Lander camp merges art
and science with fun

June 28, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

For the children spending the week immersed in a world of imagination and information, the best part might be building animal habitats with bits of paper and glue, racing Hula Hoops across the floor, painting colorful pictures to hang on the wall or sharing laughter with new friends.
But for Sheila Marino, Lander University’s Creative Activities and Science program director, the best part about the week-long camp is that it exposes children to art and science, prompting them to learn through hands-on experiences and experimentation.
Marino, an education professor at Lander, has more than 30 years of experience in early childhood, elementary and teacher education. She has been director of the summer programs for children at Lander since 1979. The program’s co-director, Monty Richardson, an early childhood specialist with Greenwood School District 50, has nearly 20 years of experience in working with young children.
Marino said the current program is the result of a merger between an art camp and science camp, adding that organizers thought the integration of the two fields would provide the best learning environment for participants. “Children are always fascinated by art, and we’ve found that they gravitate toward it,” Marino said. “If we can get them to enjoy and be interested in art and science now, they’ll be much more likely to be that way in the future.”
Each year, program participants, ages 4 - 10, are given a new theme for the camp, and Marino said organizers look for ways to incorporate science and art into that theme. This year, animals and their habitats in the wild are the featured topic, and campers have built habitats out of construction paper, drawn animals and painted scenes of the outdoors. Marino said a musical storyteller from McCormick County is scheduled to perform during the program, which places children in age-appropriate, interest-based classes.
Each of the classes is headed by a certified teacher or instructor, Marino said, and organizers are planning to expand next year’s program to include campers older than 10.
“We try to put things on a level where it makes sense to children ... It’s not a school to them, it’s a program where they have fun and learn at the same time,” Marino said, adding that the goal is to spark interest and imagination in the children. “They love the program. They are like mini-scientists when they leave here. It’s amazing what they know.”
Lakeview Elementary School student Sunni Carwile, 10, who has attended the camp for the past three or four years, said she was excited it would be offered to older children next year.
“You get to do new art projects each day, and you get to learn new things about science,” Carwile said, though she admitted she did like one area better than the other. “Art is better because you get to be creative and you become a better artist.”
But for camper Emily Whitt, 7, the science is the part that has her heart.
“I like learning about science, and you get to learn about different things,” Whitt said. “I like learning about animals because they are nice, sometimes.”

Obituaries

Mozelle Syrkett Brewer

Mozelle Syrkett Brewer, of 404 Magnolia Place, widow of Willie “Turk” Brewer, died Monday, June 26, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Leonard Syrkett Sr. and Cecila Coates Syrkett. She was a member of the Dianthus Garden Club and Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, Epworth, where she served as a missionary.
Survivors include a brother, Leonard Syrkett Jr. of Greenwood.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Clyde Cannon, assisted by the Revs. Kimberly Martin, Kenneth Aiken, John Nix, Ernest Cannon, Ida Shipman and Bishop Emanuel Spearman. The body will be place in the church at 12. Burial is in The Evening Star cemetery. Pallbearers are great-nephews.
Flower bearers are great-nieces.
Honorary escorts are Dianthus Garden Club members.
Viewing is 1-8 p.m. today at Parks Funeral Home.
Visitation is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Alice Callison

GREENWOOD — Alice Mobley Callison, 87, resident of 106 Northwoods Road, widow of George Preston Callison, Sr., died June 26, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Dillon County, August 13, 1918, she was a daughter of the late Edward Pickett and Linnie Sherwood Mobley. She was a graduate of Greenville Women’s College (now Furman University).
Mrs. Callison was a long time member of the First Baptist Church and was a member of the Greenwood Woman’s Club. She was also a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Self Memorial Auxiliary and for many years she volunteered with the Girl Scouts.
Surviving are four daughters, Jacqueline Callison Dewberry and husband, Ron, Nancy Callison Roquemore and husband, Gamble, all of Greenwood, Karen Callison Woodward and husband, Norman of Lexington and Rebekah Callison Rawl and husband, Frank of Columbia; a son, G. P Callison, Jr. of Greenwood and a sister, Frances Mobley Tate of Asheville, NC; she was loved greatly by all of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Callison was pre-deceased by two brothers, Sherwood Mobley and Edward Mobley.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 pm Thursday at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Standley officiating.
Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Ron Dewberry, Gamble Roquemore, Norman Woodward, Frank Rawl, James Dewberry, David Dewberry, Jonathan Roque-more, Preston Callison and Les Rawl.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 pm Thursday.
The family is at the home on Northwoods Road and will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 Wednesday evening.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Callison family.
PAID OBITUARY

Angi Davis

Hodges, SC — Angela “Angi” Hollingsworth Davis, 32, of 307 W. Keels Road, Hodges, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Union, she was a daughter of Edna Hollingsworth Cantrell. She was employed by Applebee’s and attended Hodges Church of God.
Surviving is her mother of the home; a daughter, Madison Rain Davis of the home; a sister, Kami Sinclair Turner of Nashville, TN; a brother, Brent Hopkins of Hodges; a stepsister, Courtney Cantrell of Greenville; her maternal grandmother, Mary Wynn of Greenwood and her maternal aunt, Phyllis Lyerly of Hodges.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hodges Church of God with the Rev. Charles Caldwell and Mr. Chad Turner officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 1 - 2 p.m.
Harley Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Sarah Doolittle

Sarah Ann Doolittle, 17, of 1508 Woodlawn Road, daughter of Timothy L. and Tammy Marie Edwards Doolittle, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
The family is at the home of her grandmother, Norma Doolittle, 1502 Woodlawn Road.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home & Crematory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Ojetta S. Duckett

Ojetta S. Duckett, of Emerald Gardens, formerly of 519 Milwee Ave., died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

David Lamar Knox

SPARTANBURG, SC — David Lamar Knox, 59, of 205 Shelton Drive, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Born October 7, 1946, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Lamar and Ruth Burgess Knox. A graduate of Wofford College, he was the co-owner of Wayside Gardens Florist. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg where he was a former Deacon and Usher, member of the Telephone Ministry, and a member of the Faithful Followers Sunday School Class. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Harris Knox; a son, Dr. Christopher C. Knox and his wife Lisa Knox of Greenwood; a daughter, Kelly Knox Roper and her husband Matt Roper of Spartanburg; two grandchildren, Nathan Caswell Roper and Joshua Knox Roper of Spartanburg; and a sister, Nancy Anne Knox of Spartanburg.
Visitation will be 7-9:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 29, 2006, at the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg conducted by the Rev. Sal Barone and the Rev. Bill Adams. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 250 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or to the Gibbs Cancer Center, c/o SRMC Foundation, 101 East Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
The family is at the home.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel
PAID OBITUARY

Renola P. McCray

BRIGHTON, Ala. — Renola P. McCray, 87, of 4406 Jaybird Road, died Saturday, June 24, 2006 at Fairview Health and Rehab in Brighton.
Born in Greenwood County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Annie Lee Ligon Smith. She was a retired child care provider.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood.

McRee Wellmaker

GREENSBORO, NC — McRee Corley Wellmaker, 86, died Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Countyside Manor in Stokesdale, NC. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, Greenwood, with the Reverend G. Thomas Cartledge officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
Mrs. Wellmaker was born April 24, 1920 in Ninety Six, SC to the late Sion Capers and Mary Ellen Merchant Corley. She was a graduate of Ninety Six High School and a member of Temple Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and was active in the church circles. Mrs. Wellmaker was a member of the Ninety Six Garden Club. She moved to Greensboro in 1997 to be near her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty three years, James Edison Wellmaker, two infant daughters and two sons, James Alfred Wellmaker and Edree Corley Wellmaker.
Surviving is her devoted daughter-in-law, Delores Wellmaker, of Greensboro; two sisters, Sally Deaton and Sophie Corley, both of Ninety Six; two loving grandchildren, Leslie Wellmaker Tart, and her husband, Frank, of Raleigh and James Wesley Wellmaker, and his wife, Lucy, of Greensboro; and three great grandchildren, Jesse Franklin Tart III, Maria Wellmaker and Vince Wellmaker.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western North Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of local arrangements.
PAID OBITUARY

Opinion

Attorney General, others fight a threat to children

June 28, 2006

A sexual assault case in Lexington puts a sorely needed spotlight of publicity on what appears to be a growing threat against children in South Carolina. It should demonstrate even to doubters that a state law that provides for the death penalty for repeated rapes of children is not too extreme, as some opponents say. And, more intense efforts to find and prosecute those who exploit children should be welcome news to every South Carolinian.
That’s why a recent arrest is a case in point. A grand jury has indicted a woman and a man in Lexington on several counts of sexual assault against a young girl.
The descriptions of the assault are brutal and leave nothing to the imagination.

THEY DO, HOWEVER, MAKE IT perfectly clear there was premeditation involved, and the charges indicate that the making and distribution of child pornography were under investigation. In fact, an analysis of the suspects’ computers by State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents found hundreds of thousands of pornographic images and some videos. Circumstantial evidence? Does it matter in cases like that?
It has become a worrisome situation that deserves public attention and support for prosecutors. The increase in the solicitation of children for sexual purposes, it seems, has grown with the increased use of the Internet. News releases leave little doubt that it’s a relatively new phenomenon that demands more scrutiny.

IT’S GOOD, THEN, THAT STATE Attorney General Henry McMaster has teamed with law enforcement agencies around the state to find and stop this kind of criminal activity. Together they have made several cases in recent months.
Nothing is so loathsome as sexual attacks on children. Many feel that way, too, and if it were left to them to determine the fate of those found guilty of such profane violations of the innocence of a child, the capital punishment requirement just might be expanded.
Maybe that’s the answer to a growing problem. Maybe it’s the only thing that some of those despicable creatures can understand. Don’t be surprised, though, if someone disagrees. That’s OK, but it doesn’t change a thing.

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