Fire destroys home, abandoned building

Blaze consumes about 100 acres in McCormick County

April 16, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

MOUNT CARMEL — A forest fire in Mount Carmel left anywhere from 80 to 120 acres of woodland charred Saturday and destroyed a home and an abandoned building.
The fire also put three other homes in serious peril before ultimately being contained only yards away.
“We put engines right on top of them (the endangered homes), just in case the fire made it that far,” said Elvin Quarles of the Little River Fire Department of Mount Carmel. “We didn’t want to risk losing anything else,” he said.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the fire, said Henry Deason, director of McCormick County Emergency Services. There was one person inside the home that was destroyed at the time of the fire. She was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation and was released, Deason said. The County has contacted the American Red Cross to help her find emergency shelter.
The fire started about 3 p.m. and was battled by firefighters for about three hours before it was contained. Little River firefighters were the first to respond and called for assistance from neighboring departments in McCormick and Abbeville Counties. Between 50 and 75 firefighters were on the scene, Quarles said. At about 4:30 p.m. the scene was turned over to the S.C. Forestry Commission, which brought in five bulldozers to create containment barriers and a spotter plane to direct responders as to where to erect the barriers and to estimate how much land was damaged.
“With the way the wind was blowing and it being so dry and the humidity so low, I was really looking for a fire today,” said Don Robinson, Western Piedmont Unit supervisor with the S.C. Forestry Commission. “We had the red flag alert up and we were anticipating a fire somewhere. It was just a matter of something starting it.”
As of Saturday night, the cause of the fire was undetermined, but Robinson speculated it likely could have been started by a discarded cigarette, or careless hunters or campers. The Forestry Commission will investigate to determine the cause.
By 6 p.m., the fire was 80 percent under control, but employees with the Forestry Commission were expecting to be on the scene late into the night monitoring the embers to ensure the fire didn’t start back up, said Chan Rearden, McCormick supervisor with the Forestry Commission. As night approached, he had not ruled out the possibility that the scene would have to be manned overnight. Regardless, he said, Forestry Commission employees would be back on the scene early this morning to clean up the scene and do a follow-up.
Little River Fire Department Chief Tom Love said he is grateful for the support and quick response the department received from neighboring departments and McCormick County Emergency Services.

Lending a hand when they can

Savannah Lakes proves it takes a village of volunteers to put on a golf tournament

April 16, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

McCORMICK — Volunteers, for most projects, are difficult to find. Nobody wants to do somethin’ for nothin’. The Savannah Lakes Village and the NGA Hooters Tour situation is different. Volunteers gather in large numbers to support the pro golf tour when it comes to town, some even signing up for future years. “They not only volunteer, they actually work and put in a lot of time,” said Sam Adams, head professional at Monticello and Tara golf clubs at the village. “We couldn’t put on a tournament without them, certainly not of the scale we do here. Whatever we need them to do, there is somebody there willing to do it.” The 2006 Hooters tour stop at Monticello, the first major event of the season on the schedule, is the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic and starts Thursday for the pros. Actually, the week-long activities start Monday with a practice round, followed by the 4:30 p.m. Bill Hallman Memorial Junior Classic. Hallman is the former general manager of Savannah Lakes Village who died Jan. 19, 2005. Tuesday includes another practice round and the 1:30 p.m. Savannah Lakes Village Shootout, with another practice round Wednesday, along with the Pro-Am event at 1:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony following. The tournament starts at 7:30 a.m. each of the next four days, with the final two-days’ player cut following Friday’s second round. At the beginning, in the middle, and during the final day, volunteers will be seen everywhere, doing everything they can in an effort to make it another successful stop — the fourth since the NGA Hooters Tour found the McCormick course and added it to the schedule. In every aspect of the total event, volunteers play a big and important role. “I’ve been with this about three or four years,” said Kris Adden, a volunteer coordinator. “We think we have it perfected, then every year something comes up new. We have a sign-up sheet in the pro shop where people sign up to participate. “Generally, they are residents of the village, but there are some property owners who are not living here who come down during the tournament. We have about 150 volunteers we use on the course, and that’s not counting the housing or any other volunteers.” Even though a smaller number could operate the tournament, Adden said all the names are incorporated and placed somewhere in the work force. There are seven sheets used for people to sign for a volunteer’s role, and the sheets are used for placing the people in a capacity officials feel can be served with no complications or conflicts. “We meet all year, except from January until tournament time when we meet every week as a committee,” said Bob Bruggeman, another volunteer coordinator. “The last month is crunch time for volunteers. People are assigned to do different things. Just because they are retired doesn’t mean they can be available every day.” “We take the sheets and put the names in slots. The real critical thing for us is on the course, but for myself it’s the last month the committee meets. There’s something going on throughout the year.” Jobs handed out to volunteers include spotters, shuttle cart drivers, keeping necessities on the course, supplying concession stands, and taking care of the media. “A spotter helps with the location of the ball, and whether it is out of bounds,” Adden said. “We have them in four shifts at three hours each. We have double tees on Thursday and Friday mornings and afternoons, and we are instructed by Hooters Tour that whatever we do for one player, we have to do for all of them. We can’t just do it during the peak times. That’s why we have volunteers here all day.” For the most part, the pros have to walk, but there are exceptions in an effort to speed play. “For example, we’ll take them from No. 9 to the 10th tee and from 18 to the first tee,” Bruggeman said. “Some of the holes have a good distance between them, and shuttle carts help make it a little faster.” However, before being concerned about shuttling players around the course, there are other duties much more defined. “We have some who put water on the course, and trash cans have to be put out there,” Adden said. “They are out there by 6:45 every morning. People on shifts fill them up all day, all while not driving on the course. “Players have to be supplied with things like bananas, apples, crackers, and soft drinks. and, there are people who work the scoreboards.” Other duties include the check-in tent, where players check in every day, and keeping information available at the media tent. “We are here to support the players, not direct them,” Adden added. All in all, since the first year of the tournament at Monticello, the number of volunteers has been great — even when nobody knew exactly what was expected of them. “We didn’t know what to do the first year,” Bruggeman said. “We had probably a little less than 100, then it got out that this is a pretty neat event. The last two years we’ve had about 150.” Unlike the first year, there is a special event just for the volunteers. “We have a free dinner for all of them,” Adden said. “For anyone who houses players to volunteers on the course, we give them a dinner. The kids and the pros are there. It’s something where we can express our appreciation for all the people who give of their time and work. “At first, we didn’t know what we were going to do, but people say they can’t wait to get down here and help out.” “Johnny on the Spot,” they are. “Last year we had a storm that went through and by the time they blew the siren, we had volunteers with carts lined up and maps drawn,” Bruggeman said. “Then, we got players back out there and had the round completed before dark. And, it was a heavy rain.” For what Adden calls “The premiere tournament,” Bruggeman said, “the superintendent likes to have the course in perfect shape every day. We’ll get guys out at 6:30 in the morning and whatever needs to be done, we do. That includes raking and cleaning bunkers, whatever. “Each year, we learn a little more and, quite frankly, we could do better. But, they’re all enjoying it.” “The turnout as volunteers is super,” Adams said. The tournament ends late next Sunday, a point at which work begins for the 2007 event. “After each tournament, we get down and study what we did and what we could do differently,” Adden said.

Opinion

Christianity is gaining among young Americans

April 16, 2006

Easter. It’s been 2006 years since Christ was crucified on a hill just outside of Jerusalem. The hill was called Calvary, or Golgotha in Hebrew.
Easter is the most important day in all of Christianity, for it celebrates the return to life of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus’ Resurrection means life after death, that through Jesus, they, also, can receive new life.
Christians all over South Carolina greeted this day at sunrise services, continuing a practice that has come down through the years. Easter this year, though, may mean more to many of us.
In recent times, in many settings, Christians have complained that Christ has been taken out of Christmas, the season that marks the celebration of His birth.

THEY HAVE WITNESSED A number of occasions - and people - when clashes with Christianity and what it stands for have occurred, and they have responded as they have seen fit.
With that as backdrop, some have worried aloud that the influence of Christianity is beginning to decline, in the U S. and elsewhere.
Under the circumstances, there were, and are, sure signs that the world’s largest religion is under assault from a variety of directions. One, disappointing as it is, comes from within. More liberal attitudes and morals - among other things - have had a negative impact on church numbers. That, naturally, has been a concern. Still, there are indications that, in the midst of negative change, there’s a reawakening where it counts ..... among young people, particularly college students in the United States.

THAT’S ENCOURAGING, AND speaks to the Christian status of tomorrow.
In fact, a recent poll by the Harvard University Institute of Politics shows that a majority of U. S. college students says religion is important in their lives and that they are concerned about the country’s moral direction. That’s encouraging. What’s even more heartening, though, is that one in four of them say they’re become more spiritual since entering college.
There are other findings that came from the poll, to be sure. They affect a variety of situations. Still, for those who might worry that religion is slipping, it’s good news. That, alone, is worth noting this Easter, 2006 years later,

Obituaries

Albert Barton

GREENWOOD — James Albert Barton, 76, former resident 216 Sloan Ave., widower of Frances Wells Barton, died April 15, 2006 at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home in Anderson.
Born September 20, 1929 in Laurens County, he was a son of the late James Niley and Marie Simmons Barton. He was a graduate of Simpsonville High School and attended Cecil’s Business College in Greenville. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and was retired from the Canteen of Dixie Company. After his retirement Mr. Barton was employed by Winn-Dixie.
He was a member of Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church and the Sara Anderson Sunday School Class of the church. Mr. Barton served on several church committees throughout the years.
Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Bobby (Letha) Canty of Lyman and Mrs. Jerry (Grace) Harrell of Simpsonville; three brothers, William Robert Barton of Greer, David Lewis Barton of Simpsonville and Thomas Lee Barton of Gray Court.
Mr. Barton was predeceased by an infant son, Thomas Frederick Barton and a sister, Shirley Mae Barton Hinton.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Monday at Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sandra King and Rev. Harvey Peurifoy officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Dan Branyon, Howard Branyon, Darrell DeLoache, Robert Vines, Terry Cason, Larry Cason, Benny Stevens, Tony Gambrell, Buddy Baldwin.
The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 3 to 4 Monday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, 1422 Ninety Six Highway, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate SC Chapter, P.O. Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648.
To make online condolences or for additional information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the Barton Family.
PAID OBITUARY

James Lewis Bishop

LAURENS — James Lewis Bishop, 75, of NHC Laurens, widower of Ruby Deadwyler Bishop, died Friday, April 14, 2006 at Laurens County Hospital.
Born in Laurens, he was son of the late Lewis and Vader Taylor Bishop. He was a retired employee of Bedenbaugh and a member of Lydia Mill Church of God.
Survivors include three sons, Eddie Bishop of Laurens, John Henry Deadwyler and Danny Ray Deadwyler; a daughter, Susan Manley of Greenwood; 15 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service is 10 a.m. Monday in Laurens City Cemetery.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Gray Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a grandson Jason Bishop, 703 Lucas Ave., Laurens.
Gray Funeral Home, Laurens, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com

Sudie Davis

GREENWOOD — Sudie McCullough Davis, 92, resident of Wesley Commons, widow of George E. Davis, passed away Friday, April 14, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Abbeville County, November 21, 1913, she was a daughter of the late John Fant and Reddie Campbell McCullough. A very devoted member of the First Baptist Church of North Augusta, Mrs. Davis was an active volunteer in helping mail out the church weekly newsletter and the monthly “Sheffield Banner.” In 1999 she was named the “First Baptist Volunteer” of the year. She was also deeply interested in her family, friends and all current events and had been an avid reader of the Greenwood Index-Journal since the 1940’s.
In October, 2005, she re-located to Greenwood to reside at Wesley Commons. Mrs. Davis was predeceased by a son, John William Kimsey; two sisters, Meta McCullough and Irene McCullough Mizelle and four brothers, James Robert, Jule and Calvin McCullough.
Surviving are two daughters, Josie K. and husband Harold E. Bradberry of Annandale, VA and Nita K. Carmichael of Greenwood. Five grandchildren, Suzanne Bannister Gray and husband Richard of Glen Allen, VA, Daniel Kirk and wife Jenny Good Bannister of Hendersonville, NC, Kathy Bradberry Smith and husband Dr. Robert Smith of Fairfax, VA, Elizabeth Bradberry of Springfield, VA and Jennifer Bradberry Price and husband James of Gulf Breeze, FL. Eight great-grandchildren, Michael G. Lee, Jr. and wife Tanya of Roanoke, VA, Paula Lee and husband Joseph Grose of Dallas, GA, Bonnie Smith and Adam Smith of Fairfax, VA, Caroline Elizabeth (Liza) Bannister and Lara Frances Bannister both of Hendersonville, NC, William J. Price and Olivia B. Price of Gulf Breeze, FL. Also four great-great-grandchildren, Davis M. Lee and Ethan A. Lee of Roanoke, VA and Lindsay R. Grose and Morgan E. Grose of Dallas, GA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Monday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Daniel K. Bannister, Richard Gray, Dr. Robert Smith, James (Jay) Price, Michael G. Lee, Jr., Joseph Grose and Adam Smith.
Honorary escort will be the staff of the First Baptist Church, North Augusta along with Carolyn and Willard Stewart, Steve McElmurray, Dr. John Velky, Irene Freeman, Joel Childers, Roslyn Hunt, Elizabeth Hixson, Mildred Boykin, Rhonda Foselli, Wanda and Larry Paul of Roanoke, VA, Glenda and Dr. James Smith, Rita Boxx, Eugenia Saylors, Jean and Ralph Still, Lou and Bob Walters, Elizabeth Herndon, Marshal Culbertson, Coleman Williamson, Neal Willard, Barbara and Dr. Jack Parham and Doris Brockington, all of Greenwood and Candy and Dr. Greg Martin of Gainesville, GA.
The family is at the home of Nita Carmichael, 112 Wimbledon Court in Gatewood and will receive friends following the service at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Davis family.
PAID OBITUARY

Robert T. Green

GRAY COURT — Robert T. Green died Thursday, April 13, 2006.
Fletcher Funeral Service, Fountain Inn, is in charge.

Lillie B. Hentz

Services for Lillie B. Hentz, of 2619 Montague Ave., are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Pine Grove AME Church, conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Aiken, assisted by the Rev. George H. Oliver. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Tony Morton, Byron Smith, Tyrone Sheppard, Blanton Smith Tolbert, Dr. Claude Tolbert Jr., Willie James Wideman Jr., Michael Scott and Stanley Carroll.
Flower bearers are nieces.
Honorary escorts are members of the church Missionary Society.
Visitation is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net

Robert Gene McKenzie

ABBEVILLE — Robert Gene McKenzie, 71, of Abbeville, husband of Carol L. McKenzie, died Thursday, April 13, 2006 at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Mr. McKenzie was born in Pinehurst, NC to the late Ivey and Maggie Farmer McKenzie. He retired from Due West Retirement Center in the Maintenance Department. Mr. McKenzie was an avid golfer, outdoorsman, and had always prided himself in his abilities in fence building, which he had built many fences around Abbeville, Florida and elsewhere. He was an active member of Little Mountain Presbyterian Church where he established the Frances Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund and was the founder of the Carrie Ware Memorial Library. Mr. McKenzie loved working in the church; he taught the Adult Sunday School Class and served as an Elder and Deacon of the church. He was a member of the Southern Pines Masonic Lodge in Pinehurst, NC and was a veteran of the United States Army.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Fred McKenzie.
Mr. McKenzie is survived by his wife of 30 years, Carol Landmesser McKenzie of the home, a daughter, Pamela Cole of Pinehurst, NC, three sons, Robert G. McKenzie, Jr. of Pinehurst, NC, Steven W. McKenzie of Pinehurst, NC, and Kevin R. Landmesser of Greenville, SC, a sister, Faye Carter of Pinehurst, NC, four brothers, Billy G. McKenzie, Jack McKenzie, Tony McKenzie, and Marty McKenzie all of Pinehurst, NC, six grandsons, and two granddaughters.
The family will receive friends from 2:00PM to 3:00PM Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at the Little Mountain Presbyterian Church. A Memorial service will be held at 3:00PM in the church. A Pinehurst Memorial Service will be 11:00AM Thursday, April 20, 2006 in the Culdee Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Pinehurst, NC.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Frances Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund, 3836 Hwy 28 N. Abbeville, SC 29620 OR to the Hope House – Pine Grove U.M.C. 1130 Jonestown Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
Online condolences may be sent to the McKenzie family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the McKenzie family.
PAID OBITUARY

Joseph Clifton Pitts Jr.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Joseph Clifton Pitts, Jr., 68, of 17 Country Spring Drive, Asheville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Good Friday, April 14, 2006.
Born in the Hickory Tavern community of Laurens County, SC, on November 2, 1937, he was a son of the late Joseph Clifton Pitts, Sr. and Maggie Lee South Pitts. He was also preceded in death by daughter, Christy Jo Pitts Lovvorn; brothers, Lloyd Pitts and Ralph Pitts and a sister, Ann Pitts Armstrong.
A Christian by faith he was a member of Newfound Baptist Church in Asheville, a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Gideon and Mason. He was a long time employee of The Glass Plant in Laurens, SC and retired as a Labor Relations Representative for GMP in 2002.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Radcliff Pitts; his son, SC State Representative Michael A. Pitts and wife Susan of Hickory Tavern; three daughters, Rhonda Pitts Ponce of Blue Ridge, SC, Paula Pitts of Bryson City, NC and Tracy Pitts Hall and husband Roy of Hickory Tavern; a step-daughter, Tamara McMahan of Charlotte; grandsons, Nolan Pitts, Clifton Pitts, Caleb Cologna and Kamden Hall; granddaughters, Della Pitts, Holly McKinney, Megan Ponce and Naomi McKinney; brothers, Louis Pitts and wife Maureen of Hickory Tavern and Curtis Pitts and wife Perry of Greenville, SC.
The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 pm Easter Sunday at Newfound Baptist Church in Asheville. Funeral services will be 11:30 am Monday at the church with the Revs. Charles Phillips and Mark Ball officiating.
Graveside services will be 3:30 pm Monday at Rabun Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Hickory Tavern with the Rev. Leland Nelson officiating. Darrell Pitts, Terry Pitts, Dale Pitts, Mark Armstrong, Jason Wood, Brian Carson, Nolan Pitts and Clifton Pitts serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following interment.
The family gives special thanks to caregiver and sister-in-law Brenda Carson and guardian angel Missy Kelly.
Memorials may be made to the Holly McKinney Fund at Carolina First Bank, 1307 West Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue, Asheville, is assisting with the arrangements.
The memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.grocefuneralhome.com

Fannie Lou ‘Nee’ Winn

CALHOUN FALLS — Fannie Lou “Nee” Winn, 63, of 307 Lee St., widow of Cornelious Winn Jr., died Friday, April 14, 2006 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont in Greenwood.
Born in Calhoun Falls, she was a daughter of Jessie Holland and the late Benjamin “Connie” Holland. She was a retired employee of Milliken Plant, Abbeville, and a member of Mount Olive Church of God Holiness, Calhoun Falls.
Survivors include her mother; two daughters, Zosephya Winn of Elberton, Ga., and Nastassia Winn of LaGrange, Ga.; two sons, Sterling Winn of Jacksonville, Fla., and Brandon Winn of Hartwell, Ga.; nine grandchildren; three brothers, Milton “Bro” Holland, William “Ba Kitty” Holland and Larry Holland of Calhoun Falls.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Olive Church of God Holiness, conducted by Elder Willie Morton. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Golden Hill Cemetery, Calhoun Falls.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
Friendly Funeral Home is in charge.