Greenwood students get chance
to perform in annual band clinic

February 18, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

With his cheeks fluctuating more than the music he was playing on his baritone, 13-year-old Nicholas Hodges said he was probably going to be a little tired at the end of practice.
Hodges was one of 60 honors band members chosen from five middle schools within local three school districts to participate Friday in the third annual middle school band clinic in Greenwood High School’s auditorium.
Hodges said he was both excited and surprised when he was told he was one of the young people who would get to participate in the event.
“It kind of made me feel special,” he said.
The group was conducted by Christopher Hughes, the director of bands and assistant professor of music at Lander University.
Under Hughes’ instruction, the selected band members from Brewer, Westview, Northside, Edgewood in Ninety Six and Ware Shoals middle schools met for the first time Thursday night, and saw what music they would be playing Friday in a concert for their families.
They were allowed to see the music for only two hours of practice on Thursday, before coming in to rehearse and master the pieces for about eight hours Friday before their performance.
“These kids are incredibly well prepared, receptive and a delight to work with,” Hughes said.
Brewer Band Director Christie Hodge said the group, who gave up their day off from school to participate in the clinic, performed ballads, overtures and tribal pieces for their parents.
“These kids are the cream of the crop,” Hodge said. “We’re just trying to provide them with the opportunity they wouldn’t normally get in everyday classes.”
Hodges said he enjoyed getting to meet all the kids from other schools that he usually competes against.
Even though he has been singing before crowds since he was young, he said he was a little nervous about performing in front of such a big crowd as was expected.
“I’ll always be nervous,” he said, “but when it’s time to do it, I’ll just take it like a man and go out there and try to do my best.”

Amanda L. Cobb

McCORMICK — Amanda L. Cobb, 79, of McCormick County Health Care Center, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at the center.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Murray and Laura Brown Cobb. She was a member of Fairfield Baptist Church and a homemaker.
Survivors include a sister, Betty Cobb of Abbeville; two nieces reared in the home, Mary Stackhouse and Laura Frazier.
The family is at the home of Mary Stackhouse, 115 Barnett St., Abbeville.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Bobby Craft

GREENWOOD — Robert Marion “Bobby” Craft, 77, of 122 Orchard Park Drive, husband of Betty H. Craft, died Friday, February 17, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, he was the son of the late Robert T. and Eula Garrett Craft. Mr. Craft was an U.S. Navy veteran, and retired from U.S. Corps of Engineers. He was a member of the American Legion Post 20, the Masonic Lodge 91, Hejaz Shrine Temple and a member of South Main Street Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home, a son Dan Craft and wife Susan of Hilton Head, and two grandchildren Rebecca Susan Craft, and Robert Daniel Craft Jr.
Services will be 2:00 PM Sunday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Richard McWhite and Dr. Phillip McMinn officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Kyle Sessions, Vance Wells, Jack McDowell, Gary Roper, Nick Anagnost, Ben Harvin, Larry Landrum, and Frank Hill.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home & Crematory where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday. Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646, or South Main Street Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. Felton Dove

The Rev. Felton Branham Dove, 51, of 210 Karen Way, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville, he was a son of Virginia “Jenny” Beauford Dove and the late Rev. William Felton Dove. He was a Greenwood High School graduate, an evangelist and a minister of music. He was a member of Living Word Tabernacle of Faith Church.
Survivors include his mother of the home; a son, John Dove of Darlington; a daughter, Elizabeth “Cricket” Dove of Darlington.
Services are 1 p.m. today at Living Word Tabernacle of Faith Church, conducted by the Revs. Benard Newsome, Ray Massey and Ricky Knight. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Jimmy Bowie, Johnny Bowie, Billy Norris, Eddie Alewine, Johnny Beaufort and William Davis.
Visitation is 11:30-12:30 today at the church.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Mary F. Holroyd

April 8,1929 - February 16, 2006
ANDERSON, SC — Mrs. Mary Ellen Findley Holroyd, known by her family and friends, as “Smokey” died Thursday, February 16, 2006 at the Hospice House in Anderson, SC.
Born in Anderson, she graduated from Girls’ High School and Erskine College and was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her husband, Robert Frank Holroyd of the home; a son, Robert Frank Holroyd, Jr., of Chapel Hill, NC; daughters, Leigh Ellen Holroyd of Anderson and Mary Lisa Castro and her husband, Andrew of Greenwood, SC; two grandchildren, John and Megan Castro; sisters, Mozelle Brock and Clara Findley of Anderson, SC; brothers, Roger Findley and his wife, Shirley of Anderson, Bob Findley and his wife, Nan of Stuart, VA, Claude Findley and his wife, Jill of Pensacola, FL, Dean Findley and his wife, Linda of Aiken, SC.
She was the daughter of the late Herman and Ruby Findley.
Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 11:00 am at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Anderson officiated by Dr. William R. Childs and the Reverend Tom Holroyd.
The family will meet friends at the home, 2010 Sheldon Drive, following the service.
The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church, 515 South McDuffie Street, Anderson, SC 29624 or Chestnut Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1464, Lumberton, NC 28359-1464 or 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 MC DOUGALD FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Rev. Henderson Louden Sr.

NINETY SIX — The Rev. Henderson Nathaniel Louden Sr., 77, widower of Johnnie Mae Louden, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006 at the Veterans Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Rev. Nathaniel and Carrie Louden. He was a member of Mount Pleasant AME Church and a former pastor of Walker Chapel Mission, Bell Mission, Brownoh, Jacob Chapel, Glovers, Rockford, Long Cane, St. Peter, Shady Grove, Springfield and Zion Chapel AME Churches. He was a member of Pearl Chappell Mason Lodge No. 118, the NAACP and the Ministerial Alliance. He attended Ninety Six schools, Allen University and Dixon Theological Seminary, Columbia, Piedmont Tech and Presbyterian College. A graduate of the Police Academy, he completed the Medical Self Help Training at South Carolina State University, received a certificate in cooking, baking and internal decorations from Quartermaster Technical School, Fort Sill, Okla., and served as a mess sergeant in the Army. He was a brick mason and served on Greenwood County District 52 School Board for 20 years, being the first African-American elected. He worked for Security Forces Inc. for 20 years and also for Grendel Mills.
Survivors include three sons, Henderson Louden Jr., Coris Louden and Darnell Louden, all of Ninety Six; nine grandchildren, two reared in the home, Charletha Louden-White and Charlene Louden; six great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at Mount Zion AME Church Family Life Center, Promised Land, with Elder O.A. Klugh officiating and the Rev. James Speed presiding. Assisting are the Revs. Moses Miller and W.M. Cromer. The body will be placed in the church sanctuary at 12. Burial with military rites is at Marshall Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are cousins and nephews.
Flower bearers are cousins and nieces.
Visitation is 6-7:30 Sunday at Robinson & Sons Mortuary.
The family is at the home of Coris Louden, 2421 Louden Road.
Robinson & Sons Mortuary Inc., Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Willie Napoleon McCier

CALHOUN FALLS — Willie Napoleon McCier, 65, of 123 Hickory St., husband of Daisy Turman McCier, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Napoleon and Molcy Patterson McCier. He was a member of Glovers Chapel Baptist Church, a retired pulpwood cutter and a graduate of Mims High School.
Survivors include his wife of the home; six sisters, Mallie Jackson and Addie Moss, both of Jamaica, N.Y., Henrietta Williams of Chattanooga, Tenn., Frances Williams, Molcy L. McCier and Elizabeth Lomax, all of Abbeville; a brother, George McCier of Abbeville; four stepdaughters, Betty Washington and Hazel Elmore, both of Calhoun Falls, Carrie Collin of Long Island, N.Y., Helen M. Callaham of Atlanta; three stepsons, Floyd Collin of Knoxville, Tenn., Lloyd Collin Jr. of the home, George Collin of Calhoun Falls.
The family is at the home of a sister Molcy McCier, 1460 Highway 28 S., Abbeville and at his home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Connie Morse

ABBEVILLE, SC — Cornelia “Connie” McNeill Morse, 70, resident of Willow Creek Nursing Home, died Friday, Feb. 17, at Anderson Area Medical Center in Anderson, SC.
Born in Abbeville, SC, she was a daughter of the late Charles McNeill, Jr. and Belle McMahan McNeill.
Connie was a graduate of Greenville General Hospital School of Nursing. She was a devoted registered nurse for over 45 years and retired from Self Memorial Hospital. She was also a member of Smyrna UnitedMethodist Church. She was also a member of the McNeill Sunday School Class and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was a loving mother, sister, aunt and friend to many and will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors are a sister, Claire M. Fritz of Goose Creek, SC; 2 stepsons, Greg Morse of Apex, NC and Kyle Morse of Greenwood, SC; 2 nieces and 2 step nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Feb. 20, 2006 at 11:00 AM from Smyrna United Methodist church in Lowndesville, SC at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Nina Reynolds officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery, Abbeville, SC.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 Sunday evening, Feb. 19, 2006.
Memorials may be made to Smyrna United Methodist Church, 439 Main St., Lowndesville, SC 29659.
Online condolences may be sent to the Morse family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.net
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, ABBEVILLE, SC IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Warren Murphy

HODGES — Warren James Murphy, 95 of 4122 Highway 25 North, widower of Sudie Elaine Murphy, died Friday, February 17, 2006 at Self Regional Healthcare.
Born in Abbeville, he was the son of the late George and Alice Ann Murphy. Mr. Murphy was employed with Greenwood Mills, Durst Plant, a member of the Masonic Lodge #91 and a Shriner. He was a member of Hodges Providence Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Betty McKinney.
Survivors include two sons Charles Murphy of Greenwood and Frank Murphy of Troy; five grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 2:00 PM Sunday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Lamar Babb officiating.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
The family is at the home.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Shirley Reedy

Shirley Hines Reedy, 70, of 1501 Phoenix St. Lot A-2, wife of Eugene Reedy, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Shenandoah Valley, Va., she was a daughter of the late John and Hilda Funkhouser Hines. She was a homemaker and a member of Pine Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Teresa Avery of Greenwood; five sons, Chris Reedy, Michael Reedy, Ronald Reedy, Maxie Reedy, all of Greenwood , John Reedy of Columbia; a brother, John Hines of Clintwood, Va.; four sisters, Marion Keel and Sheryl Cline of Woodstock, Va., Judy Hines and Lucy Isaac of Burlington, N.C.; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild.
Services are 4 p.m. Sunday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Barry Butler. Burial is in Bethlehem Cemetery.
Pallbearers are sons and a grandson Kevin Reedy.
Honorary pallbearers are the men and women of the church.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at the home of her son Michael, 312 Lanham St.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Fannie Mae Watt

ABBEVILLE — Fannie Mae Watt, 62, of 1339 Old Hodges Road, wife of Franklin Watt, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006 at her home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Wade and Lucille Lee Brooks. She was a member of St. Peter AME Church and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband of the home; three daughters, Alberta Watt of Abbeville, Lorrie Watt of the home, Betty Cowan of Atlanta; five sons, Franklin Watt Jr., Woodrow Watt and Johnny Watt, all of Abbeville, Stanley Watt of Greenwood, Bennie Brooks of Norfolk, Va.; three sisters, Mary Lyons and Genevieve Martin, both of Abbeville, Gloria Grant of Virginia Beach, Va.; three brothers, William Brooks and Franklin Brooks, both of Abbeville, Sammie Brooks of New Jersey; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home.

Harry Yochem

GREENWOOD — Harry D. Yochem, 83, of 121 Sagewood Road, husband of Ruth Summer Yochem, died Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Self Regional Healthcare.
Born in Newberry County, he was the son of the late John Franklin and Lucille Williams Yochem. Mr. Yochem was a U.S. Navy, W.W.II veteran where he received two purple hearts. After the war he worked at the Naval Yard in Charleston, SC then moved to Greenwood in 1949 to work for Greenwood Mills at the compound where he retired in 1984. He was a member of Lowell Street United Methodist Church, where he attended the Men’s Bible Class.
He was predeceased by three brothers, John Elvin Yochem, Bobby Leroy Yochem, and Coleman Yochem; and a grandson Scott Yochem.
Survivors include his wife of the home, a son Larry D. Yochem and wife Betty of Greenwood; two daughters Patsy Hannah and husband David of Greenwood, and Linda Sauerwein and husband Jim of Abbeville; five grandchildren, Ken Harbin, Keith Harbin, Amy Yochem, Marcus Moeller, and Kristin Moeller; nine step grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and fifteen step great grandchildren.
Services will be 3:00 PM Saturday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Richard Waldrep and the Reverend David Templeton officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens with Military Honors.
Pallbearers will be Ken Harbin, Keith Harbin, Marcus Moeller, Gary Yochem, Richard Summer, Jerry Summer, and PFC Kenny Harbin, SPC Tyler Hannah.
Honorary escort will be the Men’s Bible Class at Lowell Street United Methodist Church, Watson Haynes, Paul Walker, Dr. Ennis James, Dr. Jeff Lanford, Charlie Conway, Steve Rhodes, Harold Wash, and Mike Maffett.
The body is at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:30 pm on Saturday.
Memorials may be made to Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Street, Greenwood, SC 29646, or a charity of one’s choice.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Lady Vikes get physical in win

February 18, 2006

By JAVAN FRANKS
Special to The Index-Journal

The Emerald High School girls basketball team can start making preparations for the Class AA Upper State semifinals.
The Lady Vikings outpaced the Woodruff, 45-40, Friday night at Vikings Gymnasium.
“We really had to pack it in and force them to go to their outside shot,” Emerald coach Anarie Duckett said.
Friday’s game was a physical contest, in which, Emerald dominated the offensive and defensive boards.
“I like it when they let us play,” Emerald center Elizabeth Nicholson said of the aggressive style of the game.
Nicholson led all scoring with 19 points. Teammate Brittany Connor added 15. Sateria Jeter led Woodruff with 13 points.
The Lady Wolverines beat Emerald earlier in the season at the Woodruff Christmas Tournament.
“We knew they would be aggressive,” Duckett said. “(Emerald) played really well.”
Emerald was in control of the game from the start.
Nicholson opened the game with a hard-fought layup. Moments later, Connor sunk a 3-pointer.
Emerald led 11-7 going into the second quarter.
The game was tied at 13-all early in the second quarter, but Elizabeth Nicholson took the lead back with a quick basket. Lady Vikings guard Tricie Riley hit a layup, coming off a pinpoint pass from Nicholson. Emerald led 23-20 at the half.
The Lady Vikings expanded their lead in the second half.
Emerald went on a 11-3 scoring spree to open the third quarter.
Connor drained one of her three 3s during that run to help the Lady Vikings widen their lead. On top of her double-digit scoring performance, Connor hit the floor several times scrapping for loose balls.
“Coach said we have to hustle for the ball,” Connor said.
Nicholson closed the third quarter with a two-point basket, putting the Lady Vikings up 38-30 heading into the fourth quarter.
Emerald was able to maintain its lead down the stretch.

Aiken edges Lady Eagles

February 18, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

The Greenwood High School girls basketball team fell victim to the Aiken traveling roadshow Friday night.
The Lady Green Hornets (13-12) edged the Lady Eagles, 54-51 in the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs in front of a vocal crowd at Greenwood. With the loss, Greenwood finishes the season with a 17-4 record, while Aiken moves on to Tuesday’s Upper State semifinal.
For Aiken, Friday’s contest marked the second consecutive game the Lady Green Hornets have gone on the road and defeated a higher seed. Aiken knocked off Rock Hill Tuesday.
Lady Hornets guard Audrey Timmerman led all scorers with 23 points, 16 coming in the second half. Timmerman admitted Aiken has become somewhat fond of playing on the road.
“It always feels good to go on the road and win on someone else’s home court,” Timmerman said. “Really, we like the road. It gives us a chance to bond with each other and really get focused for the game while we’re on the bus.”
Greenwood was paced by Syteria Robinson, who capped a stellar freshman season by scoring 18 points. Lady Eagles guard Ashly Chandler also tossed in 18 points.
Robinson said it was easy to pinpoint one area where the Lady Eagles came up short Friday.
“We weren’t aggressive enough when we came out,” Robinson said.
“In the second half, we stepped up our defense and that got us back in it. Next year, I’ll try to come back, get better, and help us build on what we did this year.”
Aiken did indeed seem to be the more aggressive team as the game began.
Aiken center BreeAnna Perry, niece of ex-Chicago Bears lineman William “The Refrigerator” Perry, opened the contest with a hard-fought layup in heavy traffic. Moments later, Timmerman bolted down court on consecutive possessions after a Greenwood miss and laid the ball in the hoop uncontested. Despite Chandler’s 25-foot 3-pointer as time expired in the first quarter, Greenwood trailed 17-12 heading into the second quarter.
The Lady Eagles pulled closer before halftime.
Robinson began to heat up in the second quarter, opening the frame with a quick baby hook from the center of the lane. Later, Robinson drained a 3-pointer from the left wing, then popped in a long jumper on the Lady Eagles next possession to give Greenwood its first lead at 22-21 with 2:06 left in the half. However, Monica Scott swished a baseline jumper from the right side to give Aiken a 23-22 halftime lead.
Undeterred by Greenwood’s second quarter charge, Aiken pushed its lead out further in the third quarter.
Timmerman began her torrid shooting in the second half by draining an improbable scoop shot and getting fouled in the process, then sinking the subsequent free throw. Two possessions later the spark plug guard was at it again, this time swishing a 3-pointer from NBA-range. Just as she did in the first quarter, Chandler beat the buzzer in the third, this time with a 17-foot jump shot that cut the Aiken lead to 40-33 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Lady Eagles briefly tied the game in the fourth when Robinson canned a 3 at the 4:49 mark. However, Perry popped in two tough baskets near the rim late in the game, while Timmerman and Lady Hornets forward Jalisa Blocker swished two free throws each to seal the game for Aiken.

Observations ... and other reflections

February 18, 2006

Elections are coming again in South Carolina. Have they ever stopped?
That’s how many of us feel as we go from one election season right into another.
In spite of all the opportunities during the campaigns, some voters never learn enough about the whole candidate and his/her beliefs. They never consider all the issues, either. Too many make their choices on one thing and one thing only. They either support a candidate because of where he/she went to college, what particular issue interests them (abortion, war, etc.), and sometimes even religion.

That’s unfair to the voter, the candidates and the state. No wonder political problems litter the landscape. We bring it all on ourselves.

* * * * *

Gov. Mark Sanford has proposed putting a cap on how much state universities can charge students for tuition. That may be the only way to control higher education costs. One of the biggest problems, though, is the State Legislature.
Appropriations have gone down for several years. Yet universities are saddled with additional expenses mandated by the Legislature or have recurring expenses that have only been funded once.
It’s obvious there must be a joint effort to solve the problem.
Another thing Sanford proposes should be standard practice. State universities need to cooperate more in meeting the needs of students and parents while saving taxpayers money. USC and MUSC have shown what can be done by cooperating in teaching pharmacy. Surely others can add to that.

* * * * *

The Chinese government says it has complained to Washington over a Pentagon report that calls China a potential military threat. It also accused the U. S. of trying to mislead public opinion.
The Pentagon report expressed concerns about China’s rising military spending to project its power beyond its borders.
Chinese officials charged it was all “groundless” accusations and that the spending was nothing more than “normal.” There’s no denying that China has indeed beefed up its military, particularly in building up a naval force like it has never had.
They may say what they’re doing is normal, but there’s an old saying that seems to fit what it is doing better than anything else. That is, a stuck pig squeals.
The objections sound a lot like squealing!