Soldiers’ moms help from home front

August 21, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — An engraved dog tag hangs at the bottom of Mona Johnson’s necklace. The engraving forms an image of Johnson’s daughter, Army National Guard Sgt. Kayla Moore, currently stationed in Iraq.
Johnson worries about Moore, like most mothers do.
But unlike many mothers, she’s decided to do something to help her daughter and many others in the military.
Next to Johnson’s dog tag and above the yellow ribbon pin on her blazer rests a circle pin with a blue star on a field of white inside it.
The star is a symbol of her commitment to Blue Star Mothers of America, a group dedicated since 1942 to supporting the mothers, wives and troops of the armed forces and promoting patriotism across the United States.
“It’s a big pie and we don’t want to leave anyone out,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s local group, the Blue Star Mothers of Piedmont and Lakeland Area, is raising money and resources for a proper homecoming for troops near the end of the year.
She joined Blue Star Mothers shortly after her daughter signed up for the National Guard in July 2003.
The group helped Johnson deal with Moore’s deployment.
“A lot of us need support,” Johnson said.
The group will be collecting items for soldiers on Oct. 16 at the Greenwood Mall.
Blue Star Mothers also deliver condolence books to the families of fallen soldiers and attend funerals.
Moore graduated from Ware Shoals High School and was a political science major at Francis Marion University in Florence when she decided to join the National Guard.
Moore left for Iraq at the end of November 2005. She’ll return at the end of this year.
Johnson said her daughter thought becoming a soldier was something she had to do.
She didn’t join for money, only the chance to serve her country, Johnson said.
Moore spent her two weeks in July away from Iraq in Ware Shoals.
It was difficult for Johnson and Moore to make up for a year away in two weeks.
Johnson said it was harder letting Moore go back after the break than it was before she left for Iraq.
Karen Godfrey has been a Blue Star Mother for four years since she moved to Ware Shoals from Florida. She saw an ad in the Ware Shoals newspaper for Blue Star Mothers and decided to join.
Her son, Douglas Padilla, is in the protective service detail for Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the commanding general in Afghanistan. Because of his sensitive position in the Army, Padilla isn’t allowed to give out his rank, Godfrey said.
Padilla joined the Army after Sept. 11, Godfrey said.
He plans to make the military his career for now.
Godfrey said she gets worried about her son from time to time.
She heard on the news the other day that Eikenberry’s convoy had been hit by insurgents.
Padilla had told his mother that if something were to happen to him, she would get a call within four hours.
“No news is good news,” Godfrey said.
Johnson and Godfrey have become good friends through Blue Star Mothers.
Judy Wood’s son, Johnathan, returned from a year in Iraq in May of last year, but that didn’t stop her from becoming a Blue Star Mother in April.
“I still have soldiers over there, whether my son is there or not,” Wood said.
Johnathan volunteered to go to Iraq after 10 years in the Army.
Wood said that the Blue Star Mothers is a good group to be with.
Johnson said that wherever troops are, the Blue Star Mothers will be there.
“We don’t choose the war,” she said.

Carol Vaughn Bateman

Carol Vaughn Bateman, 64, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Martha Beaube

Martha Fain Beaube, 92, wife of Lewis J. Beaube, died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006 at NHC of Greenwood.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.

Ralph Chastain

ANDERSON — Ralph Chastain, age 86, husband of Frances Teasley Chastain, of Anderson, SC, died Saturday, August 19, 2006, at Hospice of the Upstate, Anderson.
Born in Anderson County, on May 16, 1920, Mr. Chastain was the son of John Frank Chastain and Minnie Hanks Chastain. Before retiring in 1982, Ralph was employed for 41 years as a textile worker with J.P. Stevens Appleton Plant. He was a long-time member of Union Grove United Methodist Church and attended Oakwood Baptist Church. Ralph was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. His true passion was quail hunting. Through the years, he bagged thousands of quail with the help of his many loyal hunting dogs and his 1961 Browning 12-gauge shotgun.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Teasley Chastain. Ralph, a loving and generous father and grandfather, is also survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Jeane and Jimmy Moore, Springfield, Virginia, and Judy and Russell Myrick, Greenwood, SC; five grandchildren and their spouses, Laurie and David Nuttle, Westerville, Ohio; Mark and Cheryl Moore, Watkinsville, Georgia; Chris and Tammy Moore, Newnan, Georgia; Adam and Julie Myrick, Lexington, SC; and Susan and Greg Hendrix, Greenville, SC; ten great-grandchildren, Alex, Ansley, Kerrigan, Courtney, Caitlyn, Dillon, Carley, Matthew, Caroline and Brady; two sisters, Thelma Gambrell, Taylors, SC; and Macy Barnett, Stone Mountain, Georgia; several nieces and nephews and many special neighbors and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Wade, Guy, Gus and Joe and four sisters, Madge McClain, Clara Chastain, Louise Phillips and Nellie Campbell.
The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2006, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home with Pastor Jack Dean and Rev. Darren Rood officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Grandsons and a great-grandson will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, August 21, 2006, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at The McDougald Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request memorial donations in Ralph’s honor to Hospice of The Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com
THE MCDOUGALD FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

James ‘Bubba’ Jones

Services for James “Bubba” Jones, of 122 Russell St., are at noon Wednesday at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Ninety Six, conducted by Pastor H.T. Ligon, assisted by the Revs. Clyde D. Cannon, James Holmes and James Edwards Jr. The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Burial is in Old Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Epworth.
Pallbearers are Antonio Hackett, Jermaine Hackett, Leslie Hackett, Zachary Hackett, James Mayes and Bobby Mayes.
Flower bearers are Old Mount Zion YWA’s and nieces.
The family is at the home of a daughter Mrs. Calvin (Mary Jones) Edwards, 203 Wisewood Circle.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Janie Mae McDowell McCombs

ANDERSON — Janie Mae “MaMae” McDowell McCombs, 95, entered eternal rest on August 19 at Hospice of the Upstate. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Calvin McCombs, Sr., and an infant son, Wallace Milford. Born in Saluda County on January 8, 1911, she was the daughter of the late Walter Isaac and Mae Redonna Parkman McDowell.
Also preceding her in death were brothers Melvin, J.B., Bernice and Herman and sisters Emily McDowell, Ruby Smith, Viola Brewer and Carolyn Reardon.
Mrs. McCombs was a former resident of Greenwood and Belton. For the past six years she resided at The Garden House in Anderson. She was a faithful and devoted member of the Belton Pentecostal Holiness Church where for many years she taught an adult Sunday School class and was active with the Women’s Ministry.
A loving and beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt, she is survived by children Carol Anderson and her husband Sam of Pendleton (Sandy Springs), Jane of Tucker, GA, Calvin and his wife Lynne of Lexington, VA, Wayne and his wife Ann of Clemmons, NC, and Walter of Lexington, KY.
She is also survived by grandchildren Will McCombs and his wife Emilie of Isle of Palms, SC, Layne Kipp and her husband David of Hartsville, SC, Elizabeth McCombs of Winston-Salem, NC, Lydia McCombs of Clemmons, NC, Joel McCombs of Boone, NC, Crystal Martin and her husband Jimmy of Anderson, Emily Norris and her husband Josh of Anderson, Nathaniel McCombs of Lexington, KY, step grandchildren Debbie Culwell and her husband Jimmy of Anderson and Sam Anderson, Jr., of Belton
Great-grandchildren are Bailey Pittillo, Walker Martin, Hunter Norris, Caleb Norris, Jacob McCombs, Bennett McCombs, Calvin McCombs IV, Vivian Kipp and step great-grandchildren Johnny Culwell and Emmylou Anderson
Two brothers, Royce McDowell and his wife, Myrtle, and Bernard McDowell and his wife, Sophie, all of Ninety Six, SC, also survive her along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life and committal service conducted by the Revs. Dennis Barden and Ansel Boggs will be held at the gravesite in Greenwood Memorial Gardens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2006.
The family will receive friends at Cox Funeral Home in Belton from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2006.
The family is at the home of Sam and Carol Anderson, 1208 Moorhead Place, Pendleton (Sandy Springs).
The family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621, or to the charity of ones choice.
Cox Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Mac McLellan

GREENWOOD — Blaine M. “Mac” McLellan, 68, resident of 107 Longleaf Court, husband of Ramona Parrish McLellan, died August 19, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born August 16, 1938, in Conway, New Hampshire, he was a son of the late William and Helen Taplin McLellan. He was a graduate of Keene High School and received his associates degree from Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. He was a veteran of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. McLellan was a retired law enforcement officer with the Keene Police Department and was more recently employed with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department and later as a driver with Greenwood Motor Lines. He was also the secretary of the Clergy Staff of Self Regional Healthcare.
Mr. McLellan was a member of the Greenwood Wesleyan Church where he served as assistant pastor.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Deborah Mansfield of Limerick, ME and Patricia LaChance of St. Albans, VT; two step-sons, Charles Jones of Easley and Roy Jones of Irmo; one step-daughter, Janice Poole of Columbia; two brothers, Hugh McLellan of Keene, NH and William McLellan, III of Wheaton, IL; one sister, Connie Cosner of Conway, SC; and eleven grandchildren.
Mr. McLellan was predeceased by two sisters, Ruth Stephens and Sandra Denico.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James Wiegman and Rev. George Hill officiating.
A private burial will be conducted in Greenwood Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Honorary escort will be the men of Greenwood Wesleyan Church along with Calvin Hill, Doug Seabolt, Needham Jones, Ronnie Bentley, John Tucker, Tony Seabolt and Norris Wilson.
The family is at the home in Forest Lake and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 7 to 9 Tuesday evening.
Memorials may be made to Greenwood Wesleyan Church, 210 Bypass 225 South, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the National MS Society, Mid Atlantic Chapter, SC Regional Office, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 105, Columbia, SC 29204.
For online condolences of for more information please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the McLellan family.
PAID OBITUARY

James Clarence Prince, 100

McCORMICK — James Clarence Prince, 100, widower of Sarah Lassiter Prince, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006 at McCormick Health Care Center.
Born in Edgefield County, he was a son of the late John and Martha Lanham Prince. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, the Deacon Board, Senior Choir and Bethany Masonic Lodge No. 415. A retired logger, he also retired from the Forestry Service.
Survivors include two daughters, Louise Duncan, of McCormick, and Mary Ann Sibert, of Port Washington, N.Y.; two sons, Clarence Prince, of Spartanburg, and Jesse Prince, of Washington, D.C.; two sisters, Molene Harrison, of McCormick, and Fannie Hardy, of White Plains, N.J.; 28 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home of a daughter Louise Duncan, 2006 Highway 378 E.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Lady Fleet begin 2006 season

August 21, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

DUE WEST — Third-year coach Serge Lipovetsky has reason for optimism as he prepares the Erskine College women’s soccer team for the 2006 season.
Eleven players are back from last year’s team that finished fifth in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) and a 9-11-1 overall record.
To date, Lipovetsky said, “We have seen positive things and few negative things. We did look heavy in the legs during our scrimmage, but that will happen when you train two or three times a day. That level of fatigue will fit in.”
The players, he added, are mixing pretty well together.
“We had a good team last year and, hopefully, we will get better this year,” he said. “The new players are beginning to mesh with returning players who are getting better. They understand the college game more now and some good things should happen this year.”
Recruiting has paid off in practice, where he has seen the back lines “a lot stronger, a stronger defense, and more strength in at the backs and midfield positions.”
The return of sophomore Casey Cash from injuries last year will definitely help.
“Kasie Sears from Greenwood will contribute right away,” Lipovetsky said. “Lauren Reynolds from Greenwood will also be in the starting lineup. They will help have a big impact on our play.”
Lipovetsky also believes the new recruits should put the Lady Fleet in a better position to challenge for the top four in the conference.
“Obviously, we look to win the championship, or be in the top one or two, but I think we’ll be in the mix for the top four,” he said. “Last year, we jumped to fifth from last place and I expect us to improve on that.”
About the CVAC, Lipovetsky said, “It’s hard to tell, with new coaches coming in. It’s probably about the same, but when you have new coaches and the transition they have to make, it’s always something that has to be noticed.”
One of the biggest concerns is replacing Aisha Reed, of Columbia, who transferred. She led the Lady Fleet with 20 goals and six assists last year.
“Even though I think we’re meshing better, we still need to work together better as a team,” Lipovetsky said. “We need to be able to connect passes, read eachother better, and know where the players are at all times. Total team play is what we need to continue to work on.”The season opens Thursday at Catawba College. The first home game is Aug. 29 against Lander University.

Racism in our society isn’t one-sided anymore

August 21, 2006

Racism, even after decades of addressing it, is still around. These days, though, there is another face that can be put on that debilitating curse on the human race.
This is nothing new, to be sure. Racism has been around almost from the beginning. Chances are, as long as there are different kinds of people all over the world, racism will be around no matter what we do to eliminate it.
Despite the fact that racism has been a worldwide reality among various peoples, and still is, it has been associated pretty much exclusively with white prejudice against blacks in this country. That, of course, has a basis in fact. History leaves no doubt about that.
While there are still whites who keep white on black racism alive, that new face on racism is black.

THAT, OF COURSE, IS NO MORE acceptable to civilized people than other forms of racism.
No doubt some white parents today teach racism to their children. We see evidence of that every day. Nowadays, though, the reverse also is true, in Greenwood or any other place.
There is considerable evidence that many black parents teach their children that whites are no good, and that, over time, translates into hate for whites. We’re seeing more of that every day, too.
There are sure to be some who would argue with both sides of that question. Denying it, though, no matter by whom, doesn’t eliminate racism. It only helps to perpetuate it.
In the final analysis, though, racism, no matter who practices it, is wrong. If we’re honest with ourselves we know that already.