Symbol of hope

Greenwood, Lakelands area residents release
500 butterflies at HospiceCare celebration

May 14, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Like small seashells gently held to their ears for the sound of the ocean’s ring, hundreds of children held tiny white triangular boxes to their ears, listening to the gentle beating of something new.
And though the little ones who dappled the crisp green lawn of HospiceCare of the Piedmont Saturday knew they were hearing the gentle pat of butterfly wings, others near the children heard something different.
Hope.
Nearly 500 Californian butterflies were released during the seventh annual Butterfly Celebration in honor or memory of friends and family members of those who purchased the Painted Lady Butterflies for $10.
Mary Ann Smith purchased butterflies in memory of her husband, mother and father for her grandchildren Halee Faith Smith, 9 months, and Graham Smith, 6.
She said it was special to see how much her grandchildren enjoyed what was truly a touching day that she hopes to see become a tradition.
“It’s just a great thing HospiceCare does,” she said. “I hope I can bring her every year.”
HospiceCare Director of Development Kelly Burkshorn said that the event, that drew about 250 people from places as far away as Charleston, keeps growing each year.
“I thing it’s amazing that we’ve had the same people come year after year,” Burkshorn said. “It’s just a very unique way to remember people. People are just very naturally drawn to butterflies, they’re a symbol of hope.”
Wanda Styron said that her family purchased five butterflies in memory of her father who died this year after a short battle with lung cancer.
“It was so special. They enjoyed them so much,” she said of watching the children.
After patiently listening to the excitement in the white cardboard, the children pulled open the triangles to find the orange bugs, some of which were reluctant to take off, which only added to the fascination.
Though most eventually took off in the direction of the new butterfly garden built recently by Girl Scout Troop 86, some stayed and let the children have a closer examination.
Tom Cartledge, the chaplain at HospiceCare, said the butterflies hatching from their cocoon and flying away can symbolize the release people experience from serious illness that comes from death. Cartledge said the event is very sentimental, and reaches everyone involved.
“Older people enjoy watching the young people enjoy life,” he said.

Shooting for a dream: Local teen playing
for semi-professional paintball team

May 14, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

The dream of becoming a professional athlete is not something uncommon.
To wake up and find that you are one is something completely different.
Last year, 15-year-old Travis Brown was going to play quarterback for the Greenwood High School freshman football team. He planned to play soccer and run track later in the year.
But just two weeks before school started, Brown received a phone call that would completely change his life’s direction.
Brown was invited to join the Gridlock paintball team, a farm club team to the National X-Ball League’s Baltimore Trauma team.
From that point, Brown, called “Baby Gridlock” by teammates, became the youngest member to join the Gridlock team. Often catching red-eye flights to make it back in time for class in the morning, Brown said he wasn’t quite sure at first if he would fit in with his teammates, who range in age from 16 to 32.
“I was nervous at first, but now it’s like having 12 older brothers,” Brown said.
Though paintball has taken over much of his free time as he travels anywhere from four to eight hours for weekly practices in Charlotte or Greensboro, Brown said it hasn’t put a damper on his passion.
Even the permanent scars on his back, buttocks and neck have not dampened the spirit that was enlightened when he got to meet his paintball idols and have dinner with one of them during a competition in Tampa, Fla.
The six sponsors that litter his crimson Gridlock uniform pick up much of the young semi-pro’s playing costs, including an estimated $1,200 gun and cases of paintballs that cost about $50 a piece.
“That’s a rush, it’s really cool knowing you’re good enough to have someone else pay for your stuff,” Brown said. “Our first tournament in Texas, they took us to the hotel and told us to wait out here. Then we went into the room, and there were these really tall cardboard boxes everywhere and free gear everywhere. We walked in and they handed you a gun, gear, a huge pile of stuff. Then you walk out with all this stuff, it was like living a dream.”
The “B” average student, who caught the paintball bug at 12 when he shot his friend while playing in the backyard, said the game has definitely kept him out of trouble. Though Brown was able to run track this year at Greenwood, he chose not to participate in any other sports because he didn’t want to injure himself for paintball.
After being featured in numerous paintball magazines and several times on ESPN, even his friends at school began to recognize Brown’s new rock-star like image.
“The first time I was in a magazine was so exciting because it was brought to my attention at school in gym class,” Brown said. “They had a paintball magazine open to a picture and my last name was on the back of the jersey. A couple of kids even asked me to sign it.”
Brown’s father, Jerry Brown, said that he and his wife travel everywhere to watch their son play, and will continue to let him play as long as he acts respectfully and makes good grades. Travis said it makes his mom a little nervous when he’s shot so closely with a 300-feet-per-second ball that it breaks his skin and causes him to bleed.
“She definitely worries about me, but she’s cool,” he said. “She’s not one of those people that if I get shot is like ‘oh my gosh.’”
Travis said he hopes that paintball gains popularity in Greenwood as he would like to eventually see a field or indoor place developed so that he can practice and people can play locally.
On Saturday, he joined nearly 60 local players for the first Emerald City Paintball Tournament, which took place at Emerald City Paintball store co-owner Tony Arias’ relative’s house.
With eight inflatable barriers methodically scattered on either end of a field, 10 teams battled it out in the sun for a $100 gift certificate to the store.
Arias said he thinks the tournament was quite successful, and hopes to have one every month.
In the end, teams MILF Hunters, ICBB and Regulator finished before Brown’s team, Redemption.
Even though Brown, who said the tournament and his regular play were as different as backyard football and organized school football, is not used to losing, he said he didn’t mind.
“It’s OK because I don’t have anything to lose here,” he said.
En route to eventually becoming a professional player, Brown will continue his travels to Chicago and California among other places this summer.
“Paintball is a real sport, it’s not just backwoods anymore,” Brown said. “It’s an actual, physical sport that takes a lot of planning and strategy.”

Gwendolyn Michelle Abrams

ABBEVILLE — Gwendolyn Michelle Abrams, 37, of 378 Old Greenwood Highway, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at her home.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of Doris Frazier Abrams and the late Arthur E. Abrams. She was a member of John’s Creek Baptist Church, Women’s Unity Club, and attended Grace Community Church.
Survivors include her mother of the home; two sons, Tarrant Omeri Bowie and Jearomi Trevor Bowie, both of the home; a daughter, Mercedes LeJeir Abrams of the home; two brothers, Melvin Dennis Frazier of Greenwood and Barry Eugene Abrams of the home; two sisters, Katherine Elaine Frazier and Veronica Wise Abrams, both of the home; a goddaughter of the home, Edlin Teran.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at robson@nctv.com

Irene M. Attaway

NINETY SIX — Irene Moore Attaway, 95, formerly of 116 N. Cambridge St., widow of John Thomas Attaway, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Ninety Six, she was a daughter of the late Samuel James and Mattie Liza Mosley Moore. She was retired from Nantex Manufacturing Co. and was a member of Ninety Six First Baptist Church.
Survivors include a granddaughter.
Graveside services were held 2 p.m. Saturday at Elmwood Cemetery.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory was in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

Brenda Louise Banks

MOUNT CARMEL — Brenda L. Banks, 44, of 144 Cathy Heights, wife of Marion Banks, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at her home.
Born in McCormick County, she was a daughter of the late James and Beatrice Smith Bryant. She attended McCormick High School and was self-employed. A member of Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, she served as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, YPD advisor and on the hospitality committee.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a stepfather, Samuel Jones of Mount Carmel; two daughters, Shelby Bryant and Jacqueline Banks, both of the home; two sons, Leranzo Bryant of Honea Path and Deandra Bryant of McCormick; a stepdaughter, Stephanie Regina Robinson, of Columbia; a stepson, Marion Banks Jr of Charleston; three brothers, James Bryant of Abbeville, Richard Bryant of Mount Carmel and James M. Bryant of Calhoun Falls; eight sisters, Rosella Jackson of Burlington, N.C., Shirley Bryant of Greenville, Jackie Brown and Ida Bryant, both of Abbeville, Genevieve Bryant and Irene Bryant, both of Mount Carmel, Linda Terry of McCormick and Lillie Anderson of Greenwood; 13 grandchildren.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Edna Nabors Corley

CLINTON — Edna Nabors Corley, age 86, of 307 Caldwell St., died Saturday, May 13th at the Laurens County Hospital.
She was born in Waterloo, SC and was a daughter of the late Oscar and Lizzie Gambrell Nabors.
Mrs.Corley was retired from Whitten Center, was a former employee of Clinton Mills and a member of the Davidson St. Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Joe David Corley of the home; two sons, Ronald Corley and wife Sandy of Chapin, Richard Corley and wife Linda of Lexington; one daughter, Linda Harris and husband Dr. J. William Harris of Greenwood; seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
Mrs.Corley was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Graveside services will be conducted Monday, May 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Pinelawn Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center, Mother’s Day Offering, 1 Martha Franks Dr., Laurens, SC 29360.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton
PAID OBITUARY

James Earl Gamble

WARE SHOALS — James Earl Gamble, 75, of 114 Turkey Creek Drive, husband of Norma Jean Snell Gamble, died Friday, May 12, 2006 at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by The McDougald Funeral Home, Anderson.

Lutie L. Tenant

CALHOUN FALLS — Lutie L. Tenant, 97, of Abbeville Nursing Home, formerly of 115 Seneca Circle, widow of Sang Tenant, died Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late Will and Patsy Lewis. She was a homemaker and a member of Mount Olive Church of God Holiness.
Survivors include three brothers, William Lewis of Buffalo, N.Y., Tom Lewis of Abbeville and Jack Lewis of Norcross, Ga.; three sisters, Johnnie Jones and Ruby Jones of Detroit and Ezelle Murray of Calhoun Falls.
Services are 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Olive Church of God Holiness, conducted by Elder Willie Morton, pastor. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Abbeville.
The family is at the home of a sister-in-law, Annie Ruth Lewis, 126 Seneca Circle.
Friendly Funeral Home is in charge.

Beatrice Allen Williams

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Beatrice Williams, 45, of 520 Station View Run, Lawrenceville, Ga. died May 11 in Georgia due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born in Greenwood County May 31, 1962, a daughter of Simon Allen and Louise Covington Allen. She was a self employed Seamstress and employed by Cosco Industries.
She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church Coronaca, SC and attended Atlanta Metropolitan Cathedral.
She was a graduate of Ware Shoals High, and attended Piedmont Technical College and Georgia State University.
One daughter preceded her in death, Tina Marie Robinson.
Surviving is her father, Simon Allen of Augusta, Ga; her mother, Louise Allen of Hodges, three daughters, Amanda Williams, Lanecia Williams and Leah Louise Williams of the home, three brothers, Odell Covington of Lilburn, Ga., Simon Allen Jr. of Norfolk, Va. and Tony Allen of Greenwood, and one sister, Lucille Allen Tate of Ware Shoals.
The family is at the home of her mother, Louise Allen, 1522 Shirley Road, Hodges.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
PAID OBITUARY

One gift tops all others; today the day to give it

May 14, 2006

There was a time when red roses and white roses told us that Mother’s Day was here. It was customary for those who had lost their mothers to wear white roses. Those who still had their mothers wore red roses.
Some still do that, of course, but the custom itself, like many things in life, has seemed to diminish with time. Still, honoring our mothers should be a labor of love that never goes out of style.
We should, of course, do that every day. We don’t, though.

WITH THAT IN MIND, MAYBE it’s good to have that one day dedicated to paying tribute to all mothers. It helps remind all of us of the trials and tribulations that all mothers endure for the love of those of us who never turn out the way we should or show the affection that is so often missing in too many lives.
There are always, to be sure, exceptions to the rule and sometimes circumstances preclude the sharing of the ties that bind, not to mention the love that should be intrinsic to every mother-child relationship. The reality of life, though, sometimes scatters us to the four corners of the world or to some fate less than what we’d like to expect. For those instances, Mother’s Day is not and cannot be the joyous occasion that props up dreams and imaginations.

WE CAN PRAY THAT TIME will smile on those situations. Hopefully good memories will comfort those who have lost their mothers. Remember them as we give thanks for our own blessings. Most of us will have gifts for our mothers, and it doesn’t matter whether the gifts are expensive or not. This is one occasion when “it’s the thought that counts” really means it.
There is one gift, though, that has no substitute. It’s personal. Tell your mother how much you love her.
That is worth more than the world itself. The opportunity may never come again. Give that gift today.