Local barber shop owner uses
small deeds to make big impact

February 20, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

You don’t have to spend your life in the limelight, shouting to the masses to be a leader. Jonathan Greene is proof of that.
He’s not a politician like Jesse Jackson or a commander of rallies like Martin Luther King Jr., nor has he ever been.
But you don’t have to be MLK to be a guiding force to the community behind the pulpit, in civil rights and in everyday life.
Greene is a soft-spoken barber, who owns a small shop on Greenwood’s Taggart Avenue. He’s also a retired pastor, who says he ran from the calling for years before God spoke to him and told him it was time to take his place at the pulpit.
Though he’ll never take a title to go along with the position, Greene, 75, is also a great community leader, according to those who know him best. Those who know him only in passing might not notice the subtle ways in which he effects change in his community and in the lives of others, and they would certainly never hear of them from Greene’s own lips. He’s far too modest.
Greene is what some call an “influencer,” and he goes about improving the world in many ways, be it a soft-spoken word of encouragement or simply by setting a good example. He’s someone who always has something good to say, said family friend Audrey Witherspoon, and is always willing to lend a listening ear and a bit of sound advice, but the advice only comes when it’s asked for.
“ He’s a very well-respected person in the community,” Witherspoon said. “He always has been (well-respected) and anybody you ask, regardless of age, race, or any other factors will always have good things to say about him.”
As a pastor for more than 20 years at Friendship Baptist Church in Ninety Six and interim pastor at Morris Chapel in Greenwood for one year, Greene was a leader to his congregation, offering guidance and spreading God’s word. He led by example, living a virtuous life and always doing what he thought was right, Witherspoon said.
It was in his effort to lead by example that Greene became a lifetime member of the NAACP, upgrading from his yearly membership. He got the membership under the name of his barber shop as a show of community support for the organization, and in hopes that members of his congregation and customers at his shop would follow suit and become involved with the organization. Greene was the first in the area to get a lifetime membership to the organization.
“He’s not an out-front person,” said Gerald Witt, Greene’s nephew. “He’s more someone who is going to be a silent supporter. If he believes in it and he thinks it’s the right thing to do, then he’ll be there to give spiritual support and financial support if it’s needed, but you won’t find him out front.”
Witt describes his uncle as “a very quiet and unassuming person, but also very passionate and caring.” Witt was raised by his aunt and uncle and said he has seen his whole life the effects Greene has on the community and the people in it through simple but meaningful actions. To Witt, Greene has been an inspiration.
“He loves people,” Witt said. “He has so much interest in helping others; probably he’s more interested in that than he is in helping himself.”
Greene said his love for people is one of the reasons he’s enjoyed his 50-year career as a barber. He enjoys talking with them and often uses the opportunity to try to lead others to Christ, he said.
“It never hurts to try,” Greene said. “You can’t catch a chicken by saying ‘shoo,’ and you never know if something you say might have an effect and bring somebody closer to God.”
He got into barbering as a boy growing up on a farm in Hemingway. He used to go into town on Saturdays, he said, and he would see the barbers working in their crisp, white jackets. He knew early on that he wanted to be one of those men and got his start using hand clippers to cut the hair of his male relatives. After graduating from Wilson High School in Florence, he enrolled in a trade school in Denmark to be trained as a professional barber. A few of his friends in Denmark hailed from Greenwood and that led him to Percival-Tompkins Barbershop, where he continued to learn from the late Robert Tompkins.
Greene said he vividly remembers the day he came to Greenwood. It was Jan. 24, 1956, cold, windy and overcast, he said. He rarely forgets an important date, he said, and demonstrates it by rattling them off as he reminisces.
After Tompkins died, Greene went into business with the Rev. James Smith and opened J&J Barber Shop on Phoenix Street in April 1975. Five years later, on Jan. 2, 1980, he opened a shop all his own, Royal Barber Shop, and still works there today, though he said he’s had to cut back to three days a week. He shares the building with the love of his life, Mary Witt Greene, a seamstress who owns Mary’s Sewing Center. The couple has been married for 49 years and still love spending as much time together as possible.
Greene met Mary when she brought her nephew into the barber shop one day and she immediately caught Greene’s eye, he said. About a year later they were married. Greene didn’t believe in wasting time, he joked.
Royal Barber Shop is the same today as it was 20 years ago when Greene opened it. Like the Greenes, it reflects family values and provides a positive environment.
“It’s a place of respect,” Witt said. “When people go in, they’ll come in dressed appropriately and they use appropriate language while they’re there. Those are the kinds of values (Greene) stands for.”
Many of Greene’s customers have been having their hair cut by Greene since they were children and as a result, Greene treats them like family, Witt said.
“He’s that compassionate person who cares about them and visits them when they’re sick,” Witt said. “If a customer is ill and unable to come in to the barber shop, he’ll go to their home or to the hospital and cut their hair. He does that routinely without a second thought. In today’s world, that just doesn’t happen very often.”
Greene is a positive role model for everybody, said Witherspoon. She calls him an encourager and a teacher who is happy to share his wisdom and life lessons whenever he’s asked. Were there more people like Greene, who do things because they’re right rather than for attention or publicity, the world would be a much better place, she said.

Curtis H. Maddox

LILBURN, Ga. — Curtis H. Maddox, 68, husband of Becky Maddox, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006.
He was a Marine veteran, attended Clemson University, retired from Bellsouth with 30 years of service, was a member of Bellsouth Telephone Pioneers and the Tucker First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, Evelyn Maddox of McCormick, S.C.; two sons, Michael Maddox of Snellville and Robert Maddox of Hoschton, Ga.; two daughters, Stephanie Paulson of Orlando, Fla. and Mary Frances Metz of Buford, Ga.; three sisters, Rachel Heenan of Marietta, Carolyn McDonald of Columbia, S.C. and Barbara Langley of McCormick; and 11 grandchildren.
Graveside services are 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Phoenix City, Ala., conducted the Rev. Greg George.
Visitation is 6-8 Tuesday at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2200 Lake Blvd., Atlanta, Ga. 30319.
Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Stone Mountain, Ga. is in charge.

Willie Napoleon McCier

CALHOUN FALLS — Services for Willie Napoleon McCier are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Glovers Chapel Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. M.L. Taylor. The body will be placed in the church at noon.
The family is at the home of his sister, Molcy McCier, 1460 Highway 28 South and at his home.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.

Carolyn Price

Carolyn J. Shirley Price, 64, of 201 Anchor Road, wife of Dewey E. Price, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 at her home.
Born in Ware Shoals, she was a daughter of the late Adger and Addie Pearman Shirley. She was retired from Winn-Dixie and attended Harris Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Tammie Pope of Columbia; two sons, Dewey Keith Price of Omaha, Neb. and Jeffrey W. Price of Greenwood; a sister, Adgertean Ashley of Belton; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Services are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Frank Thomas. Burial is in the Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are Darryl Manley, Marty Manley, David Price, Ray Price, Justin Atkins, Mark Murff, Christopher Price and Buck Price.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
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

Douglas Walton Proffitt

DOUGLAS WALTON PROFFITT, 72, of Greenwood, South Carolina died February 19, 2006, at Hospice House. He was the son of the late Hugh Lindsay and Evelyn Walton Proffitt. Survivors include his wife Charlsie James Proffitt; daughter Elaine Proffitt Buckley and husband, Dan; son Douglas Scott Proffitt and wife, Tina; grandchildren Lindsay and Leigh Anne Buckley; Michael and Amanda Proffitt, all of Simpsonville, South Carolina. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Pauline James Board; step- mother Louise Proffitt; sister-in-law Tina James Cunningham and husband Dave; and two nephews Kemp and Brent Cunningham.
Mr. Proffitt was graduated by The College of William and Mary where he was a member of Kappa Alpha order. He then served in the United States Marine Corp. He spent his career as a surety bond manager with Chubb & Son. He retired to Greenwood where he was active in Kiwanis, Stoney Point Seniors Golf Group and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 E. Creswell Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or Hospice Care of the Piedmont, Inc., 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
On February 21, visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church fellowship hall, Greenwood. A memorial service conducted by the Rev. John L. Setzler will begin at 4 p.m. followed by the inurnment.
Cremation Society of South Carolina
PAID OBITUARY

Fannie M. Watt

ABBEVILLE — Services for Fannie M. Watt are 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Peter A.M.E. Church, conducted by the Rev. Albert Johnson. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Garden.
The family is at the home.
Brown and Walker Funeral Home is in charge.

Bubba Young

Martha Barr “Bubba” Young, 96, of 125 East Laurel Ave., widow of Thomas F. Young, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 at National Health Care in Greenwood.
The family is at the home.
Funeral services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Lander travels to play Spartans

February 20, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

The Lander University men’s basketball team looks to do something tonight it hasn’t done all season long: go on a winning streak.
The Bearcats (7-17 overall, 4-13 Peach Belt Conference) can accomplish this feat by following up Saturday’s homecoming win over Augusta State with a victory at USC Upstate (14-9, 9-8).
The men’s game is set to tip off at 7:30 tonight at the Hodge Center in Spartanburg. The women’s game between the Lady Bearcats (4-20, 0-17) and the Lady Spartans (13-11, 10-7) opens the night’s action at 5:30.
The Bearcats’ victory over Augusta State couldn’t have come at a better time for the struggling Lander squad. The win put an end to a three-game losing streak.
But like the Bearcats, the Spartans vexed some losing demons with a crucial victory over the weekend, closing out a five-game skid with a blowout win over USC Aiken. Senior forward Ivica Grgurovic finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead USC Upstate to the 71-56 home win. The Spartans’ seventh win at home.
Grgurovic was one of four Spartans to score in double figures in USC Upstate’s four-point victory over Lander earlier this month. Sophomore guard Jeremy Byrd led the team that night with 21 points, while guards Jay Free and Daniel Quinlan each added 13.
It was a game that Lander led going into the halftime break. But the Spartans erased the one-point deficit behind 57 percent second-half shooting.
The Bearcats connected on only 32 percent in the final 20 minutes of play.
Free leads the Spartans with a 13.5 point average. Luke Payne, Grgurovic and Quinlan aren’t far behind with averages of 12, 11.9 and 11.7 points a night.

Time is now to protect future water availability

February 20, 2006

When the resources of today must be preserved for the future, there’s no better time to get serious about them than right now. That’s why it’s encouraging to see diverse discussions on the quality and availability of Lake Greenwood water take place.
One speaker at a meeting of the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium the other day at the Drummond Center on the lake, called it “the diamond in the rough.” It is that, to be sure. When water experts, local government and utilities officials and lakeside residents got together to explore future needs, it shows there is a serious recognition that preparations must be considered and made to assure the continuing viability of the “diamond in the rough” we have.
It’s not unusual for those with vested interests to have varying opinions on what the situation is, what it will be, and what must be done to assuage the concerns for all.

A COUPLE OF CONCERNS IN particular always come to the fore ..... and should. They are the recreational advantages the lake provides and the year-round water level. That’s been a concern for some time, of course, but as long as people are willing to talk and listen to each other with open minds, the walls that separate opinions and concerns will not create insurmountable hurdles on the way to finding solutions to satisfy everyone.
While the recreational considerations are up close, personal and important, there is another problem that will continue to grow as populations increase. That’s a protected supply of water for home and industrial use. Already there is a dispute between the states of Georgia and Alabama over shared water sources. The City of Atlanta, for example, has such tremendous growth that water supplies already are a serious concern there.

THE ATLANTA QUESTION ALSO concerns South Carolina, particularly the sharing of water from the Savannah River. There have been indications that Atlanta would like to tap in to that supply, and that worries some officials in this state.
Of more interest locally, of course, is Lake Greenwood, which supplies water for Greenwood County. That is, or should be, a major consideration as talks on the lake go forward.
People with real concerns, upstream and locally, are at least talking. That offers opportunities to solve a problem that faces all of us, from Greenville on down. We take water for granted, but as a continuing supply depends on human activity and care, we have to take advantage of every opportunity to work together for the benefit of us, sure, but also for our children and their children far into the future.