Christmas comes to Greenwood

December 4, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

A cold front moved into Greenwood Sunday, and it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.
The chilly air added a bit of wintertime wonder to the annual Greenwood Christmas parade Sunday in Uptown Greenwood. However, the brisk temperatures did little to keep local residents away, as thousands crammed each side of the road all the way up Main Street.
Dozens of organizations participated in the event, as the parade lasted a full hour and a half. It was a picturesque slice of Americana, with on-lookers cheering as family members rode or walked by in the parade, small children sitting atop their father’s shoulders and kids surrounding the ever popular balloon, cotton candy and candy apple vendors.
The event drew the appreciation of at least one visitor from out of town.
“I was really impressed with this one,” said parade-goer Tammy Roper. “I live in Fountain Inn, and this one in Greenwood is a lot better than our parade.”
All of the floats and people marching in the parade received a a warm reception from the crowd, but one group was received more boisterously than others: The Greenwood High School football team.
The Eagles, who won the Class AAAA Division II state championship Friday night, received a boisterous ovation all the way down the parade route.
“It was great to see the team parading down through there,” said Greenwood resident Clifford Peeler. “This weekend has been like a celebration.”
Peeler was highly complimentary of the way Sunday’s event was administered. He said he was impressed by the pace in which the long string of floats progressed and with the way police managed to keep people from running into the streets.
There was one nit-pick some revelers seemed to have with this year’s parade: The lack of candy that was thrown out.
One citizen in particular made his opinion on the matter known during the closing moments of the parade, hanging out of his car window as he rode in the opposite direction and screaming “Maybe next year Santa can actually throw out some candy!”
Local resident Furman Shumate agreed.
“It could have been better,” Shumate said. “But my kids still really enjoyed it.”
Shumate was fond of a float which had a Smurfs theme, which did seem to be one of the event’s key attractions.
While many enjoyed witnessing the parade, others dealt with participating in it.
Dana Clingerman, who marched with the Emerald High School Air Force Junior ROTC, was participating in her first parade.
“It was interesting,” Clingerman said. “It was tough to keep concentration and staying in step with all the yelling that was going on.”
In the end, Peeler was clear on his feelings about the parade.
“Best parade we’ve ever had, simple as that,” Peeler said. “A lot of hard work went into it, and we appreciate that.”
Chris Trainor covers news for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

Bob Able

Robert Benjamin “Bob” Able Jr., 55, of 320 Gatewood Drive, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at his home. Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Helen Coleman

WARE SHOALS — Helen Stone Coleman, 95, of 49 Dairy St., widow of John W. Coleman Sr., died Sunday, at McCoy Nursing Home, Bishopville.
She was a daughter of the late Lawrence Alvin Stone and Alice Thompson Stone Brooks of Laurens County. She was retired from Riegel Textile Corporation and was the oldest member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons, John (Sandra) Coleman Jr. of Bishopville and Kenneth L. (Martha) Coleman of Whitmire; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church with Rev. Leon Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends 1-2 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Dennis

McCORMICK — Ruth Berry Dennis, 78, of 508 Talbert St., died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Willie Mae Edwards

Willie Mae Edwards, of 632 Chipley Ave., died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, at Hospice Care of the Piedmont.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Mary Freeman

McCORMICK — Mary Elizabeth Walker Freeman, 77, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, at Self Regional Healthcare.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Paul (Patricia ) Leverette, 600 Brown St.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Brenda Kay Hart

IRMO — Brenda Kay Hart, 56, of 1800 Chadford Road, died Friday, Dec. 1, 2006, at Palmetto Health Richland. Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of the late William S. Hart Sr. and Minnie Mathis Hart. She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church where she served on the missionary society and Gospel Chorus. She was a member of OES#310 and Brewer High Class of 1968.
Survivors include a brother, William (Sabrina) Hart Sr. of Greenwood; two sisters, Shirley Mathis of Greenwood and Mary Ann Hart of the home; two nieces reared in the home, Erica Rice and Latrece Hart, both of Columbia; a nephew reared in the home, Gunner Sgt. Jason T. Mathis of Havloc, N.C.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Beulah Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Warren J., assisted by the Revs. Reginald Flynn and Patricia Tolbert. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial is in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com.
Robinson & Son Mortuary,Inc is assisting the Hart Family.

Colleen Cothran Nelson

Colleen Moore Cothran Nelson, 77, resident of 106 Joanna Lane, wife of Justice Peace Nelson, died Dec. 3, 2006, at her residence.
Born in Greenwood County, January 26, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Ruby McDowell Cothran. She attended Winthrop College and was a graduate of Erskine College. Mrs. Nelson formerly taught for fifteen years in the Calhoun Falls school system and retired from Ware Shoals High School where she taught for twenty-two years. In 1998 she was recipient of the Star Teacher Award.
After retirement she returned to Ware Shoals High School where she substituted for five years and established a total teaching career of forty-two years. Mrs. Nelson was listed in Who’s Who of all Teachers in the United States. A member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church where she served on many various committees and positions in the church, she was also a member of the Greenwood Ladies Club.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are two daughters, Cheryl Landon Hensley of Martinez, Ga. and Deidra Melissa N. Taber of Greenwood; five grandchildren, Nelson and Marshall Landon, both of Martinez, Ga., Hannah, Haley and Neel Tabor, all of Greenwood; two brothers, Charles Cothran of Greenwood and Robert “Petey” Cothran of Irmo.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The family is at the home on Joanna Lane.
Those desiring may make memorials to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 550 Bypass 72 North West, Greenwood, SC 29649 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Nelson family.

Shirley Phillips

WATERLOO — Shirley Ann Jones Phillips, 66, wife of Jerry D. Phillips, of 202 Ghost Ryder Road, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare.
She was born in Greenville County, a daughter of the late Wilmer Jones and Georgia Nichols Jones Thurston. She was retired from Titian Industries, Greenwood and was a member of Ware Shoals West Main St. Church of God.
Surviving besides her husband are a son, Billy Phillips of Ware Shoals; a sister, Barbara Ladd of Ware Shoals; three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Parker-White Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Mosley officiating. Burial will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
The family is at the home and will receive friends at Parker-White Funeral Home, Monday, 6-8 p.m. Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lander vs. Erskine

Whether it’s a rivalry or just another game, only one can win

December 4, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

The basketball matchup between Lander University and Erskine College heats up again tonight at the Finis Horne Arena on the Lander campus. Expected is a royal battle for area supremacy.
The Lander coaches say it is definitely a rivalry, the Erskine men’s coach says he’d like it to be, while Erskine women’s coach says it’s just another game on the schedule.
In spite of the feelings about the two teams that are only 20 miles apart, it is slated to be as close as earlier years when Erskine took a commanding lead in the series.
Today, Lander (3-3) leads the men’s series 43-31 and the women’s’ series 33-17.
However, Erskine has won two of the last three meetings after Lander went on a 12-game winning streak.
LU men’s coach Bruce Evans calls the Flying Fleet “one of his (coach Mark Peeler) better teams in the past few years.
“He has indicated this is one of the most athletic teams he has had. He has some very talented freshmen.”
Rivalry?
“Of course,” Evans said. “Even though I didn’t play here at Lander, you can’t help but notice the importance of this game because everybody talks about it. No doubt about it, it will always be a good game, no matter how the other team is doing.”
Causing concern for Evans are Erskine’s Craig Williams, Brandon Wright, and “a lot of freshmen who have offensive weapons.”
“Craig is playing extremely well for them,” Evans said. “He’s a senior and has been in the trenches and battles.”
A question mark for the Bearcats is senior and leading scorer Jarred Jackson, who hasn’t played since the Nov. 25 game with Presbyterian College.
“We’re hoping he’ll be 100 percent, but I’d rather have him at 85 percent than not at all,” Evans said.
Probable starters for Lander are 5-11 Jason Davis, 6-3 Jackson and 5-11 Michael Griffin at guards, 6-7 Scottie Smith at center, and 6-8 Emanuel Hodrea at forward.
Jackson and Dane Sparrow lead the Bearcats with averages of 16.4 and 12.2 respectively.
Peeler said Erskine (2-2) “has played well so far, just the end results have been bad.”
“The last two losses were decided in the final five seconds and we have a lot of improving to do,” he said. “But, we have the signs of being a very good team.”
Of Lander, he added, “I want it to be a rivalry, but it wasn’t when I first got here because we were so bad. But, the field has been leveled a little bit and I look forward to playing Lander because it will be a great game.
“Lander has a tough, experienced team. Defensively, they are as good as any team we play and coach Evans does a great job.
Their inside guys are solid and they have good shooters on the perimeter.”
They will give us a lot of problems matching up with them defensively.”
Erskine’s probable starters are 5-10 Jeff Winecoff, 6-2 Brandon Wright, 6-1 T. J. Taylor, 6-7 Craig Williams and 6-4 Drew Wallace.
Williams and Taylor are averaging 20.8 and 13.8 points respectively to lead the Fleet.
“Erskine’s women (1-2) are very disciplined,” said Lander coach Kevin Pederson, who faced the Lady Fleet and coach Maggie Peeler while at Anderson University.
“If they’re hitting the three’s against us, we’re in trouble. We’ll have to try and get them to play our game and control the tempo.”
Probable Erskine starters are 5-5 Audrey Timmerman, 5-9 Mary Ann Langford, 6-0 Kristy Vaughn, 5-11 Leigh Gray and 5-6 Lisa Jackson.
“Jackson is an outstanding player, a great athlete who can drive and shoot,” Pederson said. “They have some good size in their inside players, and their freshman guard (Audrey) Timmerman is good at at the point and a good outside shooter. We’ve got to know where she is at all times.”
Meanwhile, the Lady Bearcats will be without the services of leading scorer LaShonda Chiles, who will be re-evaluated in January. She was averaging 26.3 points a game when she was suffered an injury.
With Chiles out, Pederson’s probable starters are 5-4 Jasmine Collier, 5-10 Tiara Good, 5-11 Tierra Kirkland, 6-1 Stephanie Ponds and 6-0 Keyattan Norman.
Lander (3-2) is led by Good and Collier with an average of 16.3 and 10 points per game.
“Lander is a very good team with very good athletes and a very good coach,” Erskine coach Maggie Peeler said. “We will have to play near perfect to compete and hope Lander has somewhat of an off night. We play an entirely different style of basketball, compared to them.”
Peeler said the Lady Fleet are still learning to play together and discovering what works best for them.
“We make a lot of silly mistakes, but we are getting better and realizing how hard we have to play every game.”
Even though this game is considered a rivalry, she said, “The game means no more to us than any other.”
On the other hand, Pederson, in his second year at Lander and having faced Erskine in the past, said, “It’s big. My first job was at Anderson and it was always a rivalry for me.”
Now that he is at Lander, he added, “It’s just a big.”

Discriminate against one, discriminate against all!

December 4, 2006

Yet another official decision has been made against Christian displays. In a recent decision concerning a Chicago Nativity Scene, authorities made a point that this kind of display was inappropriate because, they said, the display might offend non -Christians. So, then, it was disallowed.
So, how does that resonate with most South Carolinians? No doubt, that is a worrisome. proposition.
It should be explained to that judge, and all others with similar opinions, that not allowing such displays offends Christians.
Does that mean it’s OK to discriminate against Christians? That’s exactly what’s being done.Under the circumstances, what other conclusion could there be?
When we cease being tolerant of others’ religions, it’s time for all Americans to look inward and take inventory of what their churches stand for.

FURTHERMORE, IT’S A GOOD time to visit and revisit those positive things in the Bible we learned as children. Faith, hope and charity aren’t simply words. They are the foundation that supports our way of life.
All religions live side by side in this country and that’s a true, respected, and integral part of what makes our nation the envy of so many people around the world ..... and why so many want to come here. The Constitution doesn’t say anything religious cannot be displayed in certain places only. It simply says that no law shall abridge freedom of religion.
Every South Carolinian is free to be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and the list goes on. Likewise they don’t have to worship anything if that’s what they want. Where any of them worship, place symbols or advertise in any way is not covered.

WHAT IS COVERED, THOUGH, is that nothing about Nativity Scenes or symbols c an be found anywhere in the Constitution. The Constitution does, though, spell out that if something is not in the Constitution it is automatically left to the states.
That ought to be clear to anyone. However, how many mandates have been thrown at us that should have been left to the states? Freedom of religion should mean that all religions are within their rights in displaying symbols of their churches, mosques, synagogues or any other venue.
When we deny one, we deny them all, and that’s contrary to all we believe ..... all of us.