Teacher helps kids listen
to beat of their own drum

October 9, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Amy Gillion starts tapping on the djembe drum, slowly at first, then gaining momentum. Her hands rap smartly on the drum head, beating with a confident rhythm. A smile illuminates Gillion as she plays.
She has never had lessons, but has been teaching Mathews Elementary School students how to play as sponsor of the school’s drum club for about a year.
Gillion’s march to the beat of her own drum as a teacher hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The literacy coach at Mathews Elementary School was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Horace Mann Insurance Company at the end of August. The award is one of 15 given in the nation, Gillion said.
Winning the scholarship required her to send in her resume and write a 300-word essay describing what she would change to improve the quality of education.
Gillion is using the money to get her masters degree in elementary reading and literacy online from Walden University.
She has been teaching for 15 years in Greenwood School District 50, the same district where she went to school.
Gillion often used drums as a homeroom teacher to help make lessons memorable to her students.
She thought drumming could keep children entertained and help them learn at the same time.
The connection between education and music was obvious for someone who watched TV shows like Sesame Street and Schoolhouse Rock as a child, Gillion said.
The students in her drum club tend to try harder in the classroom so they can stay in the club.
Gillion said playing the piano for many years helped her develop a natural down beat, which helps in her drumming.
She started to learn how to drum while in college at Lander University.
“I think God gives us all talents,” she said.
Gillion’s played in several contemporary praise bands at church and lent her skill on the skins for several musicals at the Greenwood Community Theatre.
Gillion has alway wanted to be a teacher.
The teachers she’s had in District 50 were inspirations.
“I’ve always been blessed with compassionate, hard-working teachers,” Gillion said.
One of the best gifts Gillion ever received for Christmas was a chalkboard easel and colored chalk when she was 7-years-old.
She used the teacher’s tools to school her dolls and teddy bears in their ABC’s and nursery rhymes.
Gillion became more experienced as an educator during her stint as an assistant vacation bible school teacher at the age of 11.
She continued learning how to teach during high school.
Gillion worked as a reading tutor at Merrywood Elementary School while on her lunch breaks.
Teaching is also a family affair for Gillion.
Her husband, Gary, is a math teacher at Emerald High School and her mother, Libby Minor, is a seventh-grade geography teacher at Northside Elementary School.
Amy had known Gary all through public school, but the couple didn’t really become close until they met again at Lander as writing and math tutors, respectively.
Amy’s twin daughters, Helen and Corinne, go to Mathews.
She said she likes having her children close by.
Both girls want to be teachers like their mom.
Gary said that the scholarship was a tremendous honor for Amy.
He likes that he and Amy share the same profession.
“It makes life go by pretty easy,” he said.
Gary also brags about Amy’s musical talent.
“I tell everybody my wife plays the drums,” he said.

Shaquine Bridges

McCORMICK — Mr. Shaquine Terrell Bridges, age 33, died October 5, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center after a short illness.
He was born in New Jersey July 8, 1973, a son of Mrs. Tomasina Bridges Wideman and was a 1991 graduate of McCormick High School. He was a truck driver for the Carnes Construction Co. and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors are his mother and step father, Tom and Tomasina Wideman of the home; two daughters, Ms. Shatyana Bridges and Ms. Shaniya Bridges of Greenwood, SC; two brothers, Paul (Ruby) Pratt of McCormick, SC and Gary (Hedi) Bridges of Indianapolis, Ind.; a step sister, Ms. Nicole Nelson of Clarks Hill, SC; his grandmother, Mrs. Eunice Hughey of McCormick, SC and step grandfather, Earl Sibert of McCormick.
Funeral services are Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at the Holy Spring Baptist Church in McCormick with Rev. Robert Knox officiating; Rev. Eric Butler the Eulogist and assisting are Rev.’s Robert Haskell, Charles Agnew and Minister Lucille Owens. The body is at Walker Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at noon Wednesday.
The family is at his home, 203 Gilchrist Heights.

Virginia Hess

ABBEVILLE — Virginia Vaughn Hess, 84, of 30 Zachary Drive, died Sunday, October 8, 2006, at her home.
Services will be announced by Harris Funeral Home.

Janie Lewis

ABBEVILLE — Janie Powell Lewis, 89, of 125 Pinewood Circle, died Saturday, October 7, 2006 at Self Regional Healthcare. She was born in Abbeville to the late John and Mary Ellison Powell. Mrs. Lewis retired from the Milliken Abbeville Plant after 48 years of service and was the oldest living member of the Congregational Holiness Church. She was a member of the Abbeville Senior Center.
She was preceded in death by her three brothers, Haskell, Richard, and Ben Powell.
Surviving Mrs. Lewis is her daughter, Judy S. Stevenson, a son, Franklin E. Lewis, a brother, Otis Lee Powell all of Abbeville, three grandchildren, Scott Stevenson, Lacey Lewis, and Benji Greeson.
The family will receive friends from 1:00PM to 2:00PM Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at Harris Funeral Home.Funeral. Services will be 2:00PM Tuesday, October 10, 2006 conducted by the Rev. Tye Sorrow in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The family is at the residence of Judy S. Stevenson 584 Hwy 28 N Abbeville.
Memorial Contributions in memory of Mrs. Lewis may be sent to the Congregational Holiness Church 921 S. Main St. Abbeville, SC 29620.
HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, is assisting the Lewis family.
Online condolences may be sent to the Lewis family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Boyd McCraw

Boyd Lee McCraw, 92, resident of 401 Center Street, husband of Margaret Hazel McCraw, died October 7, 2006 at his home.
Born in Spartanburg County, August 10, 1914, he was a son of the late Sherman Melvin and Alice Lee McCraw. He was retired from Greenwood Mills, Harris Plant.
Mr. McCraw was a member and former deacon of East Side Baptist Church and was a member of the Senior Men’s Sunday School Class. He was also a member of Greenwood Mills Quarter Century Club and was a Mason.
He was twice married, first to the late Ora Hazel McCraw and was also predeceased by a son, William B. McCraw.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are a daughter, Elaine M. Abercrombie of Greenwood; a son, Robert L. “Bobby” and wife, Joan T. McCraw of Greenwood; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 PM Tuesday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. E. A. Cooper and Rev. David Thompson officiating.
Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Greenville.
Pallbearers will be Mike McCraw, Jon McCraw, Kyle Abercrombie, Barry Godfrey, Watson Goldman and Perry Thompson.
The family is at the home on Center Street and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 PM Monday evening.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29649.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the McCraw family.

Florence Walker

BRADLEY — Florence Sears Walker, 93, formerly of Bradley, widow of Woodrow W. Walker, died October 7, 2006 at Wesley Commons in Greenwood.
Born in Oconee County, November 30, 1912, she was a daughter of the late William T. and Naomi Hudgens Sears. She was a graduate of Anderson Girls High School and Draughn’s Business College in Greenville and received several courses from Peterson’s Business College in Greenwood. She was retired from the City of Greenwood Police Department.
Mrs. Walker was a member of Troy United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a son, Stanley E. Walker of Greenwood and a daughter, Ivey W. Blum of Misawa, Japan and Greenwood; a sister, Mae S. Young of Greenwood. Four grandchildren, Kenneth Blum, Kim B. Little, Mary Beth W. Provan, and Ann W. Bryant. Six great-grandchildren, Jana Little, Aubree Little, Brock McDonald, Devin Bryant, Lacie Bryant and Walker Provan.
Graveside services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Monday in the Troy Cemetery with Dr. N. Keith Polk officiating.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of Ivey Blum, 106 Kings Grant Lane in Greenwood and will receive friends at the graveside immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to Troy United Methodist Church, 127 Church Street, Troy, SC 29848.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Walker family.

John Wright

McCORMICK — John William Wright, 89, of 1427 HWY 10, husband of Margaret Reed Wright died Sunday, October 8, 2006 at his home.
Born in McCormick County he was the son of the late Charlie Wright and Willie Mae New Wright, he was a member of Youth Crusade Evangelistic Center where he was a deacon, and he was also a member of the Son’s of Aide #30. Mr. Wright was a U.S. Army Veteran in World War II and retired form Roberts Foundry and White’s Lumber Company.
He was survived by his wife of the home, four sons, John Robinson, and Carl Chiles, both of McCormick, Elijah Chiles, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Rev. Bobby Chiles of Promised Land; one sister, Mary Brown of Corona, New York; fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, six great great-grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Wright will be conducted Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at the Youth Crusade Evangelistic Center at 2:00 PM, with the Rev. Bobby Chiles Pastor & Officiating, assisted by Rev.’s Albert Bell, Rose Chiles, Anthony Gaskin, Dr. Martha Starks, and Bishop Marshal Isom. Body will be placed in the church at 1:00 PM. Burial will be in Evening Star Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be the Deacons of the church and Flowerbearers will be the Deaconesses of the church. The family is at the home, 1427 Hwy 10, McCormick.
Robinson and Son Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the Wright family.
Online condolences can be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Do victims often wonder who is being punished?

October 9, 2006

This is, of course, a nation of individual rights. Thanks to the foresight, determination and indeed the courage of all those who gave birth to this nation, we enjoy rights that are unique to history. Sometimes, though, it seems we go out of our way to limit those rights ..... for the wrong people.
It’s likely that most South Carolinians have been taken aback, if not totally angered, at who gets the benefits of “rights” in some instances. Too often, it seems, we make such a big fuss over rights for criminals that we forget the rights of victims.
In effect, there is a perception among many Americans that while we too often go too far in making sure criminals are protected, we leave victims wondering what went wrong. We see it in motion pictures and on television all the time. But that’s make-believe ..... isn’t it?
Unfortunately, it happens a lot in real life, too. We read in newspapers about the topsy-turvy world of justice every day, when the criminal has to be read his rights and given every protection, while the victims watch in disbelief. Sometimes they have to wonder who did wrong and who is being punished.