Heritage, heartache come to life in Ninety Six

Native American legacy, slavery re-enactment
move some to tears, hugs at festival kickoff

May 20, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — Clyde Weigel was moved by what he witnessed.
Native American women singing of the legacy of their Cherokee people made Weigel stop the program.
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” he said, “but I just want to say to you, I apologize for what my ancestors did to your people.”
Speaking to the three women who had just performed three songs from their Cherokee heritage, each recounting what they said was the pain and hope representative of all Native Americans, Weigel said he had to confess, as a Christian, to the sins of his forefathers.
“We had a Reconciliation (white to black last year in Abbeville) and we need to apologize to you,” he said to Twin Eagles Child, Raven and Blue Spirit Woman (their Cherokee names). All three women were moved to tears, and each hugged and talked to Weigel, telling him he was forgiven.
It would be the first of two emotional experiences for a small band of audience members in The Depot for Friday night’s kickoff of three days of festivities in Ninety Six.
This weekend is the 225th anniversary of The Siege of Ninety Six at the national historic site, and the town planned events Friday and today in observance of the anniversary. Activities at Ninety Six National Historic Site are today and Sunday.
The Cherokee women sang the Cherokee national anthem, to the tune of “Amazing Grace,” and other selections of their heritage.
Dressed in authentic Cherokee clothing, they discussed their travels and work on behalf of the Reedy River Intertribal Council to keep Native American history alive. They travel today to Greenville to represent Native American soldiers in the armed forces parade, and they have gone to Georgia, Oklahoma and Mississippi for other programs.
Then, in another performance that moved some to tears, dramatic Colonial-era re-enactor Kitty Evans took the audience into the slave trade, seen through the eyes of an African girl. She also recounted the bravery of blacks who fought for the Colonists against the British during the Revolutionary War.
“As an African-American, hold your head up. They didn’t want you to learn, but someone in your family survived,” her character said, breaking into song. “Someday I will be free from the troubles of the world. I know that I will see my Lord.”
After her performance, Evans asked the audience to pray for her. “I’m 67. I’m a retired teacher. I never thought the Lord would lead me on the path he has led me,” she said. “I will let all who will listen know, we were here.”
“We are blessed to be citizens of Ninety Six,” said Charlie Harts, who runs the town’s visitors center, which was dedicated in a lunch-time program on Friday. “Those who came tonight received a blessing.”
Today’s activities for the townwide festival begin at 7 a.m. with yard sales and continue with an antique tractor and car show in the town park and a classic car show in the visitors center parking lot, both starting at 9 a.m. Professional wrestling will be from 2-4 p.m. on The Square, and “96 A Story To Tell,” narrative walking tours of locations in town also will be from 2-4 p.m. Rounding out festivities will be a 7 p.m. performance by The GreenWood Winds.
The Taste of Ninety Six, special menus selections at the town’s restaurants, continues all day, along with merchants’ activities. And at St. Paul United Methodist Church, there’s a pig pickin’ with all the trimmings.
The National Park Service, Department of the Interior, has a full slate of anniversary activities scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. All activities at Ninety Six National Historic Site are free.

Many animals,little funding
for Greenwood Humane Society

May 20, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

An Index-Journal poll shows that people estimate the Greenwood Humane Society takes in about 1,500 animals a year.
But to the surprise of many of them, the shelter received 4,114 animals last year from animal control officers, residents who have found strays, owners turning over their pets and those abandoned at the shelter.
Executive Director Karen Pettay said it is important for people to realize that the money the shelter asks for from the community is not going to be used for an unnecessary grooming station, for example, but is needed for the mere survival of the shelter and to better the community through awareness and animal care.
Since October 2002, the Humane Society has been managing the Greenwood County-owned animal shelter, receiving $172,000 from the county.
But the shelter, not including the clinic and Humane Society endeavors (such as community information and outreach) costs about $300,000 a year.
While the center receives about $42,456 in adoption fees and about $109,271 in private contributions annually, those funds are spread over the three entities to cover everything from veterinary costs to twice-annual newsletters to caring for animals at an estimated $7 a day.
County Director Jim Kier said the county has not yet discussed providing the shelter more annual funds, but he said it is time for the cities in the county to begin making contributions because their animals are brought to the shelter as well.
“We’ve had a good relationship with the Humane Society,” Kier said. “They’ve done a good job, and we want them to continue.”
Pettay said the county has been generous to the shelter and that more funding is needed from the community.
“The question comes down to how much is it worth to them for us to be here,” Pettay said. “... Does the community want us to become a ‘catch and kill’ facility or do they want us to keep raising the bar and teaching people to become more responsible.”
The shelter provides three main functions to the state and county, Pettay said, but needs $30,000 before June (when the next check from the county comes in) to provide the most basic services for the animals.
One of the functions the shelter provides is upholding county and state laws by deciding what is right and compassionate for the animals it receives. Meanwhile, the shelter is providing a public health service by receiving the sick or diseased animals that are running free, infecting people and animals. The shelter also gives rabies vaccines to pets that are adopted and disposes of animals after some are euthanized. Also, the shelter provides county outreach and information about how to end the problem of overpopulation with spaying and neutering and teaching kids how to properly care for animals.
Pettay said as much as the Humane Society would like to improve the services to the county, it is hard to upgrade when the organization can barely survive on the bare minimum.
The man hours required to operate the facility, which averages 200 animals a day, is 23,791 hours to provide services such as cleaning kennels and the facility, providing general care to the animals and even mowing the lawn. The shelter’s payroll, including sick and holiday time, group insurance and workers’ compensation, is $232,581.
And with other basic shelter expenses, such as $16,730 for veterinary medicines, $4,944 for the utilities and $4,966 for cat litter, it becomes difficult to imagine improving the facility with better heating and insulation, an isolation area for sick animals or an incinerator for the euthanized animals to be disposed. Currently, after the bodies are euthanized, they are carried in garbage bags to the landfill for disposal — a job that Pettay says is demoralizing to the animals and the workers who must carry the bags, often still warm with the animal’s heat, and dispose of creatures that have often become their friends.
“I have a hard time separating the business from the faces,” Pettay admitted. “But you have to treat it like a business to run it effectively.”
Pettay said that some of the public’s misconceptions can contribute to the problem.
For instance, people often bring pet food to the facility, but the shelter receives free food from Pedigree, so it becomes an effort made in vain. Though it does need kitten food, cat litter and other basic cleaning supplies, such as bleach, the shelter is mostly in need of funding. Donations can be made at the shelter, on its Web site (www.gwdhumanesociety.org) or by mail.
Other misconceptions include thinking one more litter won’t hurt because the kittens or puppies are cute and healthy. Pettay said that what often happens is that the little ones catch diseases, leaving them no choice but to put the animal down.
“People think, ‘My cat only had one litter,’ but multiply that out by how many people in the county have cats,” she said. “Every litter creates a hardship not just for us but on the animals, because it creates competition for a home and survival.”
She said one of the most effective things the community can do is have animals spayed or neutered.
“We will do everything we can, but we can’t work miracles,” Pettay said. “They want us to fix their problems and take away their guilt.
“I’d love to meet the community’s expectations, as long as they’re willing to help us. If we had more money, we could have more people, but the answer is not to adopt out more animals, it’s to stop them from coming in.”
The Fabulous Expressions benefit concert that benefits Cambridge Academy and the Humane Society will take place 7 tonight at the Greenwood Civic Center. A silent auction begins at 7 p.m., and tickets are available at the door for $25.

Inspiring the children

Robert ‘Rosel’ Williams hopes to educate,
entertain with his book

May 20, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal sports writer

NINETY SIX — Robert “Rosel” Williams can now add one more credential to his extensive and colorful resume: author.
Williams, of Ninety Six, recently oversaw the reprinting of “The Bobby Williams Story,” a book he first put together 17 years ago. The book is an account of Williams’ baseball career and is filled with inspirational material Williams hopes will inspire younger readers.
“This is something kids can read that will hopefully inspire them,” Williams said. “There are a lot of talented young people out there who can be something. They don’t have to be in the streets with drugs and other illegal things like that.”
Williams thinks the baseball portions of the book will attract readers. Williams began playing with the Ninety Six Blue Jays of the old Textile Leagues when he was a teenager in the early 1950’s. From there, he headed to South Carolina State University, where he played baseball, football and basketball.
When asked which sport was his favorite, the answer comes without hesitation.
“Baseball,” Williams said, with a broad smile. “It always came back to baseball.”
After finishing up at SCSU, Williams latched on with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues in 1954. He enjoyed a solid season with the team, even forming a bond with manager Willie Wells.
“Willie used to tell me to save my money,” Williams said. “We’d be out on the road and he’d tell me ‘Don’t go spending your money on fancy meals. Go get you a can of peaches and a loaf of bread and come back and eat with me on the bus.’ He always had words of wisdom.”
Williams spent 1955-56 in the military, playing baseball in the U.S. Army league. It was in that league that Williams suffered a leg injury sliding into second base, an injury Williams said he never fully recovered from.
After leaving the service, Williams went to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds in 1957. Williams said he had a good spring with the Reds, but the team decided not to keep him for the regular season because of concerns about his injured leg.
“They thought I had a bum wheel,” Williams said. “They didn’t want to take a risk. It was a good experience. I don’t have any regrets.”
Williams details those experiences in “The Bobby Williams Story,” hoping the stories will motivate readers. The book is also filled with photographs of baseball players, contemporary ones and those from the past.
The book also contains several cartoon illustrations that serve as instructional tools for youngsters. The illustrations depict players demonstrating the proper techniques for pitching, fielding and batting.
The illustrations are accompanied by captions delivering public service messages, such as “Don’t Do Drugs.” The service messages, along with passages of Biblical scripture, are an aspect of the book Williams is particularly proud of.
“I want people to know that faith in God is stronger than any drug,” Williams said “I hope my book can help deliver that message.”
When talking with Williams, the conversation drifts seamlessly from topic to topic, from religion to literature to, of course baseball.
Williams even chimed in on San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds’ bid to surpass Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron on the all-time home run list.
“I hope he catches them,” Williams said. “But I don’t know about his health. And then they talk about steroids. I hope they leave him alone and I hope he can do it.”
Williams is encouraged that the library at Woodfield Elementary will be stocking his book. However, he said he often finds adults enjoy the book just as much as young people.
Chris Trainor covers area sports for The Index-Journal. He can be reached at: ctrainor@indexjournal.com.

Opinion

Nominees don’t deserve the abuse they’re given

May 20, 2006

Some South Carolinians, as well as many other Americans, are quick to blame the U. S. for its fight against terrorists. At the same time they go out of the way to defend the “rights” of terrorists.
Take the U. S. Senate committee hearings on Gen. Michael Hayden, the nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency. The verbal abuse he’s been getting is outrageous. But, then, that’s nothing new.
Nominees for various posts, including judges, are put through the wringer.
They should be asked pertinent questions, of course. In their advise and consent role senators have an obligation to get to the truth about qualifications in every respect. However, nominees deserve to be treated with respect. They shouldn’t have to suffer the insults and character assassination they go through because of politics. Still, the venemous “questions” that come through as accusatory statements are too much of the process these days.
Can we expect to continue to get competent people to serve under such circumstances?

Obituaries

Sadie Mae Rayford Bennett

Memorial services for Sadie Mae Rayford Bennett are 1 p.m. today at Parks Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Curtis Bowman.
The family is at the home, 120-A Osborne Ave.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

J.C. Bowie

ABBEVILLE — John Calvin “J.C.” Bowie, 79, former resident of 79 Highway 185 South, Donalds, husband of Audrey Timms Bowie, died May 19, 2006 at Abbeville County Memorial Hospital.
Born January 16, 1927 in Due West, SC, he was a son of the late Thomas Arthur and Emma Rebecca Hawthorne Bowie. He was a US Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Bowie was a retired supervisor from Sprint Telephone Company.
He was a member of Gilgal United Methodist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Mrs. Billy (Debra) Bowie and Mrs. Gene (Glenda) Pruitt, both of Abbeville; one brother, Fred Bowie of Donalds; four grandchildren, Niki Bowie, Leigh Wilson, Rob Pruitt and Katie Pruitt; two great-grandchildren, Cal Wilson and Rhett Wilson.
Mr. Bowie was predeceased by a brother, Lawrence Bowie.
Graveside services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens in Greenwood with Revs. Nina Reynolds and Rev. Johnny Waller officiating.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends at the cemetery immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to Gilgal United Methodist Church Cemetery Association, c/o Bonnie Lowry, P.O. Box 192, Due West, SC 29639.
Harris Funeral Home is assisting the Bowie Family.
PAID OBITUARY

Ann Caton

LEXINGTON — Services for Gladys Ann Caton will be held Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 2:00 pm at St. Stephens Lutheran Church with burial to follow at 4:00 pm at Santee Cemetery in Elloree. Visitation will be held Sunday at 12:30 to 1:30 pm at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. Active and Honorary Pallbearers will be the Grandchildren. Memorials will be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Mrs. Caton passed away Friday, May 19, 2006. Born in Greenwood, SC, she was the daughter of the late Francis Earl Cress, Sr. and Bessie Polin Cress Kemp. She retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She is survived by children; Johnny McDonald of Greenwood, Jean Martin of Hickory Tavern, Catherine Monroe of Abbeville, Elizabeth Stroupe of West Columbia, Donald Caton, Jr. of Columbia, Barry Caton of West Columbia, Robin Caton of Brandon, Florida, and Dania Langley of Sumter; fourteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and four nieces. She is predeceased by her husband Don Caton.
PAID OBITUARY

Furman Sims

Furman Sims, 61, of 612 Lindsey Ave., died Thursday, May 18, 2006 at HospiceCare of the Piedmont.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Oscar and Ida Lou Holmes Sims. He was a 1965 Brewer High School graduate and a former employee of Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant and Self Memorial Hospital. He was a member of Springfield Baptist Church, Highway 25, Edgefield, and Harmony Lodge No. 37.
Survivors include his former wife, Barbara Jean Gilliam Sims of Promised Land; five daughters, Ida Louise Sims and Tracey Sims, both of Bradley, Deloris Sims Carter of Greenwood, Mrs. Steven (Linda Sims-) McLoyd of Greenville and Frunadette “Debbie” Sims of Columbia; a brother, Calvin Sims of Greenwood; three grandchildren.
The family is at the home of a brother, Calvin Sims, 702 Holloway St., Mathews Village and the home of his former wife, Barbara Jean Sims, 202 Matthews Ave., Promised Land.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.
Online condolences may be made to the family at robson@nctv.com

Katie P. Smith

HONEA PATH — Katie Pressley Smith, 74, of 3 Hawthorne St., widow of Stephen A. Smith, died Tuesday, May 16 2006 at Hospice of the Upstate.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of the late Callie Sr. and Rachel H. Pressley. She was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, the Rev. Deborah Y. Smith of Seneca and Phyllis A. Smith of Honea Path; a son, Stephen D. Smith of Honea Path; a grandson reared in home, M. Lamar Smith; three granddaughters; three great-granddaughters; two brothers, Herbert Pressley and Calvin Pressley, both of Greenville; a sister, Patsy E. Pressley of Glen Cove, N.Y.
Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Liberty Baptist Church. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is 2-3 Sunday at the church.
The family is at the home.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service, Ware Shoals, is in charge.