Local woman dies after wreck

Two-car collision occurred near Abbeville’s downtown square

January 17, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — An Abbeville woman died early Tuesday morning from injuries sustained in a two-car wreck on Greenville Street near the downtown square.
Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley confirmed the death of Patty W. Guy, of 104 Sunset Drive in Abbeville, early on Tuesday afternoon.
Guy was pronounced dead at Abbeville Area Medical Center, where she was taken following the wreck.
According to an autopsy report filed from Anderson Medical Center by Dr. Bert Woodard, the 47-year-old Guy died from “blunt force trauma.”
The driver of the second vehicle involved in the wreck, Jeanette J. Jones, of Highway 201 in Abbeville County, also was taken to Abbeville Area Medical Center, where she was later released.
“It appeared that the deceased had traveled left of center and hit the victim head on,” Lt. Detective Curtis Killian of the Abbeville City Police Department said. “Speed is still being determined at this time. It’s still under investigation.”
The wreck, which occurred at 10:46 p.m. Monday, is still under investigation by both the Abbeville County Coroner’s Office and City of Abbeville Police Department.
A Guy family representative said Patty W. Guy was traveling on Greenville Street away from the square and collided with a car that was coming up Greenville Street.
When authorities arrived on the scene, the representative added Guy was both coherent and responsive.
It’s unknown whether she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
Survivors include her husband, George V. Guy, and two sons, Taylor Guy, of Abbeville, and Dustin Jordan, of Irmo.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Harris Funeral Home in Abbeville.
Guy’s funeral is planned for at 11 a.m. Friday at Harris Funeral Home Chapel.

Early to bed, early to rise, all for education

Teen delivers papers to pay his tuition fees

January 17, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Lance Branyon, 18, knows the value of a good education because he pays it every month.
He’s been working as a newspaper carrier for The Index-Journal for six months now, delivering papers before most people can even imagine being awake — all so he can go to high school where he wants.
Lance, a senior at Greenwood Christian School, takes great pride in his school, especially since he has to pay $3,600 a year for senior tuition and to finance his senior trip to the United Kingdom and France.
His parents, a preacher and an employee at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, couldn’t afford to pay for his tuition while putting his sister through a Christian college in Pensacola, Fla. Lance started thinking about going to GCS after his friends told him it was more than a school and closer to a family.
His job doesn’t let him get a lot of sleep, but that hasn’t stopped him from considering the school worthwhile.
“I’ve never done anything more worth it in my life,” Lance said.
His day starts at 3 a.m., when he picks up newspapers from The Index-Journal, then he starts his route, covering Cokesbury Road to Hodges.
About 2 1/2 hours later, he’s getting ready for school, which lasts from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
After school, two hours of varsity basketball practice per day and homework await him before he gets a few hours of sleep just to do it again the next day.
“It’s a really long day,” Lance said.
He said he comes to school tired after his paper route, but he’s recharged after being fed academically and spiritually. Lance has maintained his B average since taking the job.
He started working at The Index-Journal after his former job couldn’t cover for his senior tuition and senior trip.
Albert Ashley, circulation manager for The Index-Journal, said it’s highly unusual for a person Lance’s age to have the responsibilities of a carrier because youth carriers are a thing of the past. Ashley said Lance has done a good job as a paper carrier so far.
Lance is glad he’s able to go to GCS, especially since he’s experienced several other types of schools. The private, public and Christian schools Lance has attended didn’t emphasize studies through God’s work the way GCS does.
Public school in particular didn’t challenge him the way his current school does.
The teachers at GCS work with their students, giving out their phone numbers out in case they need help and praying with them.
Lance is the first young man Michael Edds, head of school at GCS, has seen in his Christian education career pay his own way into school. Edds said Lance is humble about his work, with most of the school not even knowing how he pays the tuition.
“I’m just me,” Lance said.

Lady Eagles win close one

January 17, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

As expected between two teams coming with undefeated region records, the game between the Greenwood and Easley high school girls basketball teams went down to the final seconds.
Even though the Lady Eagles failed to make a field goal in the final 1 minute, 30 seconds of play, they did enough from the foul line to ice a 62-59 win Tuesday night at Greenwood.
“It was so great for us to win tonight,” Greenwood coach Susan Thompson said. “We came out and played extremely hard tonight. Easley is a good team, and we just had a plan for them defensively. The girls played with a lot of heart.”
The win keeps the Lady Eagles (12-2) undefeated in Region I-AAAA play at 4-0.
Greenwood senior Jacena Thompson led all players with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Junior guard Vijya Corbett and sophomore forward Syteria Robinson chipped in 13 points apiece, with Robinson grabbing 11 boards.
The Lady Green Wave (14-2, 2-1) finished with four players in double figures, led by junior center Patrice Talley with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Greenwood grabbed the game’s first lead 15 seconds into the game on a Robinson putback and never surrendered it. The game was tied once at 6 with 5:01 to play in the first, but the Lady Eagles went to work for an 11-5 run to close out the first with a six-point lead.
Easley cut the Greenwood lead down to two twice, the last time being at 26-24 on a layup from Inessa Byrd, who finished with 12.
But the Lady Eagles responded with a 9-2 run, getting four straight points on easy buckets off steals from their full-court press, to go up 35-26 with 1:29 left in the first half.
Greenwood took a nine-point lead into the halftime break and into the fourth quarter. A driving layup by Jacena Thompson early in the fourth gave the Lady Eagles their biggest lead, 52-41, with 5:31 remaining.
Easley got back in the game with a 14-4 run, getting two 3-pointers from Haleigh Smith, who finished with 13. The Lady Wave’s spurt made it a 54-52 game with 1:09 remaining.
The Lady Wave got as close as one-point two separate times, but after each instance, Greenwood was able to knock down a pair of free throws to ice the win.

Wave surges over Eagles

January 17, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

Spurred by its inside-outside offensive attack, the Easley High School boys basketball team ran past Greenwood, 82-62, Tuesday night to remain undefeated in Region I-AAAA play.
Backcourt duo Tahj Tate and Chris Talley finished with 27 and 19 points, combining to knock down seven 3-pointers, while center Mike Jenkins had 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Green Wave (14-2 overall, 3-0 Region I-AAAA).
The 6-foot-7 senior Jenkins, with a couple of college coaches/scouts watching, also blocked a couple of Greenwood shots and altered many more.
“We have a couple of perimeter players to go with our big guy, which is encouraging for us,” said Easley coach Steve Beasley, who got 47 points from his seniors. “It gives us different options. We have enough ballhandlers so we can spread it out a little.
“They’re much younger than we are. So, I think our experience played a big factor in tonight.”
The Eagles (10-5, 2-2) had five players finish in double figures, with 43 points coming from freshmen and sophomores.
Freshman forward Jarvis Rhode scored 11 of his team-high 12 in the second half. Senior point guard Andre Day and freshman Damarcus Harrison had 11 points, while sophomores D.J. Swearinger and Sam Montgomery chipped in 10 apiece.
Montgomery also added a team-high 13 rebounds.
“I can remember when Easley, a couple of years ago, were a lot like us, playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores. Those guys are grown up now, and they’re senior-oriented,” Greenwood coach Hob Chandler said. “I knew we had to bring our “A” game to win and I didn’t think we did that tonight.”
The Eagles led early, at 2-0, 4-2 and 6-4. But Tate quickly wiped that away with the first of his four 3-pointers, putting Easley up for good at 7-6.
Tate’s 3 started what would become a 16-4 Wave run to close out the first quarter with a double-digit lead, at 20-10. The Eagles worked it down to three after Chris Floyd’s baby hook over Jenkins made it 25-22 with 3:07 left in the first half.
The Wave closed out the first half like they did the first quarter, using a 13-2 flurry to go up 14 at the half.
Then Easley opened the third by knocking down back-to-back 3s — one from senior Justin Todd and the other from Tate — to end any though of a Greenwood comeback.
“We’re down 14 and we felt like we were in striking distance. If we could have gotten it down to single digits then it would have been anybody’s ballgame,” Chandler said. “But they come out and hit two 3s and go up 20 within the first minute. It took the wind out of our sails.”
The Wave’s lead stayed at double digits the rest of the way. The closest Greenwood got in the fourth was 16, at 51-35, with 3:11 remaining.

Missed shots sink Flashes

January 17, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

McCORMICK — The McCormick High School boy’s basketball team outscored the Calhoun Falls Blue Flashes 13-3 in the second quarter Tuesday night on their way to a 51-40 victory.
Darius Bussey led the Chiefs with a game-high 13 points. Teammates Cody Mursier and Brandon Cisco finished with 10 each.
Adrian Tatum led the Blue Flashes with seven points in the loss.
Blue Flashes coach Neild Gordon’s squad missed numerous shots early on and although they closed the gap in the closing minutes, it was too much to overcome.
Despite the win, Chiefs coach Elmer Williams wasn’t pleased with his team’s play down the stretch and expects improvement.
“We got in foul trouble and we got lax on defense,” Williams said. “We expected them to lie down and they were not going to lie down. Nobody’s going to lie down for you. You have to make them lie down.”
The Chiefs’ fans had a lot to cheer about early on, following a dunk by Mursier that gave the Chiefs a 7-1 lead.
The Blue Flashes trailed by only six points at the start of the second quarter, but the Chiefs used a 6-0 run beginning at the 5-minute, 59-second mark and led by 10 points, 21-11.
The lead grew to 26-11 following two foul shots by Monteze Robinson after a technical was called on Gordon and the Chiefs led 31-12 at the half.
Calhoun Falls opened the second half on a 7-2 run, cutting the deficit to 33-19 with 4 minutes left in the third.
With 1:42 remaining in the quarter, the Chiefs’ lead was down to 11 points, but they took a 37-24 lead into the fourth.
The Chiefs were able to put the game away by starting the fourth with an 8-2 run to go up 45-26 with 4:54 remaining.
The Blue Flashes ended the game with a 14-6 run but ran out of time against their region foes.
“They’re probably the best team we’ve played other than Dixie,” Gordon said. “They’re just a good team and they know what they’re doing and they do it well.”

Lady Flashes shine in win

January 17, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

McCORMICK — Adrianna Tatum scored 10 points and teammate RoShundray Postell added nine points and eight rebounds Tuesday night against the Lady Chiefs, helping the Lady Blue Flashes win an important Region I-A match-up 50-17.
Lateidra Mims led the Lady Chiefs with 10 points and five rebounds, but the Lady Blue Flashes were stingy on defense and allowed only seven points by the rest of the Lady Chiefs.
“We just stuck to what we always do, defense,” said Lady Blue Flashes coach Risha Bomar. “We can do better and there’s always room for improvement.”
The teams were tied 5-5 in the opening quarter, until the Lady Blue Flashes went on a 13-2 run capped off by a Cherrelle Bridges buzzer beater, giving Bomar’s team a double-digit lead, 18-7. Bridges finished with six points and seven rebounds in the win.
Brittany Obot began the second quarter with a steal and a score for the Lady Blue Flashes pushing the lead to 13 points at 20-7 in the opening seconds.
The Lady Chiefs ended the drought with a Mims lay-up, but coach George Edwards’ squad would manage just one more field goal before the half when Ciarra Anthony hit a wide-open jumper with 1 minute, 2 seconds remaining.
“They were quick and we had too many turnovers,” Edwards said. “We knew they were going to press, but we never made the adjustment like we practiced.”
Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, combining for just one field goal in the first 3:17 of play.
The Lady Blue Flashes got a boost from Tatum when she hit her second three-pointer of the game with less than 3 minutes remaining in the period.
Cassandra Round tree extended the lead to double digits in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter (37-17) and the Lady Blue Flashes cruised to victory.

Opinion

Stand on prayer a sign people drawing a line?

January 17, 2007

A lot of people in Oconee County in upstate South Carolina apparently have been pushed too far. That was obvious last week at a meeting of Oconee County Council. In fact, more than 200 of them packed the meeting to “make a stand against any effort to ban the use of the name of Jesus in prayers before council meetings.”
The Rev. Wayne Morton, president of the Oconee County Ministerial Association presented a proposed ordinance that would allow prayer to be said before a meeting by a minister of a “monotheistic religious congregation with an established presence in Oconee County.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has threatened to sue if the council continues its new practice for using “sectarian” prayers before meetings.

NOT TO BE INTIMIDATED, THE Oconee people told the ACLU, in effect, to bring it on. They said they had a substantial monetary “war chest” and would fight if the ACLU carried through on its threat.
There’s considerable interest in this prayer controversy. The fact that it received national attention makes that clear. Furthermore, the symbolism also has national implications. It can be realistically argued that Americans all over are getting testy about what they see as assaults on their historic way of life, one that has had religious, moral and familial guidelines since childhood.
The folks in Oconee may prove to be surrogates for their American counterparts from coast to coast. They apparently are getting fed up with seeing their beliefs constantly challenged to the point where they simply are tired of turning the other cheek.

CONSIDERING THOSE HISTORIC beliefs and values, and what they have meant to generations of Americans, it’s not surprising that people are saying they have been pushed far enough and are starting to push back.
That’s not unusual, especially for independent-minded Americans who feel strongly about their rights, whether it’s religion, schools, politics or any other characteristic that has become peculiarly American ..... particularly southern America.
Right or wrong, that’s what they think about somebody else telling them what they should and should not do. It really was only a matter of time until someone drew that line in the sand. It will be surprising if many more don’t join the ranks.

Obituaries

Guy Butler

Guy Butler, 80, resident of Alterra Sterling House, died Jan. 16, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood County, March 26, 1926, he was a son of the late James Edward and Agnes Hitt Butler. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was a US Navy Veteran of WW II. For many years he was a retail grocer, having owned and operated Guy Butler’s Red and White and the Orange Spot produce markets in Greenwood, Ninety Six and McCormick.
In 1960, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives where he served two terms before being elected by the legislature to the South Carolina Public Service Commission. He retired from the Commission at age 72 after faithfully serving for 35 years and serving longer than any other Commissioner in the state. Only one other Commissioner in the entire nation has served for a longer period.
A member of South Main Street Baptist Church, he was also a Mason and a Shriner.
Surviving are two daughters, Diane and husband, Bobby Moody and Debra and husband, Larry Davis, all of Greenwood; two beloved grandchildren, Brian and wife, Jill Moody of Jacksonville, NC, and Gina and husband, Conrad Westbrook of Commerce, GA; five great-grandchildren, Cody, Caroline and Grace Moody and Jordan and Jesse Westbrook; a sister, Julia Robinson of Woodstock, GA.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. R. Eldredge Kelley officiating.
Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Marion Carnell, Wayne Gantt, Oscar Coats, Duke Scott, Bobby James, Jimmy Parsons, Billy Garrett, Jr. and Lynn Rushton.
Honorary escort will be Billy Ray Brown, Dr. Richard Hunton, Dr. James Smith, Giles Daniel, James Moore, Boykin Curry, Charles Ballentine, Henry Jolley, John Forrester, Jennings McAbee, Rudolph Mitchell, Billy O’Dell, Junior Ferguson, Jones Buchanan, E.C. Gillian and Charles Powell.
The family is at the home of Debra and Larry Davis, 114 Tryon Court in Hunters Creek and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 to 2 Thursday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions in memory of Mr. Butler may be sent to Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Butler family.

Jenell Jones Chiles

McCORMICK — Jenell Jones Chiles, 81, of 5293 Upper Mill Road, wife of Jobe Chiles, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Corrie Chiles, 5303 Upper Mill Road.
Services will be announced by Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda.

Wilbur Cockrell

SALUDA — A memorial service for Wilbur V. Cockrell, 90, will be held Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Red Bank Baptist Church, Saluda, South Carolina. Visitation will follow at the church.
Born in Saluda, March 21, 1916, he was the son of the late Fletcher and Beulah Witt Cockrell. He served as Supervisor of Saluda County Roads and Bridges and was a deacon and active member of Red Bank Baptist Church. His greatest joys were gardening and children.
Predeceased by his wife, Beulah McDaniel Cockrell, he is survived by son, Donald Cockrell of Columbia, son and daughter in-law, William and Lois Murrell of Ninety Six; brothers, Marvin Cockrell of San Pedro, CA, Robert Cockrell of Columbia; sisters, Ann Evans of Florence, Geneva Shuler of Wagner, Julia Teasly of Greenville; granddaughter, Paula Mills of Newberry; great-grandchildren, Alexis and Austin Murrell, Meredith and Patrick Mills; thirteen nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, Horace, Herman, Harold, Clyde Cockrell, and infant sister, and a grandson, Jason Murrell.
Memorials may be made to Red Bank Baptist Church, 309 East Church Street, Saluda, SC 29138 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.
His gentle disposition, gracious demeanor, unending patience and unique humor will always be remembered.
The family expresses gratitude and appreciation to National Health Care of Lexington for their special care.

Patty W. Guy

ABBEVILLE — Patty W. Guy, 47, wife of George V. Guy, of 104 Sunset Dr., Abbeville, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007 at Abbeville Area Medical Center, due to an accident. She was born in Abbeville to Carolyn Ethridge Wiley Duskin and the late John Franklin Wiley. Patty was the office manager of the Check-n-Go in Greenwood, a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and attended the Abbeville Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her son, John Jacob Guy, a brother, Steve F. Wiley and a sister, Kimberly Wiley.
She is survived by her husband of seventeen years of the home; her mother; two sons, Taylor Guy of Abbeville and Dustin Jordan and his wife, Beth of Irmo; a special brother, Don Nein of Abbeville; two grandchildren that were Patty’s heart, Jacob Austin Jordan and Jenna Claire Jordan. Patty will be most remembered as a great wife, mother, grandmother, cook and a friend to all.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 in the funeral home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Larry Parker and the Rev. James Long. Burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The family is at her home, 104 Sunset Dr., Abbeville, SC. Patty’s unselfish giving to others continued after her death: her organs were donated.
Memorial contributions in memory of Patty Guy may be sent to the American Heart Association, 3535 Pelham Road, Suite 101, Greenville, SC 29615.
Online condolences may be sent to the Guy family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home of Abbeville is assisting the Guy family.

Harold Hamrick

HODGES — Harold Ray “Peanut” Hamrick, 66, resident of 326 Asbury Road, died Jan. 6, 2007.
Born in Greenwood, July 18, 1940, he was a son of Margaret Hamrick Bartley and the late Pierce Edward Corley. He was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving in addition to his mother of Greenwood are a daughter, Vicky Brewer of Ware Shoals; a stepdaughter, Gay Martin of Anderson; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel.
For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Hamrick family.

‘Bunch’ Lyle

Virges Lucille “Bunch” Stewart Lyle, 84, of Morningside Assisted Living and formerly of 213 Georgia Avenue, wife of Louie Milton Lyle, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late John Riddle and Corene Virges Sanders Stewart. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School, where she was a member of the 1939 Women’s Basketball Team. She served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) during World War II and was employed by Greenwood Mills, Mathews Plant. She was a member of Laurel Baptist Church.
Surviving is her husband; a daughter and son-in-law, Wanda and Ernie Ouzts of Bradley; a son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Beth Lyle of Greenwood; a sister, Rachel Stewart Chaney of Westminster; four grandsons; a granddaughter; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Wade Burton officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be David Ouzts, Lyle Ouzts, Drew Lyle, Randy Smith, Jackie McDaniel and Lewis Moss.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family is at the home of her son, Andy Lyle, 121 Thompson Drive.
It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to Hospice House, c/o HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Benjamin Mitchell Jr.

SUMTER — Benjamin Daniel Mitchell, Jr., 81, husband of Evelyn Morgan Mitchell, died Jan. 14, 2007.
Mr. Mitchell was a US Army Veteran serving in WWII, member of St. John United Methodist Church and retired from Maxwell Brothers and Blackwell Furniture Co.
Surviving in addition to his wife of Sumter are two daughters, Claudia Mitchell Dority and husband, David of Greenwood and Peggy Mitchell Newman and husband, Mike of Sumter; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home Chapel in Sumter, with burial in Evergreen Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to St. John United Methodist Church, 136 Poinsett Dr., Sumter, SC 29150.
Announcement courtesy of Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Isabelle ‘Sug’ Norman

Isabelle “Sug” Holloway Norman, 79, of 302-C Margaret St., died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Diane Oliver, 107 Porter Drive, Ninety Six.
Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc.

CORRECTION

For the obituary of Edith Thompson in Tuesday’s paper: for online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Thompson family.