‘Some exciting things happening’

City manager addresses future plans,
concerns for Greenwood city, county

January 25, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

The coming year of renovations and upgrades as part of the City Center Master Plan has Greenwood on a positive track, according to City Manager Steve Brown.
Brown gave Rotary Club of Greenwood members an update on the city’s progress with the plan, as well as some thoughts on the hot-button issue of property tax reform, during the group’s lunch meeting Tuesday at the American Legion Post 20.
“There are some exciting things happening in Greenwood. The city of Greenwood, with the support of the community, is positioned to take a leap from a ‘good’ place to work and live, to a ‘great’ place to work and live,” he said.
Brown said the Emerald Triangle Project, which includes renovations to the Old Federal Building, Greenwood Community Theatre and The Museum, is a major part of that “leap” forward.
The U.S. Department of the Interior declared the Old Federal Building as surplus about three years ago, Brown said, and the building was deeded to the city and county.
Since that time, the building has undergone extensive renovations, including the addition of a public reception hall, gallery, offices, classrooms and a new Regional Visitor and Tourism Center. It tentatively is scheduled to be completed at the end of the month.
“When finished, it will serve as a hub for arts and cultural activities in Greenwood County,” Brown told the audience.
The project then will focus on the Greenwood Community Theatre and The Museum, which eventually could be moved to another location that better serves its future needs, Brown said. Brown said the project and master plan are necessary steps in keeping the city competitive with other areas that have focused on arts and culture, and will help with attracting residents and industry to the county.
“We have wasted much time talking about what has happened in Newberry, Abbeville, Orangeburg, Greenville, Spartanburg and other cities which, for years, have out-shined Greenwood in many ways,” Brown said. “While we are not attempting to become a little Greenville — or little anything else — we must fully understand and take the appropriate actions to ensure that we … will have not only protected, but enhanced the heritage, history and the quality of life that will sustain the generations that follow us.
“This has never been an easy task, but it has always been a necessary one,” he said.
Brown also addressed his concerns about the issue of property tax relief, which is on the agenda for state legislators this session.
“While they are in session, we are at risk,” Brown said. “Property tax relief is an issue that will not go away, and I believe the legislature is bent on adopting some form of property tax relief. It sounds great, but I believe all of us should be concerned.”
Earlier this month, several bills concerning property tax reform began making their way through the state Senate, including a bill that addresses point-of-sale reassessment.
According to the Associated Press, under the new method of reassessment, a property would be reassessed only when it was sold, inherited or substantially improved. The amendment also would allow counties to choose from other reassessment options provided by the General Assembly.
Because state House members are entering an election year, Brown said he is concerned that the General Assembly might rush into property tax reform without examining all the options and consequences.
“Their common response is, ‘If we mess it up, either the courts will rule it unconstitutional, or we can fix it next year,’” Brown said. “There are no provisions in any version (of the bills) for the unknown,” such as catastrophes, natural disasters, unstable energy costs, high unemployment and local economy issues.
Brown said freezing evaluations until the property is sold will cause some taxpayers to “shoulder the burden of paying a large tax bill in the future.”
Brown said he also was concerned about inequities that could arise with the distribution of revenue generated by an increase in sales tax. One property tax reform proposal calls for a 2-cent hike in the state sales tax to offset revenues lost to school districts, and possibly to municipal and county governments, when property taxes are abolished.
“Many cities and counties will not generate sufficient revenue within their borders to equal the dollars needed to implement tax relief within their jurisdictions. Therefore, there will have to be giving counties and receiving counties — what will be the criteria?” he said.
“I am not opposed to tax relief. I am opposed … to a quick fix that does not address the total tax structure of this state, its cities and its counties.”

Hands-on learning a key to preparing
Brewer students for future careers

Science and technology class gives students taste of workforce

January 25, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

Within seconds of entering David Walton’s science and technology class at Brewer Middle School, it’s obvious Walton’s is not your typical classroom.
With model bridges constructed from toothpicks hanging from the ceiling and students using computers to operate small orange robots, the dry erase board on the far wall is where all similarities to other classrooms end.
In Walton’s room, students learn more than grammar and math problems, though those lessons do play a part in the course. Students in Walton’s class learn life skills that they’ll take with them to high school, college and into the workforce.
“It’s sort of a career sampler,” Walton said of his science and technology course, which he taught in past years to high school students at the G. Frank Russell Career & Technology Center. “We get them out of that little box they find themselves in sometimes in other classes and let them actually see and use technology they might be using in the real world some day.”
The course has been taught at Brewer before by different instructors, but Walton has brought a different approach, more in line with what students will learn at the career center. He also brings some new technology including the robots, which he purchased with a grant he received while working at the career center.
The robots, like everything else in Walton’s classroom, are created to give students a taste of a specific career. In this case, it’s one that involves operating machines, such as those in a factory or plant.
“We’re giving students the opportunity to experiment with different career paths at the middle school level so they can decide if they want to continue down a certain path when they move on to high school and the curriculum is more career-focused,” Walton said.
Eighth grader Clint Getzelman said he hasn’t ruled out any careers while taking Walton’s course, but he has found a particular liking for engineering. He built a bridge in the class this week and said he learned a number of lessons that apply in the classroom and the real world.
“It taught me to take my time and work at my own pace so the job gets done right,” Getzelman said. “You have to make sure the design is right and that all the pieces are together right. It’s pretty much the same in the real world. If it’s not right, it’ll collapse.”
The lessons in the course are relevant to all students, no matter what their career ambitions, Walton said. Students are rotated through 12 different programs, changing to a different mini-course every week. The programs of study that students rotate among include architecture, bridge design and construction, vehicle design, desktop publishing, drafting, house plans, automotive technology, Internet, invention, power and energy, simple robotics and advanced robotics. Each program is a lead-in to a class or series of classes offered at the career center and all can be tied in with school-to-work programs.
Eighth-grader J.R. Tolbert wants to work with computers in the automotive field, so he has particularly enjoyed the vehicle design and automotive technology courses. A computer program in the classroom allows him to build a virtual car, choosing every aspect from the paint color and style to the engine, brakes and tires.
Once the car is complete, it can be tested on the computer to see how effective the design is. The computer gives the number of miles per gallon the car can get and even the maximum speed it can achieve on a quarter-mile road test. Tolbert’s top speed is 117, and the speed to beat is 123.
The course is offered for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. As part of the lesson plan, students are graded, in part, on their punctuality and for showing up, all important aspects of performing a job in the workforce, Walton said.

Lizzie Davis

ABBEVILLE, SC — Lizzie Eva Price Davis, 89, of 461 Calhoun Hill Road, wife of Joe M. Davis, died Tuesday, January 23, 2006 at the Hospice House in Greenwood. She was born in Hill Tonia, GA., to the late Adam Samuel and Lizzie Sikes Taylor. Mrs. Davis was a member of the Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church. She retired from the Abbeville and Sharon Milliken Plants after 30 years of service.
Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by her first husband Mr. Willie E. Price and a son William R. Price.
Surviving Mrs. Davis is her son, James A. Price of Abbeville, eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM (TONIGHT) at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 2:00PM Thursday, January 26, 2006 at the Calhoun Falls Pentecostal Holiness Church. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Memorial Contributions in memory of Mrs. Davis may be sent to the HospiceCare of the Piedmont 408 W. Alexander Ave. Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online Condolences may be sent to the Davis family by visiting
www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Davis family.
PAID OBITUARY

Ethel Harris

GREENWOOD — Ethel Love Tarkenton Harris, 93, resident of 315 Pembroke Rd., widow of Thomas Ambrose Harris, died January 23, 2006 at her home.
Born October 1, 1912 in Princess Anne County, Virginia she was a daughter of the late Nathan F. and Tempie Perry Tarkenton. She was formerly employed by Ben Franklin Stores of Norfolk, VA.
A former member of Norview Baptist Church in Norfolk, she was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church in Greenwood, as well as the Senior Group and Reapers Sunday School Class of the church. Mrs. Harris was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 131, in Norfolk, VA.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Charles (Judy) Davies, with whom she made her home; a son, Thomas Harris of W. Monroe, LA; two sisters, Louise Bailey of Norfolk and Lucille White of Hertford, NC; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was predeceased by a daughter, Shirley Frances Kohvakka Bauer.
A graveside service will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Friday at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, VA. A memorial service will also be conducted at 2:00 Monday, January 30, at the chapel of South Main Street Baptist Church in Greenwood with Rev. Richard McWhite officiating.
The family is at the home of Charles and Judy Davies, 315 Pembroke Road, in Greenwood.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The New Landscaping Fund of South Main Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648, or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
To make online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Samuel Jones Jr.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Samuel Jones Jr., 61, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 in Buffalo.
Born in McCormick County, S.C., he was a son of Samuel Jones Sr. and Mozell Jones. He attended Emerson High School, Bryant & Stratton and Cornell University. He was a member Pilgrim Baptist Church and an employee of Bethlehem Steel.
Survivors include his father of Mount Carmel, S.C.; his mother of Buffalo; two daughters, Maria Jones of Buffalo and Holly Jones of Detroit; two sons, Samuel Jones III and Tishawn Jones, both of Buffalo; four brothers, James Jones, Charles Jones and Bobby Jones, all of Atlanta, Richard Bryant of Mount Carmel; 10 sisters, Georgia Jones, Pauline Holloway, Viola Jones, Judy Jones, Dorothy Jones and Martha Jones, all of Buffalo, Ollie Jones of Englewood, N.J., Jackie Brown of Abbeville, S.C., Lillian Anderson of Greenwood, S.C., Genevieve Bryant of Mount Carmel; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services were 11 a.m. Jan. 7 at Pilgrim Baptist Church, Buffalo.
Memorial Chapel in Buffalo was in charge.
Announcement by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Wesley L. Key

NEW ELLINTON, SC — Funeral services for Mr. Wesley L. Key will be held Friday, January 27, 2006 at 3 PM at Greenpond Baptist Church, Jackson, SC, with Pastor Roy Morgan officiating.
Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, January 26, 2005 from 5 until 8 PM at George Funeral Home, Historic Downtown Chapel, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC.
Mr. Key, 68, of New Ellenton, SC, died Monday, morning, January 23, 2006 at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
Born in Aiken, SC, a son of the late Lanzier and Elise Green Key, he retired as an Insurance Agent from Life of Georgia in 1992 after thirty-five years of service. Wesley was a very active member of Greenpond Baptist Church where he served forty-five years as Music Director, forty-six years as Sunday School Director, Deacon thirty-five years, and was chairman of the Deacons for twenty-five years.
He is survived by a son, Daryl Key, (Angie) Greenwood, SC; daughter, Tara Hill, (Chuck) New Ellenton, SC; brother, Harold Key, (Patsy) New Ellenton, SC; sisters, Minnie Goodman, (Charles) New Ellenton, SC and Elouise Cheek, Aiken, SC; and grandchildren, Christopher, Heather, and Dalton Key, Clinton and Brittainy Moore, Jason, Julie, Marty, and Lee Brittain, and Missy McKay. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-nine years, Brenda Gail Brittain Key and his baby brother, Mark Key.
The family has requested that memorials be made to Greenpond Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 91, Jackson, SC 29831.
Visit www.GeorgeFuneralHomes.com to sign the online condolence register and view the obituary.
PAID OBITUARY

Sara May

GREENWOOD — Sara Elizabeth Williams May, 83, resident of 110 Kennedy Court, wife of Robert Johnston May, died January 23, 2006 at her home.
Born in Greenwood, January 22, 1923, she was a daughter of the late John Harold and Elsie Butler Williams. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and the Greenwood College of Commerce. She was formerly employed by South Main Street Baptist Church.
Mrs. May was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church and taught in the Sunday School Department for both Adult and Youth Sunday School for over 50 years. She was a member and past president of the Violet Garden Club and a founding member of the Four Seasons Garden Club. She was also a member of the City of Greenwood Beautification Commission.
Surviving in addition to her husband of the home are two sons, Robert Johnston “John” May, Jr. of Columbia and David Y. May of Greenwood. A sister, Mounetta Williams of Greenwood; a brother, Hanes Vernon Williams of Georgetown, FL. Three grandchildren, Robert Bryan May and Jonathan B. May, both of Columbia and Mary Kathryn May of Greenwood. Two great-grandchildren, Anderson May and Sara Gates May.
Mrs. May was predeceased by a granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth May.
Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Richard McWhite officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ralph Bozard, Bill Burnett, Art Sutherland, George Sutherland, George Johnson, Jay Johnson, Frank Russell and Rufus May, Sr.
The family is at the home in Sheffield and will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:30 to 2:00 Thursday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to South Main Street Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the May family.
PAID OBITUARY

Betty L. Moore

Betty L. Moore, 77, of Smithdale, MS died Jan. 21, 2006, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Charles and Joy Moore previously of Ninety Six.
While her son resided in Ninety Six, Mrs. Moore visited for extended periods of time. During this time she was involved with The First Baptist Church and was a worker at The Junction After School Center. She was the grandmother of Lindsey, Sam, and Jacob Moore.
As an Army wife, she taught for 31 years in numerous places including Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Germany and American Samoa.
She was a lifelong active member of local churches and Women’s Mission Union and Training Union, vacation Bible school and Sunday school. She was also a missionary to Romania, Jamaica, American Samoa, Ukraine, Choctaw Reservation and East St. Louis. She was a lifelong sports enthusiast for herself, her children, and her grandchildren.
Visitation is 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Hartman Funeral Home of McComb, MS and 11 a.m. Wednesday until services there at 1 p.m.
Pallbearers will be her seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230.
PAID OBITUARY

Roy E. Reynolds

WATERLOO – Roy E. Reynolds, 62, married to Peggy Dillashaw Reynolds for 42 years, passed away at home on January 23, 2006.
Mr. Reynolds was born in Greenwood, a son of the late Ellis Grove and Mildred Lucille Hogan Reynolds. He was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith, and a retired painter.
Surviving are three children, Roy E. Reynolds, II of Waterloo, Angela R. Hall of Waterloo, and Shirley R. Smith of Charleston; five grandchildren, Joshua, Derek, Sam, Amy, and Miles; and two brothers, Robert E. Reynolds, and William T. Reynolds, both of Waterloo.
Services are planned for a later date.
Cremation Society of South Carolina is serving the Reynolds family.
PAID OBITUARY

Alfred Douglas Stevenson

Services for Alfred “Duckman” Douglas Stevenson, 50, of 3603 McCormick Highway, are 3 p.m. Thursday, at Parks Funeral Home, conducted by Isaac Turner Jr.
Viewing is 1-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Visitation is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Inez Thompson

ABBEVILLE, SC – Inez “Tiny” Hodges Thompson, 85, of 181 Noble Dr., wife of the late James R. Thompson, Sr. died Monday, January 23, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Thompson was born in Abbeville to the late Milton J. and Sallie Patterson Hodges. She was a member of the Upper Long Cane Presby-terian Church.
Mrs. Thompson was pre-ceded in death by a daughter, Janice Hawthorne, a brother, Milton Hodges, Jr., and a sister, Kathleen Lee.
Surviving Mrs. Thompson is her daughter, Doris Thompson of Abbeville, two sons, James R. Thompson, Jr. of Abbeville, and Timothy R. Thompson of Blythewood, S.C., a brother, Rayford Hodges of Abbeville, two sisters, Bennie Jane Harsey of Columbia, and Rosemary Copeland of Abbeville, three grandchildren, Kenny C. Brown of Concord, N.C., Jolie A. Brown of Greenville, Martin R. Thompson of Abbeville, and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside Services will be 2:00PM Friday, January 27, 2006 in Melrose Cemetery conducted by the Rev. Earl Hartley. The family will receive friends following the service.
Memorial Contributions in memory of Mrs. Thompson may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association Upstate Chapter, PO Box 658 Greenwood, SC 29648 or to the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church 194 Hwy. 20 Abbeville, SC 29620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Thompson family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Thompson family.
PAID OBITUARY

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Dr. Casper Wiggins in Saturday’s paper, there were omissions in the information given to The Index-Journal. Additional survivors are two sisters, Lydia Wiggins MacLaughlin of Geneva, N.Y., and Elizabeth Wiggins McDonald of Hickory, N.C. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Harriet Wiggins and a brother, Lemuel E. Wiggins Jr.

Lagroone leads Wildcats past Emerald boys

Senior scores 28 in Region III-AA victory

January 25, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Nick Lagroone knew how important this game was for his coach.
Before the game, the Ninety Six High School senior swingman promised first-year coach Ike Dickey he would bring him a win against Dickey’s former team.
During halftime, down by one, Dickey, who was an assistant at Emerald for four years, called him on that promise. And Lagroone responded by scoring 20 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to lead the Wildcats to a 72-62 upset victory over Emerald Tuesday night at Vikings gymnasium.
“We did it for coach,” Lagroone said. “All 12 of us wanted to bring this one to him. When we got on the court, we all wanted to bust our tails for him.
“In the first half, I was paying too much attention to the crowd. Coach talked to me about it at halftime and he told me ‘don’t listen to the crowd. Do what you have to do and bring it home for me.’ So, in the second half, I just muted the crowd out and played my game.”
Lagroone, who added four rebounds and four steals, scored 12 of the Wildcats’ 23 points in the fourth quarter, including going 6-for-8 from the foul line.
Junior forward Ken Mathis scored 19 points for Ninety Six (5-9 overall, 2-2 Region III-AA), which put itself in fourth place in the Region III-AA standings heading into tonight’s game against Batesburg-Leesville.
“It means more to us as a team because it puts us in the top four,” Dickey said. “And our goal is to get to the playoffs and halfway through region, win or lose against Batesburg, we’re in fourth.”
But the former Emerald assistant did concede the personal importance of this win as well.
“I admit I wanted to win this one, but I want to win everyone,” Dickey said. “I told them (his team) before the game that this one wasn’t any different than the other games.
“But it means a lot to me because I had four great years here. I learned a lot from (Emerald coach) Robin (Scott). It’s like going back home and playing your family.”
Senior forward Will Taylor came off the bench to lead the Vikings (12-7, 2-3) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Matt Herring finished with 13 points, getting 11 in the second half, while forward Dan Wideman added 11 points.
It was a back-and-forth contest throughout, as the two teams traded leads 18 times and were deadlocked nine times.
The Vikings, who dropped to fifth in the region standings, led by one, 50-49, at the start of the final quarter.
But that lead quickly vanished for good, after Lagroone penetrated the lane and dished to Mathis for the layin and the 51-50 lead with 6:52 remaining.
The Wildcats never trailed again, but they didn’t pull away until a few minutes later when Lagroone kickstarted a short run with four straight free throws.
After a Taylor putback, Ninety Six’s Daniel Longmire gave his team its largest lead by following a pair of free throws with a key bucket.
Longmire, who finished with eight points, cut to the basket from the top of the key, took the pass from Kass Etheredge and dropped in the 6-foot runner to give the Wildcats a 61-54 lead with 3:06 to play.
“Coach said if we could get a run together, we were going to win,” Lagroone said. “We listened to him and got that run.”
The closest Emerald would get it from that point was four, 65-61, after Herring all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.
But Ninety Six closed out the game with 7-1 run, all from Lagroone and Mathis.
“You can’t make as many mistakes as we did and still win a ball game,” Scott said. “We’re 2-3 at the halfway point and this puts Ninety Six ahead of us. We’re in fifth place. If we don’t win some games, we’ll be sitting at home during the playoffs.”

EHS girls stay perfect in region

January 25, 2006

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports writer

Early on, it looked as if Elizabeth Nicholson was going to have to do all of the scoring for the Emerald High School girls basketball team Tuesday night.
But after giving her team a little head start, scoring 13 of the team’s first 16 points, the Lady Vikings managed all right on their own in a 75-23 rout of Ninety Six at Vikings gymnasium.
The other 11 Emerald players, 10 of which found their way into the scoring column, handled 51 of the final 59 points as the Lady Vikings remained undefeated after the first round of Region III-AA play.
“We wanted to come out and get an early jump on them because we didn’t want to worry about it being a close game,” Nicholson said. “Early on, I was just in the right place at the right time in getting some good baskets.”
Nicholson finished with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in very limited play. Teammate Brittne Patterson also had a double-double, getting 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Vikings (12-5 overall, 5-0 Region III-AA).
Ninety Six (1-9, 0-3), which struggled offensively, had only four players score on the night, led by senior guard Amanda Chrisley.
Chrisley scored eight of her team-high 11 points in the fourth quarter. Shumba Moore scored the Lady Wildcats’ first four points and finished with eight.
Moore’s second field goal cut the Emerald lead to 9-4 with 4 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lady Wildcats wouldn’t add to their total until early in the second. Emerald used that five-minute scoring drought to go on a 16-0 run, getting the first seven points from Nicholson.
The Lady Vikings stretched their lead to 38-9 at the half. And things didn’t get much better for Ninety Six after the halftime break, as the Lady Wildcats managed only two points in the third on a foul-line jumper from Dana Harris.
Adding to Ninety Six’s misery was that the Lady Vikings put together their best 8 minutes of play, scoring 27 points in the third, getting scoring from nine of the 11 players to take a 65-11 lead into the final quarter.

Dr. Casper Wiggins kept the faith, shared so much

January 25, 2006

Casper Wiggins, M. D., grew up all over South Carolina. As a son of a Methodist minister, being transferred from one church to another through the years was a fact of life. There was no question, though, about his hometown. It was Greenwood, where he practiced pediatric medicine for more than three decades.
Of course, where we spend our high school days more often than not determines how we associate with “home,” and is the experience that stays with us for life. Casper Wiggins, in fact, was the first president of Greenwood High School’s student body and, thus, the Greenwood “imprint” was permanent.

IN KEEPING WITH HIS Methodist upbringing, young Casper went on to graduate from a Methodist college, Wofford (and the Medical University of South Carolina). It was natural, then, for him to be a member and strong supporter of Main Street Methodist Church through all his years in the Emerald City.
Dr. Wiggins touched the lives of many families as he tended the health and growing-up needs of countless children in and around Greenwood. His devoted service to his patients – and others – as well as to his profession was second to none, to be sure. He and the late Dr. Jack Bell, in fact, handled all the community’s pediatric needs for years.

VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL honors he received leave no doubt about the respect shown by his peers for a lifetime of service. That respect was real, too. He never really wanted – or expected – recognition, though, and that defined his character. But, then, as the saying goes, he earned it.
There was another side to Casper Wiggins, however, that was hard to miss. A perpetual twinkle in his eyes always gave him away. He had a sense of humor that was uplifting to everyone around him. He always saw the bright side of everything and he always shared it with others.
Combine that with his devotion to his church, his profession, and his love affair with just plain living, and the essence of this gentle and eternal soul will not erode with time. Special lives never do.