The Art of Regifting

December 26, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Chances are everyone has done it at one point or another.
Perhaps you received a gift for Christmas and it just didn’t suit your needs. So, without telling anybody, you saved the gift for another time, that perfect time when you could re-label the gift and give it to someone else.
That’s right ... it’s the “regift.”
According to recent studies, nearly two out of three people will give a regift at one point or another, recycling a gift they don’t want and giving it to someone else. Web sites, such as www.regiftable.com, have sprung up around the phenomenon. Oprah Winfrey dedicated a whole show to the subject. The very word “regift” rose to fame in a popular episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.”
The craze of regifting has gained so much popularity in recent years that “regift” now has its own entry in the Webster’s New Millenium Dictionary: “Regift: (verb) To give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift.”
The Lakelands area is not short on people who have given a regift or have received a recycled present of their own.
“I have to admit, I’m a big fan of the regift,” said Greenwood’s Anna Wiersma. “If you have a gift you just don’t need, it’s OK to share it with someone else.”
Wiersma said she and her husband, Jeff, recently gave a George Foreman Grill as a regift. She said she already had a similar grill, so she thought it would go to better use if someone else got her new one. Greenwood’s Ashley Neal, a manager at Milliken’s Johnston Plant, said she recently discovered someone had regifted her a holiday present.
“It was easy for me to see it was a regift,” Neal said, laughing. “They had just put a new label over top of the old one. That was bad.”
There are several rules to regifting, as outlined in Regifting 101 on regiftable.com.
One notable rule is to always keep track of who originally gave you a gift before you choose to give it as a regift, so as not to give the gift back to the same person who gave it to you.
Another rule says people should only give regifts if the items in question are in good condition. Do not regift heavily used, old or damaged items. Another condition says a regift, just like any gift, should be appropriate to the recipient’s wants and needs.
Greenwood’s Brittany Mize said she recently received a present that she knew was a regift.
“It was a size XXXL Spongebob Squarepants T-shirt,” said Mize, who is a petite adult professional. “I knew that just had to be a regift.”
Wiersma said she has often been suspicious of certain gifts she has received, thinking they were regifts.
“You’ll get gifts that are so professionally wrapped, like a wedding gift that has been registered for,” Wiersma said, with a giggle. “And the gift will be something random. It just seems like a regift.”
Neal said she has given regifts, and said she will continue.
“Well on Oprah’s show about it, they finally determined it is OK to regift as long as it’s appropriate,” Neal said. “It may seem a little tacky, but I do it once in a while.”

Elizebeth G. Bowie

ABBEVILLE — Elizebeth Gardner Bowie, 68, of 225 Branch St., wife of Solomon Bowie, died Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Abbeville & White Mortuary Inc.

Lloyd Davis

Lloyd Staten Davis, 80, resident of 115 Stoney Point Road, husband of Mary Gunnells Davis, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Born in Clinch County, Georgia, March 31, 1926, he was a son of the late Willie Burton and Floy Della Davis. He was a graduate of Homerville High School and attended Technical School in Abbeville. He was a US Army Veteran of World War II where he served under both Gen. George Patton and the Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mr. Davis served Self Memorial Hospital more than 35 years and retired as Director of Laundry Services.
He was a charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church where he had served as Sunday School Superintendent.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two sons, Lloyd Steven and wife, Ginny, Davis of Greenwood and Mark Iran and wife, Sherri, Davis of Senoia, GA; four sisters, Velma D. Smith, Grace D. Tomlinson, Esther D. Smith and Rusha D. Douglas, all of Georgia; grandchildren, Jason and wife, Wendi, Mitchell of Anderson, Jessica and husband, Marcus, Simpkins of Greenwood, Brooke and husband, Johnathan, Moore of Charleston, Gray Davis of New York, NY, Tyler Davis of Greenwood, Mary Margret Davis of Greenwood, Seth Davis and Sean Davis, both of Senoia, GA; great-grandchildren, Justin and Jaden Simpkins of Greenwood and Caleb and Noah Mitchell of Anderson.
Mr. Davis was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Louise D. Mitchell and three brothers, H.C., Frank and Woodrow.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with Rev. George Thomas officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Jason Mitchell, Gray Davis, Tyler Davis, Marcus Simpkins, Johnathan Moore and Frankie Connell.
Honorary escort will be Men of Aldersgate United Methodist Church along with Sen. John Drummond, David Lindsey, Grady Bearden, Carroll Blackwell, Harold Blackwell, Ken Riddle, Rusty Graham, Bubba Free and Paul Foshee.
The family will be at the home on Stoney Point Road and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 6 to 8 Tuesday evening.
Memorials may be made to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Building Fund, 103 Northside Drive E., Greenwood, SC 29649.
To make online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the Davis Family.

Bill Payton

NINETY SIX — William Andrew “Bill” Payton, 71, of 222 Park Street, husband of Ernestine “Tina” Ellison Payton, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Chattanooga, TN, a son of the late Narcisuss Ann McCrickard and Robert Lee Payton, Jr., he was a truck driver with Southern Brick, a U.S. Army Korean Conflict veteran, and a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a son, David Payton of Greenwood; five daughters, Anita White of Simpsonville, Sandy Chastin of Landrum, Libby Stevens of Newberry, Anita Bryant of Ninety Six, and Elba Jean Foley of Waterloo; one sister, Catherine Payton of Summerville; two brothers, Jerry Payton of Warner-Robins, GA, and Doug Payton of Anderson; fourteen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Tommy Cartledge officiating.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Tuesday night from 6 until 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church, 95 Saluda Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666 or Hospice House, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC, 29646.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Pauline Quattlebaum

PROSPERITY — Mrs. Pauline Schumpert Quattlebaum, 96, of Prosperity, widow of I.J. (Jim) Quattlebaum, died Dec. 25, 2006.
Born in Prosperity, she was a daughter of the late Cyrus Barrington and Katie Livingston Schumpert. She was retired from the Newberry County School System and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.
She is survived by sons, J. Robert Quattlebaum and wife, Sybil, of West Columbia, Walter J. Quattlebaum and wife, Clyna, of Prosperity, and Jack S. Quattlebaum and wife, Joyce, of Lexington; a daughter-in-law, Ann Quattlebaum of Greenwood; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Reba Q. Spradley, a son, Cy J. Quattlebaum, brothers, John Schumpert and Carl Schumpert, sisters, Doris Setzler and Annie Mae Cromer, and a great-granddaughter, Ashleigh Rebecca Shealy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment will follow in Newberry Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the church fellowship hall.
Active pallbearers will be grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Grace Sease Sunday School Class.
The family suggests that those desiring may make memorials to Grace Lutheran Church Bus Fund, P.O. Box 188, Prosperity, 29127.
McSwain-Evans Funeral Home is in charge.
www.mcswainevans.com.

Ninety Six District 52 takes right bond approach

December 26, 2006

Ninety Six School District 52 wants to build a new high school and renovate the present high school building so it can become a middle school. Unlike some other districts in the state, though, including Greenwood School District 50, School Trustees in Ninety Six are planning a referendum to seek voter approval.
Voters will be asked to approve the sale of $35 million in bonds with a vote likely on March 6, 2007. Unlike the controversial installment purchase bond plan, this approach should eliminate most, if not all, of the bitterness that arose when District 50 and others in South Carolina made their plans. That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be public debate in District 52. Debate without rancor can and should be productive.

ANY TIME SUCH LARGE SUMS of debt is placed on taxpayers, there are sure to be negative ramifications if those taxpayers feel left out in any way. The taxpayers in Ninety Six apparently won’t have that distraction and will be able to focus on the needs of the district and the district’s ability to pay off the bonds.
There is another factor that deserves mentioning again. District 52 Superintendent Dan Powell told those attending a recent Board meeting something that obviously wasn’t the case in public discussions on District 50’s plan. No one from District 52 will be allowed to encourage anyone to vote for the referendum, he noted. Officials can, however, give out information about it.

THAT’S CONTRARY, TO BE sure, to some actions elsewhere. That’s OK, though. Taxpayers, given the opportunity, are sophisticated enough to know who is saying what to whom and are able to make their own decisions.
As noted before, these are public schools being discussed and affected. That automatically qualifies taxpayers to be interested and involved. Whatever reasoning went into the District 52 planning is important, naturally. Providing the necessities to help taxpayers understand the needs and all other ramifications, however, should take precedence.
District 52 Trustees and other officials have, it appears, approached the situation `with that in mind. That’s commendable.