Author gets reluctant readers interested in books

March 7, 2006

By JACKIE R. BROACH
Index-Journal staff writer

It used to be a full day’s work for Vicki Mayfield just getting her students to read a paragraph of anything.
Now, the Greenwood High School English teacher has a totally different problem. She can’t get her students, even the most reluctant readers, to stop reading long enough to pay attention to their other lessons.
The drastic change in behavior is thanks to Sharon Draper, Mayfield said. Draper is an author of historical fiction novels, and her stories have entranced students across the nation, including those who once abhorred reading assignments. Mayfield said one of her students, a senior, admittedly hasn’t read a single book in his entire four years of high school, but loves Draper’s novels.
It’s a story Draper said she hears all the time.
“I think one of the reasons young people are so receptive of my books is because I talk to them and not at them,” Draper said. “I put a story out there on their level and I let them make their own decisions about it. I don’t try to be moralistic or imprint their decision (about the story) on them. Instead, I encourage them to think for themselves.”
Draper is a professional educator and taught English for a number of years, so she knows how difficult it can be to get students interested in reading. That’s why she decided to write stories geared toward young adults, on a level they can understand and relate to. Still, she said she never expected her books would someday be part of curricula across the country.
“I’m very grateful that my books are turning students from being non-readers to readers,” Draper said.
At Greenwood High School, Draper’s books are used not only in English classes, but because of the historical nature of some titles, such as “Copper Sun,” a book about the African slave trade, they are used in social studies classes, also.
Draper, of Cincinnati, spoke to students at Greenwood High Monday, and she was greeted almost like a Hollywood celebrity as students and adults asked to have their books signed or their pictures taken with Draper. One student proclaimed he had even had his hair cut in preparation for being photographed with the award-winning author.
It was only luck that Draper was able to speak at the school, as she is booked through 2008.
Draper addressed the student in groups throughout the day, reading chapters from her books and keeping students entranced with her unique blend of humor, wit and sass. While they waited for Draper to take the stage, a number of the students could be seen reading her books to pass the time.
Students at Greenwood High have been reading Draper’s novels as part of the school’s Reading Across the Curriculum program, used to integrate reading into all courses, rather than just English and language arts.
According to the students who love them, Draper’s books are successful mostly because of the contemporary nature of titles such as “Tears of a Tiger,” “Forged by Fire” and “Darkness Before Dawn,” a trilogy that Mayfield’s students are enjoying.
“They’re just easier to get into than the literature from the 1700s,” said Stephen Marinaro, an 11th-grader. “They’re more modern and are based in our age group.”
Amy Latham, also an 11th-grader, said she hated to read before she picked up one of Draper’s novels, but now she’s read them all, including those that weren’t assigned. Not only that, she finished her assigned reading two weeks ahead of the class schedule.
In addition to Draper’s books for young adults, she has a series of books for children, books for teachers and books for poetry. For information about Draper and her books, visit www. sharondraper.com.

Joe Prince Bryan

GREENWOOD — Joe Prince Bryan, 80, of 1110 Marshall Rd. Treehouse Apt. 4019, husband of Helen Gentry Bryan, died Sunday, March 5, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Bryan was born in Greenwood County to the late James E. and Ruby Logue Bryan, Sr. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greenwood and a former member of Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church in Edgefield. Mr. Bryan retired from CSX Railroad after many years and served in WWII with the United States Marines.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jo Marie Bryan, three brothers, Willie Bryan, George L. Bryan, and James E. Bryan, Jr., three sisters, Louise Bryan, Sue O’Dell, and Ruth Shaffer.
Surviving Mr. Bryan is his wife of 59 years of the home, three sisters-in-law, Mary Cheek of Greenwood, Edith Bell of Greenwood, and Adeline Bryan of Boiling Springs, SC, as well as many nieces and nephews and their spouses.
The family will receive friends 1:00PM to 2:30PM Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services conducted by Dr. Tony Hopkins will follow at 3:00PM in the chapel. Burial will be at 5:00PM on Tuesday in Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Edgefield, SC.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Bryan may be sent to the Jo Marie Bryan Scholarship Fund at Lander University, 320 Stanley Ave. Greenwood, SC 29649.
Online condolences may be sent to the Bryan family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, of Abbeville is assisting the Bryan family.
PAID OBITUARY

James Burnett

DUE WEST — James Burnett, 71, of 353 Harkness Lane, husband of Rosa Brownlee Burnett, died Saturday, March 4, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Abbeville, he was a son of the late John H. and Leila Cunningham Burnett. He retired from Monsanto (Solutia) Textile and was a part-time employee of Emerald High School. A member of Springfield Baptist Church, he was a Deacon Board member, former Trustee Board member and active with other church organizations. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge No. 100 and Operation Impact.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Linda B. Latimer of Anderson; a son, J. Anthony Burnett of Raleigh, N.C.; two brothers, John H. Burnett Jr. of Waynesville, N.C., and Harold Burnett of Due West; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield Baptist Church, Level Land. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Anderson.
The family is at the home.
Marcus D. Brown Funeral Home Inc., Anderson, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.marcusdbrownfuneralhome.com

Samuel Edwards

CALHOUN FALLS — Samuel Edwards, 71, of 502 Seneca St., husband of Mary Frances Coleman Edwards, died Saturday, March 4, 2006.
Born in Calhoun Falls, he was a son of the late Willie “Zeek” and Lula Bell Gary Edwards. He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of Springfield Baptist Church of Calhoun Falls and Sons of Aide No. 36.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Valerie Desvignes of Calhoun Falls; two sons, Curtis Edwards of the home and Craig Edwards of Abbeville; two sisters, Amelia Isaac of Washington, D.C., and Annie Mae Lee of Raleigh, N.C.; four brothers, Robert Edwards Sr., Roy Edwards and Troy Edwards of Calhoun Falls, Ollie Edwards of Washington, D.C.; 15 grandchildren; a great-grandchild.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Springfield Baptist Church of Calhoun Falls, conducted by the Rev. Johnnie Waller, pastor. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Flower bearers are nieces.
The family is at the home.
Friendly Funeral Home is in charge.

Patsy Harper Everett

GREENVILLE — Patsy Earline Harper Everett, 64, of 7 Garren Drive, Greenville, died on Saturday, March 4, 2006.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of Minnie Lee Stegall and the late Wallace Earl Harper, and the wife of Thomas Everett Sr.
Mrs. Everett retired as an Estate Clerk with the Greenville County Probate Court, and was a homemaker.
She was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, of Greenville, and her husband, are a daughter, Sherri Everett Tommie, and her husband, Danny, of Greenwood; two sons, Thomas “Tommy” Everett Jr., and his wife, Sharon, of Easley, and Jeffery “Jeff” Everett, of Greenville; a sister, Kathy Harper Moody, of Easley, and seven grandchildren, Christopher, Jeremy, and Will Tommie, and Chad, Sabrina, Samantha, and Hunter Everett.
She is predeceased by a brother, Larry Harper.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest., Greenville.
Services will be held on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, West, Greenville.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, Greenville, 15 Oregon Street, Greenville, SC 29605. The family is at 302 Golden Branch Drive, Easley.
Online condolences may be made at www.thomasmcafee.com
PAID OBITUARY

Mary Hawes

Mary Hawes, 80, of Magnolia Manor, formerly of 1112 E. Cambridge Ave., died Sunday, March 5, 2006 at Magnolia Manor.
Born in Lincolnton, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Frances Jones and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two sisters, Gussie Lane of Greenwood and Sarah Hall of Hampton, Va.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.

Margaret Hill

WARE SHOALS, SC — Margaret Leathers Hill, 76, widow of Worman Hill formerly of Camak Road, and daughter of the late James A. (Bud) and Mary Leathers died March 5, 2006. She was predeceased by a brother, Bill Leathers. Margaret was a long time resident of Camak Road in Ware Shoals and more recently of Stanly Manor in Albermarle, N.C.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Tommy Harkey of Albermarle, NC and by a son and daughter-in-law Joe and Midge Hill of Athens, Ga. Margaret has four grand-children and five great-grand-children living in North Carolina, Georgia and Oregon.
Margaret retired from United/Sprint Telephone Co. and her career included jobs at the Big Friendly and the lunch room at Camak Elementary School. She had a zest for life and saw the good in all people. She never met a stranger and especially loved children, her church, fishing, flowers, collecting, and much to the chagrin of Worman, shopping.
Now released from the darkness and separation of Alzheimer’s disease, we rejoice that she is once again free to walk in the light with loved ones and friends that have gone on before.
Funeral services will be held on March 8 at 11 a.m. at Poplar Springs Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Bruce Ostrom and Rev. Dr. Marcus Bishop. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be James Ashley, Richard Stone, Bob Abrams, Bruce Amick, Jerry Smith and Randy Hannah. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 7 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Parker-White Funeral Home.
PAID OBITUARY

William ‘Pee Wee’ Keller III

DONALDS — William “Pee Wee” Keller III, 47, of 402 Dunn’s Creek Road, died Monday, March 6, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
The family is at the home of a grandfather William Keller Sr., 311 Dunn’s Creek Road and the home of Sarah Cyrus, 402 Dunn’s Creek Road.
Services will be announced by Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals.

Mr. William Lee Parrish

PAWLEY’S ISLAND, SC — The funeral service for Mr. William Lee Parrish, husband of Lydia Woodham Parrish, will be at 2:30, Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 2006, in Cain Funeral Home Chapel. The committal will follow at Florence Memorial Gardens. The services will be conducted by the Rev. Milton McGuirt. Family members will receive friends, prior to the service, from 1:00-2:15, at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS Center, Post Office Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232-2861 or Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646-4031.
Mr. Parrish, 57, of Pawley’s Island, died Sunday, March 5, 2006, at his residence after an illness. He was born June 18, 1948, in Tampa, FL, to the late Harold Bernard and Lillian Fly Parrish.
He was a graduate of McClenaghan High School, Class of 1966 and University of South Carolina, School of Pharmacy, in 1971. He formerly owned Parrish Pharmacy, was a former member of the Sertoma Club, Past President of the Greenwood Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Association and member of the Hospice Board, all in Greenwood, SC. He recently moved to Pawley’s Island and was a member of St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Church.
Among his survivors, in addition to his wife, are: daughters, Melanie Leigh Parrish of Jackson, WY and Anne-Marie Parrish of Columbia, SC; and sister, Helen Parrish of Middleton, WI.
An online guest register is available on the obituaries page at www.cainfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Joe Prince

ABBEVILLE — Joe Lee Prince, infant son of Richard Lee and Jennifer Kelley Prince, died Sunday March 5, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Survivors include his parents of the home; a sister, Amber Prince of the home; maternal grandparents, Chris and Pam Ramey of Anderson; paternal grandparents, Ernie and Janice Ruddock of Abbeville.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. today at Little Mountain Presbyterian Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. John Parks.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge.

Nannette Scoggins, 100

DUE WEST — Nannette Kellam Scoggins, 100, widow of John Boyce Scoggins, died Sunday, March 5, 2006 in Atlanta.
Born in Dublin, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Tal and Rosa Stanley Kellam. She was a homemaker and a member of Westminister Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
Survivors include a daughter, Ann Scoggins Patterson, two granddaughters and a great-grandson. Graveside services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Due West ARP Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Calvin Draffin.
Memorials may be made to Westminister Presbyterian Church, 1438 Sheridan Road, Atlanta, GA 30324.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chandlerjacksonfh.com

Henry L. White

McCORMICK — Henry L. White, 57, husband of Beatrice Clark White, died Sunday, March 5, 2006 at Hospice Care of the Piedmont after a short illness.
Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Booker T. White Sr. and Molean Quarles White. He was a member of Liberty Spring Baptist Church and a retired logger.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter, Mrs. Dock (Victoria) Sprowl of Greenwood; two sisters, Geneva Jones of McCormick and Mrs. Roy (Minnie Lee) Tompkins Jr. of Greenwood; three brothers, Otis White, Booker T. White Jr. and Arthur White, all of McCormick; two grandchildren.
The family is at the home, 29 White-Dansby Road.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Former Wildcat heading to Europe

March 7, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

A native of the Lakelands area is about to get a chance to showcase his football skills on an international stage.
Ninety Six High School graduate Mario Williams signed a free agent contract with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.
Williams is set to leave Wednesday for Frankfurt, Germany.
Williams was a standout quarterback and safety at Ninety Six, where he led the Wildcats to a Class A state championship in 2000.
After graduating Ninety Six in 2001, Williams enjoyed an All-American career at Division I-AA Gardner-Webb University, where he played safety.
His career was cut short during his senior season at G-W in 2004, when he suffered a broken leg, an injury which took one year of rehabilitation to heal.
Williams said he is thrilled to have an opportunity to play American football in Europe.
“I’ve been blessed to have this chance,” Williams said. “It’s definitely a chance to showcase my abilities to NFL executives.”
Williams was contacted at 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 by Galaxy team officials, who expressed interest in having the safety report to training camp in Tampa, Fla. Williams said he was more than happy to oblige, so he hopped on a plane and checked into camp by 11 that night.
“They had seen my game films, and originally decided not to offer me a spot,” Williams said. “But another safety backed out, so they extended me an invitation. We’ve basically been going through tryouts for the last two weeks, and we had the last cut Sunday.
“That’s when I found out I’d made it.”
NFL Europe is a developmental league for the traditional NFL. Some NFL teams assign players to NFL Europe teams, allowing role players and younger players a platform to further develop their skills. Besides assigned players, the six-team league also has a draft and offers free agent contracts, such as the one Williams signed.
Ninety Six coach Mike Doolittle said he is not surprised Williams is getting a chance to suit up for the Galaxy.
“He has always talked about playing professionally,” Doolittle said. “I’m so proud of Mario, he is such a driven and goal oriented young man.”
Williams said he is looking forward to life in Germany.
“Oh yeah, the coaches have already told me about the foods I need to try and all that kind of thing,” said Williams, who will be making his first trip to Europe. “It will be good to experience a different culture and lifestyle. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Galaxy’s 10-game regular season begins March 18 with a road game against the Rhein Fire.
Frankfurt played in World Bowl XII last season, falling, 30-24, to Berlin.

Stop bullying in schools for all persons involved

March 7, 2006

Bullying! How many children are faced with that fear? What about others?
Every South Carolina generation has had its bully - or bullies - in the school yard. They have preyed upon the smaller and weaker until it gets to be outrageous. Chances are, everyone of us, at one time or another, has wondered why someone wouldn’t or couldn’t do something about the problem. Finally, someone has. Maybe. We hope, for the sake of the smaller and weaker.
Under a new bill approved by the South Carolina House of Representatives recently, school employees would be required to report bullying. Repeat, required to report it, period.

THE “SAFE SCHOOLS ACT” prohibits students from harassing, intimidating or bullying other students. It also includes something new ..... a provision banning cyber-bullying. (Via computers). The outlook for the new law looks good, considering that the House bill now goes to the S. C. State Senate, which last year passed the “Safe Schools Act.”
This is legislation that is better late than never, but there’s something that seems to be missing. However, let’s hope it’s not. The bill should include a section devoted to the safety of teachers and administrators.
That all may be covered somewhere else, but it could be more effective, it seems, if it became part of the bullying bill.

TEACHERS WHO ARE EXPECTED to teach and be held accountable, cannot and should not be required to teach in any classroom where bullying tactics are not uncommon ..... and in some, they are indeed common.
Make the school climate everywhere safe for everyone ..... students, teachers, administrators and visitors. Taking classroom safety for granted would be foolish. Many parents might be surprised at what goes on in some schools. The fact that a bullying bill has to be approved to address that problem in the first place should tell the people of South Carolina that safety is a concern in schools.
Of couese, it is a problem that has been around for a while ..... and talked about.
We’re still talking and it’s still a problem.