberson officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro.
Mrs. Auman was a native of Denton and was a retired paymaster with Union Carbide after 30 years of service. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Asheboro, and was a founding member of the Randolph Arts Guild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Auman, and her infant son, Jeffrey Auman.
She is survived by her son, Michael R. Auman and his wife Donna of Asheboro, NC; grandson, Jeffrey Auman and his wife Cheryl of Greenwood, SC; grandson, Kevin Auman and his wife Lisa of Black Mountain, NC; great granddaughters, Abby Auman, Emily Auman, and Sashwa Auman all of Black Mountain, NC; step great granddaughters, Ginny Petras of California and Cindy Schierenbeck of Greenwood, SC; brother, Robert Lilly and his wife Martha of Burlington, NC.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 17, 2005 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC and other times at the home of her son, 1771 Palomino Dr., Asheboro.
Memorials may be made to the Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home, Dr. Greg Grisso, and Joyce Patram for their loving care during Mrs. Auman’s illness.
PAID OBITUARY

Ruth Hughey Hawkins

Ruth Hughey Hawkins, 89, of 101 Woods Terrace, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Honea Path, she was a daughter of the late Robert Hoke and Annie “Doll” Burkett Hughey. She retired from Greenwood Mills and was a charter member of Rice Memorial Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Howard (Gail H.) Bouknight with whom she made her home; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. today at Blyth Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Earl Troglin and James Young. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Frankie Timmerman, Stacey Rhodes, Tracey Rhodes, Billy Gradick, Paul Gradick and Frankie Rhodes. Visitation is 1:30-3 today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Gail Bouknight, 101 Woods Terrace, Augusta Fields.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House of Greenwood, c/o Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Frank Hines

SUMMERVILLE — Frank Hines, 86, formerly of Callison Highway, Greenwood, widower of Dorothy Merritt Hines, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 at Trident Medical Center.
Visitation is 3-4 p.m. Monday at Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Catherine H. Shealy.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Franklyn Roosevelt Norman

CALHOUN FALLS — Franklyn D. Roosevelt Norman, 68, of 512 Seneca St., died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Services will be announced by Friendly Funeral Home.

James B. O’Neal

ABBEVILLE, SC — James B. O’Neal, 69, of 714 E. Greenwood St. husband of Cary Leigh Harris O’Neal died Thursday, September 15, 2005 at Self Regional HealthCare. He was born in Killarney, West Virginia to the late Boyd M. and Rheda Dent O’Neal. He was a graduate of the University of Richmond where he played football. Mr. O’Neal served in the United States Army Green Beret 77 Special Forces Group. He retired after 29 years as Plant Manager at Plexco. After retirement he worked at Self Regional Healthcare until he became ill. Mr. O’Neal was a member of the First Baptist Church in Abbeville where he served as a Deacon and a Sunday School Teacher for various classes. He was a former member of the Lions Club and Rotary Club in Abbeville. Throughout his career Jim generously contributed his time and talents in a number of community activities.
He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Larry and Perry O’Neal and a sister, Francis O’Neal.
Jim will be forever missed by his loving family, his wife of 46 years, Cary H. O’Neal of the home, his son, Clifton Marshall O’Neal of Chicago, IL, three daughters, Jamie O. Williams of Abbeville, Janet O. Dickson ofAiken, and Wendy O. Sargent of Greenwood, three brothers, Bill O’Neal of Princeton, West Virginia, Frank D. O’Neal of Crestview, FL, and John O’Neal of Bluefield, West Virginia, a sister Dolphine “Dot” Morgan of Shady Springs, West Virginia; ten grandchildren, Anna Leigh Williams, Katelyn Paisley Williams, Sarah Elizabeth Williams, Brandon O’Neal Nabors, Cary Lynn Nabors, Christopher Payne Dickson, Hannah Catherine Dickson, Andrew James Sargent, JoElIen Harris Sargent, and Emma Grace Sargent.
The family will receive friends Saturday, September 17, 2005 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 3:00PM Sunday, September 18, 2005 at the Abbeville First Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions in memory of Mr. O’Neal may be sent to the Abbeville First Baptist Building Fund or to the First Baptist Scholarship Fund to PO Box 825, Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the O’Neal family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the O’Neal family.
PAID OBITUARY

John Henry Smith

Services for John Henry “Buddy” Smith are 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Springfield Baptist Church, Laurens Highway, with Dr. Andy Young presiding and the Rev. Kimberly Martin officiating. Assisting are the Revs. Ned Anderson, Tito Jones, James Duncan and Dr. William Moore. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Robert Williams, Louis Drennon, Jerry Chiles, Mark Lindsey, Harry Martin and Norman Holloway.
Flower bearers are great-nieces, Mary Higgins, Tina Chiles and Joeha Lindsey.
Visitation is at the home, 422 New Market St. and at 102 Richard St.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Louvenia A. Smith

KINARDS — Louvenia A. Smith, 81, of 8976 Highway 56 S., widow of Willie Smith, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
A daughter of the late Furman and Bessie Anderson, she was a member of Little River Zion Baptist Church. She retired from Whitten Center, where she worked for many years. She was a member of Women’s Aid Society No. 13. Survivors include five daughters, Willie Mae Werts and Carolyn Young of Joanna, Brillentine Lindsay and Mrs. Matthew (Bettye) Jacks of Clinton, Donna Bailey of Richmond, Va.; two sons, Henry Smith of Clinton, Harold Smith of Florida; 11 grandchildren, two reared in the home, Cassandra Young and Kendrick Lindsay; 21 great-grandchildren, one reared in the home, Tigueisha Young; a great-great-grandchild reared in the home, Jykorie Gary; two sisters, Geneva Cleveland of Alexandria, Va., Ruby Roberson of Baltimore; four brothers, Tommie Anderson of Clinton, Ernest Anderson and Bobby Anderson of Baltimore, James Anderson of Mountville.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Little River Zion Baptist Church.
Childs Funeral Home, Clinton, is in charge.

Cal Washington

CLINTON — Cal Washington, 68, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont in Greenwood.
Born in Cross Hill, he was a son of the late Johnny and Florence Washington. He attended Laurens County public schools and was a former employee of Lydia Mills, Clinton. He was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Cross Hill.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Mayes Washington of the home; two daughters, Tina Baxter of Columbia and Carol Ann Choice of Clinton; three sons, Carrol Washington and Michael Mayes of the home, Daryal Mayes of Greenwood; a brother, Johnny Washington of Greenwood; a grandson.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Cross Hill.
The family is at the home, 203 S. Bell St. Circle.
Childs Funeral Home is in charge.

Dale Fulton Weeks

BELTON — Dale Fulton Weeks, 89, widower of Annie Bell Turner Weeks of 155 Murdock Road, Belton died at Anderson Area Medical Center, September 16, 2005.
Born in McCormick County, he was the son of the late Ledell and Rosa Lee Singleton Weeks. He served In World War II in the United States Army. He was retired from Milliken and was of the Baptist Faith.
Surviving are: daughter, Margaret King of Belton; Brothers, Jim Weeks and David Weeks of Greenwood; sisters, Ruth Cothran of Greenwood and Emma Jean Clem of Dahlonega, GA; 2 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers, Thomas Weeks, Clarence Weeks, Paul Weeks; sister, Lou Ella Wiley.
Graveside services will be held at 4PM Sunday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with Dr. John LeHeup officiating.
Burial will follow.
The family will receive friends from 2:30PM until 3:30PM Sunday at Cox Funeral Home prior to the service.
Flowers are optional or memorials may be made to Belton Presbyterian Church.
The family is at the residence of Margaret King of 157 Murdock Rd., Belton.
Cox Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Eagles get dramatic victory over Spartanburg

September 17, 2005

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

SPARTANBURG - Over a quarter century of futility came to an end Friday night.
The Class AAAA No. 3 Greenwood High School (4-0) football team defeated No. 5 Spartanburg (3-1), 27-24, at Wofford College’s Gibbs Stadium. It’s the first time the Eagles have beaten the Vikings in Spartanburg since 1979.
And they did so in dramatic fashion.
Greenwood, which was facing a 21-7 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, scored 20 points in the final 12 minutes to grab the elusive victory.
Greenwood tailback Robert Robinson’s dive over the goal line with a little more than 2 minutes remaining sealed the win for the Eagles, the team’s second straight over Spartanburg.
“I knew I had to pick that one up,” said Robinson, who finished with 71 yards rushing. “Our D kept us in it in the fourth. I knew that last one was mine.”
Greenwood coach Shell Dula was ecstatic about his team’s benchmark win.
“Our team was unbelievable tonight,” Dula said. “Our kids never quit, not once. I can’t say enough about our character.
“What character!”
Armanti Edwards led the way for the Eagles. The senior quarterback was 13 of 19 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 149 yards and two scores.
Spartanburg was paced by wide receiver Scott Harward, who caught a game-high nine catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. However, Harward found little solace in his performance.
“I wouldn’t call it a big performance, we lost,” Harward said. “Our defense did a good job, we just couldn’t hold them out. We’ll have to do some soul searching and regroup.”
The Vikings came out and scored on the first possession of the game, in what could have been considered a statement drive to the No. 3 Eagles.
Vikings quarterback Nick Prochak heaved a 40-yard pass to Harward to put Spartanburg at the Greenwood 7-yard line. Three plays later, tailback Markus Robinson blasted across the goal line to cap an 80-yard, 5-minute, 55-second opening drive to give Spartanburg the 7-0 lead.
The score would remain the same until halftime, though the Eagles squandered two golden opportunities in the second quarter.
With 3:59 remaining in the first half, Spartanburg fullback Terry Briscoe fumbled on the Spartanburg 9-yard line, giving the Eagles prime field position.
However, the Eagles were stalled by the Vikings defense, and kicker Clay Baldwin trotted on to attempt a 28-yard field goal. Baldwin hooked the kick left of the narrow college-size goal posts, preserving Spartanburg’s 7-0 lead heading into the half.
The hole grew deeper for the Eagles in the third quarter.
The Vikings capped another brutal 80-yard, nearly four minute drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike from Prochak to Harward. Prochak came down the line, as if to attempt a reverse shovel pass, then pulled the ball down and fired it to a wide open Harward. The connection gave Spartanburg the 14-7 advantage.
Another touchdown toss from Prochak to Harward late in the third saw the Eagles face a 14-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
That’s when the Eagles came alive.
On the first drive of the fourth, Greenwood started at its own 20-yard line. Using a 45 yard pass from Edwards to Xavier Dye, the Eagles were able to navigate into Spartanburg territory.
Greenwood found itself facing fourth-and-1 from the Spartanburg 12-yard line. With all 11 Viking defenders crowding the line of scrimmage, Edwards faked a handoff to Zach Norman and lofted a looping fade pass to tight end Alex Sellers, who nabbed the pass in the end zone. The gutsy play call had cut the Vikings’ lead to 21-14.
“That was all (offensive coordinator) coach (Chris) Liner,” Dula said. “He was the one who called that play, and the guys carried it out to perfection.”
After Spartanburg kicker Derrick Cupstid kicked a 31-yard field goal, the Eagles were looking at a 24-14 deficit with a little more than six minutes remaining.
Edwards wasted little time cutting into the Vikings’ lead.
On the second play of the next possession, the senior quarterback took a shotgun snap from center and darted into the right side of the line. Edwards then cut back sharply and sprinted into open field. Sixty-eight yards later, the senior crossed the goal line to cut the deficit to four, 24-20, with about four minutes remaining.
Spartanburg made a fatal miscue on the ensuing possession.
Working from the Saprtanburg 16-yard line, Briscoe fumbled a handoff from Prochak. When the dog pile was cleared, Greenwood had come away with the football.
Two plays later, Robinson scored the winning touchdown.
“This was our night, baby,” Robinson said. “We knew we were going to show everyone what we could do.”
The Eagles hit the road again next Friday, heading to Aiken to tussle with the Green Hornets, who defeated Greenwood twice in 2004.

Emerald runs to victory over Abbeville

September 17, 2005

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Dan Wideman and the vaunted Vikings’ passing attack wasn’t necessarily the model of consistency Friday night at Frank Hill Stadium.
But there was nothing wrong with Wideman’s legs.
And the same could be said of tailback tandem Brandon Davis and Josh Boville.
Those three combined for 311 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 33-13 victory over Abbeville.
“We’re a passing team, a spread team, but when you want to play against it, we can run the football,” Bryan said. “And you have to be able to do that because you have to give them everything to defend.
“They (Abbeville) were doing a nice job of trying to take away some of the things we do, but doing that leaves you open to some other things. You have to be able to run the football when the opportunity is there, and I thought both running backs ran hard. I don’t compliment the offensive line much, but they did a very good job.”
Davis led the Emerald rushing trio with 119 yards on 11 carries. Boville had seven rushes for 83 yards and caught a team-leading four passes for 35 yards.
Wideman, who was 14-of-30 for 188 yards and two touchdowns through the air, ran the ball 14 times for 109 yards.
“I just wasn’t setting my feet right out there early in the game, but coach told me at halftime to just go out there and take my time and take what they give me,” Wideman said. “He told me if I didn’t have anybody to throw to, just run it. And I did. I give my coaches, receivers and my line credit.”
With the win, Emerald improves its record to 3-1, the team’s best start to a season since 1998, the same year the Vikings went on to win the Class AA state title.
“The kids feel pretty good. We’re gaining some confidence in ourselves,” Bryan said. “I think our defense played great. You don’t win without a defense that plays like that.
“I was most pleased with how we ran the football.”
The loss is the Panthers’ third in a row. It’s the team’s longest on-the-field losing streak since 1995. Abbeville did drop three straight last season because the team had to forfeit its win over Batesburg-Leesville.
The Vikings’ passing game sputtered for most of the first half. Wideman completed only six of his first 17 passes, throwing behind a handful of receivers and, in return, having more than a few passes dropped. In fact, the senior quarterback’s two longest-gaining passes during the stretch came on a pair of shuffle passes to Boville and Davis.
But all of that passing mediocrity was washed away late in the second quarter, with the Vikings trailing 7-6. Wideman connected with his prime target Demarco Anderson for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds remaining in the half to give Emerald the lead for good at 12-7.
It was the second of three straight scoring drives for the Vikings.
The first came immediately after the Panthers grabbed the game’s first lead.
After the game started with six straight punts, the Panthers were finally rewarded with excellent field position. Abbeville’s Desmond Peterson ran a punt back 40 yards to give his team possession on the Vikings’ 21.
Four plays later, Dexter Starks ran for a 3-yard score.
But Emerald responded with a scoring drive of its own, capping a 10-play, 70-yard series with a 1-yard from Wideman to make it 7-6.
Abbeville had a third-and-14 from its own 14 on the ensuing possession. Quarterback Mack Hite pitched to Peterson, who ran right looking to pass.
Peterson tossed down field and, after the ball bounced off several players from both teams, Emerald’s Alexander Jones made the diving grab. Jones’ interception gave the Vikings the ball on the Abbeville 44. It was Emerald’s best starting field position of the first half, setting up the Wideman-to-Anderson go-ahead touchdown just before halftime.
Emerald took control of the game almost as soon as the team took the field for the second half, thanks to a solid defensive effort that made up for a possibly disastrous special teams turnover.
The Vikings were set to receive the kickoff to start the second half, but none of the Emerald players fielded the long kick. Instead, a Panther dove in and recovered at the Emerald 17-yard line. However, Abbeville couldn’t do anything with the shortened field. On fourth-and-1, Emerald’s Adian Bennett made the tackle on Abbeville fullback James Moore for the turnover on downs.
The Vikings then drove more than 90 yards to add to their lead. Wideman keyed the scoring drive, hitting receiver Nick Lanier on a hitch-and-go for a 47-yard gain.
Two plays later, Boville ran in for a 7-yard score. Wideman’s two-point conversion run gave the Vikings a 20-7 lead.
“The two most important possessions of any football game at any level are the first two possessions of the third quarter,” Bryan said. “That’s where tempo is set and momentum is established. And I think we did a great job with that.”
The Vikings stretched their lead to 26 points after another Wideman 26-yard passing TD to Nick Lanier and a 12-yard run from Davis.
The Panthers added the final points of the night when Peterson’s 4-yard touchdown drew the score to 33-13.

Giving athletes a chance after hurricane is a plus

September 17, 2005

Were it not for football and/or other sports in high school, many young athletes would never have an opportunity to go to college or get further in life. It should be encouraging, then, to see the South Carolina High School League making it possible for some athletes displaced by Hurricane Katrina to play in this state.
SCHL Executive Director Jerome Singleton, who used to be an assistant coach at Greenwood High School, recently noted the League had received nine hardship requests from schools throughout South Carolina about students uprooted by the hurricane. “We’re setting aside the transfer rule, which means you (students) don’t have to move with the family or parents,” Singleton said.

SOME OF THE SCHOOLS have been given permission for some of those students to participate in their athletic programs. Others could follow.
The senior year obviously is important to those who are able to demonstrate enough athletic ability to attract college scouts. That opportunity was wiped out for many of those athletes by Katrina. So getting to play in this state is an answered prayer for some.
The SCHL has been criticized at times when people didn’t think some of the rules made any sense ….. at least common sense. This shows, though, that when something is right, it usually prevails.
Give credit where credit is due. This time it’s the South Carolina High School League and school officials.