You
feel the fear ...
you work through it
Law officers talk about close call in Greenwood shootout
April 11, 2006
By
JOANIE BAKER and MEGAN VARNER
Of The Index-Journal staff
At 4:30 p.m. April 1, Lt. Dale Kittles was supposed to meet
wife Susan after a full day of monitoring a motorcycle event in
Greenwood.
But on an April Fools Day he wont soon forget, the
Greenwood County Sheriffs Office deputys plans were
interrupted.
And it was no joke.
On that day, three deputies became involved in a shootout with an
attempted murder suspect at a busy intersection in downtown
Greenwood.
After it was over, I looked at my watch and realized that I
was not going to make that 4:30 meeting, Kittles said.
I told her I had been involved in a shooting.
Just before the deputies arrived on the scene, a Greenwood Police
Department officer had stopped a vehicle after the driver was
suspected of shooting a man on Mineral Court.
In an unmarked vehicle, Kittles, Chief Deputy Mike Frederick and
Agent Chris Hammett observed the suspects vehicle just as
the police officer stopped it at the intersection of West
Cambridge Avenue and Hampton Street.
As the deputies set up to order the suspect from his vehicle, he
first displayed a handgun, then turned it toward the deputies
vehicle and fired, officials said. They returned fire, striking
the vehicle and the suspect.
Frederick said about 35 total rounds were fired from city and
county officers. Using a suppressive fire technique,
Frederick said the rounds were needed to give officers and
deputies the chance to get in a better position around the
suspects car.
We were shooting into a six or eight-inch gap (where the
suspects door was open), Frederick said. We
knew we might hit him, but, basically, we were trying to keep him
occupied and keep him engaged on (the left side) so that he
wouldnt spin around and see Kittles coming up behind him.
While deputies laid suppressive fire on the vehicle, Kittles made
his way onto the grassy knoll in the median beside the suspects
vehicle.
Frederick said instinct and training kicked in.
Our theory is that it was the last round from Kittles that
took (the suspect) out of the fight, Frederick said, adding
that Kittles was able to get to an angle where there wasnt
as much sheet metal protecting the man.
If Dale hadnt left cover, wed still be there,
Frederick said, adding that the longer the shooting lasted, the
higher the odds were for injuries to bystanders and deputies.
It wasnt a careless, cavalier maneuver. It was a
well-thought-out, intentional move, and that is a courageous
thing.
As a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Greenwood County
Sheriff Dan Wideman studied law enforcement-related violence
extensively in 2001. He explained that in law enforcement
gunbattles nationwide, accuracy generally hovers around only 15
or 20 percent, and the exchanges last only a few seconds.
This incident involved almost 20 seconds of gunfire exchanged,
with another three or four minutes of tactical operation to
secure the suspect and safely take him into custody. Wideman said
that although the vehicle stopped many of the rounds from
striking the suspect, the accuracy displayed by the deputies
involved was better than 90 percent.
Our guys knew exactly where and what they were shooting at,
and they took great care to ensure that no innocent bystanders
were in danger, Wideman added.
The suspect, Sergio Gonzales, was taken into custody and charged
in connection with the Mineral Court shooting and five counts of
attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. Gonzales, who
authorities say has a history of assaults on law enforcement
officers, was struck with .40-caliber and 12-gauge rounds from at
least two deputies.
Gonzales was taken to Self Regional Medical Center, where doctors
performed surgery. He was released from the hospital Thursday and
is being held at the Greenwood County Detention Center without
bond pending a trial.
For Hammett, who said this was his first lethal-force situation,
training and instinct kicked in.
You wonder if all the hours and hours of training will kick
in that time when you need it, and they do, he said. You
dont even have to think. Your training takes over.
Frederick said that although fear is present in situations such
as the shootout, the deputies are trained to push the fear into
the back of their minds.
Its not really the type of fear that shuts you down,
he said. You feel the fear, but if youve got the
right training and background and youre with the right
guys, you work through it and you worry about the adrenaline
afterwards.
After seeing the car, and seeing the path the bullets made as
they tore through glass and fabric, Hammett said he was surprised
at how close they came to danger.
We realized how close that bullet was to all of us,
he said. It went between two front seats and into the back
seat. It could have hit any three of us.
Wideman had deferred comment until the State Law Enforcement
Division (SLED) completed its review of the incident.
SLED contacted Wideman on Friday to report that all the officers
had been cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
Wideman explained that the three deputies involved were required
to turn over their weapons for forensic analysis. He said he
re-armed them while still at the scene.
Its important for officers to know that we support
them, Wideman said. Most folks dont understand
the physical and mental stress associated with incidents like
these. I made sure these three guys knew I thought that they did
a heck of a job, and that we would do whatever we could as an
organization to support them.
Wideman said it is his policy that any time a deputy is involved
in a serious, life-threatening incident, a mandatory debriefing
session with trained peer counselors follows. As the deputies, on
fully paid administrative leave, awaited the results of SLEDs
inquiry, they met with two peer counselors for a debriefing.
Wideman said the deputies were in debriefing from 9 a.m. to about
1:30 p.m. Friday with a retired Secret Service agent and a
Spartanburg County deputy.
They have training and they are prepared, but, when its
over, what do you do? Wideman said. If they have a
problem, they can come in and see its a problem. I think
everything was fine with our guys, but they do have (the
counselors) number if they dont feel right about
something and they can talk one-on-one with them.
Wideman said the shooting represents the aspect of his job he
likes the least the danger faced by his deputies on a
daily basis.
Its a responsibility I never take lightly, he
said. Every day, I order these brave men and women out into
the county to face the threats associated with their duties. Its
hard not to lie in bed and think about it sometimes.
Wideman said he reviewed the video of the shooting shortly after
it was retrieved from the two police patrol units on the scene.
My first thought after seeing the video was, Thank
God no officers or bystanders were hurt, Wideman
said. Then I just welled up with pride after seeing the way
our guys faced Gonzales down. Their SWAT backgrounds and high
level of training were so obvious in the way they moved and
defended themselves; you could instantly tell these guys knew
exactly what they were doing. Gonzales really picked the wrong
car to start a gunfight with.
Frederick said it took the coordination between the police
officers and sheriffs deputies to keep the incident from
escalating into a deadly one.
If you took out any piece of this puzzle, it wouldnt
have worked, Frederick said. Im glad it ended
the way it did, and Im proud of the way we responded. Im
also proud to say, though, that any deputy here would have done
the exact same thing.
Wideman also took the opportunity to remind everyone that
although high-profile incidents such as the Gonzales shooting are
fairly infrequent, law enforcement officers face danger every
day. Incidents like this one dont make people what
they are they demonstrate what the people involved are
made of, he said. When bullets are flying, its
too late for character development.
Local
government officials react
to congresswomans claim of racism in incident
April 11, 2006
By
MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer
Though they agreed that racism still exists in the United States
even in the shadow of the nations Capitol
some of Greenwoods elected officials said one congresswomans
claim of racism following an incident with U.S. Capitol Police
might have been too hasty.
On March 29, U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., was involved in a
scuffle with a white Capitol police officer who failed to
recognize the congresswoman as she entered a House building,
according to Associated Press reports.
McKinney, who represents suburban Atlanta, was not wearing an
identification lapel pin when she entered the building and
refused to stop for the officer. When the officer tried to
physically stop McKinney, she struck him, officials with Capitol
police have said.
Soon after the incident, McKinney claimed that racism and racial
profiling at Capitol Hill security checkpoints played a part in
the incident, and, this month, black clergy and lawmakers at a
meeting in Atlanta came to McKinneys support. Some claimed
they also had been the subjects of racial profiling during the
viewing of the body of Coretta Scott King at the Georgia Capitol,
the AP reported.
When a grand jury began investigating the incident, and after a
number of House colleagues shunned the congresswomans
actions, McKinney apologized for her behavior, calling the
incident instead a misunderstanding, according to the
AP.
Though he said it was difficult to form a conclusion on the
situation without being present when it occurred, Greenwood Mayor
Floyd Nicholson said McKinney might have jumped to
conclusions when she blamed the incident on racism.
Many times, we speak before we think. She may have jumped
to conclusions before she had the time to think, Nicholson
said. A lot of times, when various things come up, people
look for a way out and call racism, and that makes people less
willing to believe it.
Nicholson said racism can sometimes become a crutch to lean
on instead of owning up to a mistake.
Greenwood County Councilwoman Edith Childs said the officer had a
right to stop McKinney if he didnt recognize the
congresswoman, especially with security guidelines becoming
stricter.
You know you have to have your badge on, and if you dont
have it in plain view, then you need to be stopped and
questioned, she said. I dont see that as a
black or white thing. She should have had her badge on.
Childs said that if county council required her to wear a badge,
she would gladly wear it even though many of the officers
at the courthouse might recognize her.
We may have an officer one day that doesnt (recognize
me), she said. Security is security, and those people
have a job to do.
Greenwood County Councilman Gonza Bryant said he could not judge
whether McKinney or the Capitol Police were at fault in this
situation, based on the information available; however, he said,
there should be a way to take race out of the situation
altogether.
Perhaps they need to find a method of identifying elected
officials in the absence of a name tag maybe a thumbprint
in the absence of the name badge, he said, especially
at this level of rank in the United States Congress.
If McKinney forgot her lapel pin, the technology should exist
where she would have been asked to have her hand scanned and her
identity established, Bryant said.
If someone stole her badge, would that person be the
congresswoman? he said. With modern technology, there
should be a thumbprint, a computer identification or a voice scan
to make sure the officers are allowing into the Capitol or
detaining the right person.
Use of that technology would remove the judgment call on the
officers part that could lead to a racism charge, Bryant
said. The question of race would be no problem, he
said. Technology would take care of it black or
white.
State Rep. Anne Parks, D-Greenwood-McCormick, said the first
thing she thought of when she heard of the incident wasnt
race, but the fact that McKinney was an elected official.
If she refuted the statement, of course, it brings some
questions to mind, Parks said of McKinneys reported
apology. If she changed her opinion, it would bring
questions to my mind.
But although they didnt agree with McKinneys actions,
some leaders said they do agree that racism is a problem that
still plagues the United States, and some say it is an issue that
has affected them personally as black leaders in the community.
I think racism still exists everywhere. Its just not
as open as it has been, Childs said. It is present
and alive, but it changes color. Its still there, it just
comes at you in a different light.
She said she has experienced a situation of racism, but after
standing up for herself as an African American and a woman, she
hasnt had additional problems. People will test you,
especially if youre a woman ... Im just as equal as
the next person, Childs said.
Parks added that she sometimes feels extra pressure in her
position.
I feel like I am more closely watched with the things I do,
and I am always aware of the things I do, she said. I
feel that if I do anything wrong, it would be brought to light
sooner.
For some, the issue of racism seems to be one that society will
always struggle to overcome.
It is embedded in (people), and its not going to
change, Childs said. Just like the poor will always
be among us, so will racism.
But Childs said prejudice of any kind, not only that which is
based on race, is a problem that needs to be addressed.
There are many types of prejudice that people need to look
at, instead of just looking at one, she said. How
will you feel if it happens to you? People need to think about
that.
Local
woman sues companies for allegedly supplying
tainted bone for transplant
April 11, 2006
By
VIC MacDONALD
Index-Journal regional editor
A Greenwood woman is fighting back against what she called a
horrifying experience allegedly receiving a
tainted bone that was transplanted into her leg by suing
four companies and two individuals.
Kelly Sealy and husband William Sealy have filed a civil court
legal action that demands a jury trial.
The lawsuit alleges that three companies in the business of
tissue procurement, a New York funeral home from which tissue was
obtained and two men, the owner of one of the companies and the
owner of the funeral home, conspired to acquire and distribute
tissue that was not checked for potentially fatal diseases such
as syphilis and HIV.
Specifically, Kelly Sealys lawsuit claims that bone
fragments illegally harvested from unscreened deceased people at
the funeral home were used for bone graft operations.
We hope we can bring to justice the perpetrators of these
outrageous acts which transcend the bounds of decency, said
John R. McCravy III, who is Sealys attorney.
Horrifying was the way Sealy described in a Jan. 6
article in The Index-Journal hearing of the situation through
media reports.
It was a very terrible story to hear about, she said.
The bodies of hundreds of people were secretly carved up in the
back rooms of several funeral parlors in New York City to remove
human bone, skin and tendons without required permission from the
deceased peoples families, authorities told The Associated
Press.
Authorities allege the body parts then were sold to Biomedical
Tissue Service (BTS), a New Jersey company.
One of those body parts, Sealys lawsuit claims, wound up in
her leg as part of a knee replacement and accompanying bone graph
to her tibia in March 2005.
Sealys lawsuit alleges 10 causes of action against BTS and
others Medtronic Sofamor Danek Inc., Regeneration
Technologies Inc. (RTI), Daniel George & Son Funeral Home,
Michael Mastromarino and Joseph Nicelli.
BTS was owned and/or operated by Mastromarino, and the funeral
home was owned and/or operated by Nicelli, the lawsuit says.
The bone which (Kelly Sealy) received was sold to Self
Regional Hospital and/or one of its affiliates by Medtronic,
the lawsuit says.
RTI furnished the bone to Medtronic, and BTS furnished the bone
to RTI, the lawsuit says. The funeral home conspired with,
was employed by, was a servant of, and/or agent of BTS to
obtain harvested tissue and bone product without proper
screening, the lawsuit says.
Pleasing the fanbase
Tigers fans hear Bowden, Purnell at Greenwood Clemson meeting
April 11, 2006
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer
Clemson fans from Greenwood and the Lakelands area had a
chance to hear from two of the schools more prominent
coaches Monday night.
Tigers football coach Tommy Bowden and mens
basketball coach Oliver Purnell spoke at the spring meeting of
the Greenwood Area Clemson Club Monday at the Greenwood Farmers
Market.
Tigers Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips also made a
brief appearance.
Bowden spoke on what it meant for to interact with the local
Clemson faithful.
We have always had a strong fanbase here in Greenwood,
Bowden said. Its very important to get out here and
get hand-to-hand with our fans, because they are what make the
program go. For Purnell, Monday marked the first time he
had spoken to the Greenwood club. Purnell blamed his absence at
the meeting the last two years on bad directions.
Im glad to finally make it here, Purnell joked.
This year I had my map and my GPS (global positioning
system) ready.
Club members in attendance were treated to video highlights of
the football and basketball teams seasons. One highlight
that drew a spirited applause from the constituents was Greenwood
High School graduate and Clemson kicker Jad Deans game
winning field goal from last falls win over Texas A&M.
Bowden spoke of the benefits of having Dean as his placekicker.
Jad is a solid kicker from right here in Greenwood and were
expecting him to have a good senior season, Bowden said.
I believe he was second in the nation in field goals last
year, which is excellent. We will also need his senior
leadership.
Bowden also said he expects Cambridge Academy graduate and Tigers
defensive lineman Gaines Adams to provide senior leadership next
season as well as build on the expectations he has set for
himself on the defensive line. Adams had 56 tackles and 9.5 sacks
last season.
Bowden also commented on the status of Clemson invited walk-on
and Greenwood graduate Eddie Adams. The coach said the freshman
has shown improvement as a long snapper, but will need to show
improvement if he hopes to challenge incumbent long snapper Nic
Riddle.
Though the Tigers basketball team enjoyed a 19-13 record
and advanced to the second round of the NIT this past season,
Purnell said the program is still far from where he wants it to
be.
I wont stop until this program is number one,
Purnell said. I know Tommy feels that way about the
football program and (Clemson baseball coach) Jack (Leggett)
feels that way about the baseball team. Our team is constantly
striving to reach new heights.
Though the Clemson hoops squad is losing seniors such as Akin
Akingbala and Shawan Robinson, Purnell said he is thrilled at the
incoming recruiting class, particularly with the commitment of
Union High Schools Trevor Booker. Purnell said Booker, the
states Mr. Basketball, will compete for a starting role
right away.
Bowden spoke at length on the importance of the Vickery Hall
Student-Athlete Enrichment Program in relation to Clemson
athletics.
The program is designed to assist student-athletes in academics,
personal growth and career enhancement. With the universitys
average SAT score sitting at 1205, Bowden said Vickery Hall is
important in the progress of his teams members.
The average SAT is 1205 at Clemson, but I can promise you
thats not the average score of our football team,
said Bowden, drawing a hearty laugh from the crowd. But
Vickery Hall helps us close the gap. You look at Duke. They have
a 100% graduation rate, but they fire their coach every four
years. We want to be able to recruit the best athletes possible
and then offer them the very best in support services.
Clemson fans in attendance seemed pleased with the message both
coaches had to offer.
I liked what coach Bowden had to say tonight, said
Tripp Speer, a club member from Abbeville. I think there is
a lot of excitement beginning to build in this program, which is
excellent considering the rich tradition of Clemson football.
Speer was complimentary of Purnell as well.
I think coach Purnell is one of the best basketball coaches
weve had at Clemson in a long time, Speer said.
I like how he disciplines his players and makes sure they
stay on the straight and narrow.
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be
reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.
Opinion
Bushs critic gets a say with presidents backing
April 11, 2006
There
have been numerous occasions when supporters of President Bush
have accused the media of being less than objective in their
coverage of the chief executive. Bush opponents, as is natural,
say thats poppycock. Experience comes down on the side of
the Bush backers, though.
No better example of the prejudicial coverage can be found than
how the presidents speech in Charlotte last Thursday was
reported.
When the president was taking questions from the audience, as he
has in other appearances around the country, the general response
from the crowd was positive. However, there was one man who took
exception.
HE TOLD THE PRESIDENT, In my lifetime, I
have never felt more ashamed of, or more frightened by my
leadership in Washington. And I would hope - I feel like that,
despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been
left far behind during your administration - and I would hope
from time to time that you would have the humility and the grace
to be ashamed of yourself.
Who should be ashamed might be questioned by others in the
audience. Nevertheless, when the tenor of this critics
words became obvious, the majority of the crowd would have none
of it and began to boo the man.
It might have stopped there, of course, because its
difficult to buck a unified, opposing and boisterous crowd. The
man might have been shouted down and his vilification might never
have been heard ..... except for one thing.
THE PRESIDENT HUSHED THE crowd, and asked it to
let his critic speak. A funny thing happened, though. The
insistence by Mr. Bush that his critic should be allowed to speak
his mind apparently was not reported. Only the words of the
critic were. If Bushs request was reported, many newspapers
chose to edit it out.
How many of us would feel comfortable with making sure our
critics are heard, especially in an open forum? How many of us
would stand up for the rights of a critic? Its a good bet
there would be few. The president, though, has never shied away
from giving his critics a chance to speak, whether in opposition
or not.
Its a shame, though. How many times has he been given the
same courtesy under the same kind of circumstances?
The answer is simple. Not many. That says much about the man and
even more about his critics.
Editorial
expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.
Obituaries
Elizabeth Dorn Blair
PLUM
BRANCH Elizabeth Dorn Blair, 75, wife of Ulysses
Lighting Blair, died Sunday, April 9, 2006 at
Providence Hospital, Columbia, after a short illness.
Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of the late Edgar and Ida
Sibert Dorn. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church,
McCormick, and also attended Mount Lebanon Baptist Church,
Parksville. A homemaker, she had attended Mims High School.
Survivors include her husband of the home; five daughters,
Shirley Blair Turner and Janice Blair, both of Greenwood,
Christine B. Sibert of McCormick, Linda Ervin and Idella B.
Weaver, both of Plum Branch; four sons, James Blair of Plum
Branch, Willie Douglas Blair of Rockville, Md., Steven Blair of
Mount Carmel and Andrew Blair of Greenwood; 27 grandchildren; 17
great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 154 Lighting Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home, McCormick.
Ruth Edmunds Marshall
WASHINGTON,
D.C. Ruth Edmunds Marshall, 83, of 5203 13th St. N.W.,
widow of James Pete Marshall, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at her
home.
Born in Calhoun Falls, S.C., she was a daughter of the late
Andrew and Fannie Lee Edmunds. She was a former member of Glovers
AME Church, Calhoun Falls, and a member of Union Westley AME Zion
Church in Washington.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda Marshall of Washington, D.C.;
a sister, Fannie B. Wooden of Chicago; a brother, David L.
Edmunds Sr. of Calhoun Falls.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Union Westley AME Zion Church.
The body will be placed in the church at 10. Burial is in Fort
Lincoln Cemetery, Washington.
The family is at the home.
Latneys Funeral Home, 3831 Georgia Ave. N.W., is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Friendly Funeral Home, Calhoun Falls.
Raymond Massey
GREENVILLE, SC Funeral services of Raymond L. Massey, 83,
of Homewood Residence at Cleveland Park, Greenville, who died
April 9, 2006, will be conducted Wednesday, April 12, at 11 A.M.
at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville, Reverend Ludwig
Weaver officiating. A grave side service at 1 P.M. will follow in
Greenwood Memorial Gardens, Greenwood, S.C., with Reverend Weaver
and The Reverend David F.O. Thompson officiating.
Mr. Massey was a native of Princeton, N.C., and was a former
resident of Greenwood, S.C., and North Augusta, S.C. He was a
member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville and a
former member of St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church in North
Augusta.
Mr. Massey was predeceased by his first wife, Dorris Grant
Massey, and he is survived by their two sons, Wesley G. Massey
and his wife, Karin, of Prosperity, and R. David Massey and his
wife, Barbara, of Greenville.
Mr. Massey was also predeceased by his second wife, Eva Kohler
Massey, and he is also survived by her children, James R.
Robinson, Apopka, Florida, William P. Wade, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, John K. Wade, Roseburg, Oregon, Joy Cox and her
husband, Allen, Perkinston, Ms., and Amanda W. Leatherwood and
her husband, Lynn, of Wilmington, N.C. He is also survived by a
sister, Lottie M. Rains, and her husband, Duran, Morehead City,
N.C., and 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Massey was formerly in the cotton business with Erwin Mills,
Durham, NC, Abney Mills, Greenwood, SC, and Graniteville Mills,
Augusta, GA. He was a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, and flew
thirty-five bombing missions over Germany out of England.
The Family will receive friends at the Blyth Funeral Home,
Greenwood, SC, from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11.
Memorials may be made to St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church,
471 West Martintown Road, North Augusta, SC, 29841, The Golden
Harvest Food Bank of Augusta, GA, 3310 Commerce Drive, Augusta,
GA 30909, or to the charity of ones choice.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home in Greenwood, SC is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY
Mildred Millie Nance
ABBEVILLE
Mildred Millie L. Crawford Nance, 82,
of 58 Mt. Olive Church Rd., wife of the late R. Marion Nance,
died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Nance was born in Augusta, GA to the late William A. and Ada
McClain Crawford. She retired from Abbeville Shirt Makers and was
a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Nance was preceded in death by her three brothers, Kelly
Crawford, William Allen Crawford, and Rayford Crawford.
She is survived by her two daughters, Vicky Putt of Nokomis, FL
and Sue Haynie of Easley, SC. The family received friends 6:00PM
to 8:00PM Monday, April 10, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral
Services will be 2:00PM Tuesday, April 11, 2006 in the funeral
home chapel. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Nance may be sent to the
Grace United Methodist Church Building Fund, 100 E. Greenwood St.
Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Nance family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Nance family.
PAID OBITUARY
Joseph Alvin Norman Jr.
HONEA
PATH Joseph Alvin Norman Jr., 35, of 505 Chiquola Ave.,
Apt. 15, died Monday, April 10, 2006, at AnMed Health Center.
The family is at the home of an uncle Larry Robinson, 505
Chiquola Ave., Apt. 14.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service,
Ware Shoals.
Louis Tinch
BRONX,
N.Y. Louis Tinch, 77, of 1135 Beach Ave., husband of Mary
Tinch, died Thursday, April 6, 2006 at a New York hospital.
Born in Calhoun Falls, S.C., he was a son of the late Dave and
Hattie Sanders Tinch. He was a former member of Mount Olive
Church of God Holiness of Calhoun Falls and a member of Bethlehem
Church of God Holiness in Bronx.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a sister, Ethel Tinch of
Calhoun Falls; three brothers, Ernest Tinch of Maryland, Samuel
Tinch and David Tinch of Calhoun Falls.
Services are at noon Thursday at Bethlehem Church of God
Holiness. The body will be placed in the church at 10.
Gandy Funeral Home is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Friendly Funeral Home, Calhoun Falls.
Bill Ward
GREENWOOD William R. Bill
Ward, Sr., 70, of 130 Edinborough Circle, Apt. 13, husband of
Charlene Adella Cramer Ward, died April 10, 2006 at the Hospice
House of Greenwood.
Born in Summit, NJ, May 14, 1935 a son of the late Leslie Avery
and Beatrice Amelia Hetzel Ward, he was a retired Realtor and was
a US Navy Veteran having fought in the Korean War. He was a
faithful member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and was a
beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 34 years is son, Bill Ward
and wife Juli of Mauldin; 3 grandchildren, Merideth Ward of
Columbia, Allan Ward and Rob Ward, both of Greenwood; brother,
John Ward and wife Joan of Irving, TX; sister, Barbara Coyle and
husband Leo of Orlando, FL; sister-in-law, Patricia Ward also of
Orlando, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Ward was
preceded in death by son, Thomas Anthony Ward; brother, James F.
Ward; sisters, Dorothy Hickey, Ann Hickey and Grace Wilburn.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 PM Wednesday at Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Richard Harris
officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Oakbrook
Memorial Park.
The family is at the home, 130 Edinborough Circle, Apt. 13 and
will receive friends from 7-9 PM Tuesday at Blyth Funeral Home.
Those desiring may make memorials to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic
Church, 915 Mathis Road, Greenwood, SC 29649 or Hospice Care of
the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 in
memory of Mr. Ward.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the Ward
family.
PAID OBITUARY
John Whitt
John C. Whitt, 79, of 1110 Marshall Road, widower of Cleo
Doolittle Whitt, died Sunday, April 9, 2006, at Wesley Commons.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of the late Cooley and
Viola Dixon Whitt. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean conflict
and owner and operator of Johns Place in McCormick.
Survivors include two brothers, Roy F. Whitt and Joseph B. Whitt,
both of Greenwood.
Services are 2:30 p.m. today at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by
Dr. Robert Miller. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Dennis Whitt, Mickey Proctor, Jake Trantham,
Donnie Riggins, Chip Whitt and Josh Martin.
Visitation is 1:30-2:30 today at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of a brother Roy Whitt, 304 Hillcrest
Drive.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, Hospice Care of the
Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood SC 29646 or Wesley
Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com