October trial likely

Mother of Steven Bixby set to face jury after four years of waiting

June 1, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — It appears more likely that an October trial will lead to an eventual conclusion in the matters of justice surrounding Rita Bixby.
The 74-year-old former Abbeville resident and New Hampshire native has been remanded nearly four years following a violent December 2003 standoff involving her husband, Arthur Bixby, and son, convicted double-murderer Steven Vernon Bixby.
The incident claimed the lives of two Abbeville County law enforcement officers — Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Donnie Ouzts.
Rita Bixby is charged with four counts of conspiracy and two counts of accessory to murder.
A court hearing — conducted in May before Tenth Circuit Court Judge Alexander S. Macaulay — determined a trial would indeed take place at the Abbeville County Courthouse, and that a jury from a yet-to-be-determined county would be brought in and sequestered to hear the case.
Pre-trial motions and jury selection proposals were to be in front of Macaulay for review today. Attorneys on both sides will propose an October trial date while work proceeds in deciding the county (or counties) they will offer to Macaulay in a jury proposal.
“We’re proposing an October trial date,” Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said Thursday. “We’re also going to request some more time to come up with the (proposed) county, or the three counties, if we can’t agree on one county. We’re still working that out right now.”
Macaulay instructed the attorneys — including defense lawyers Jeff Bloom, of Columbia, and Joe Smithdeal, of Greenwood — to choose three potential counties for the jury if one could not be agreed upon.
Macaulay denied Rita Bixby bail in May, siding with the state’s position that she still represented a significant flight risk and danger to the community. However, Macaulay also set a date of Oct. 29, 2007, in which he would revisit the issue of bail had no trial date had been set by that time.
Bail law requires that bail be set, except in those cases where the punishment could result in a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison — a possibility with the posted accessory charges.
A motion for a change of venue also was denied.
Macaulay said he was satisfied during the double-murder trial of Steven Vernon Bixby (Rita Bixby’s son received two death sentences with his conviction in February) that a proper level of security and procedure could be expected in and around the Abbeville County Courthouse.

Principal to remain at WSHS

June 1, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

WARE SHOALS — The administration of Ware Shoals School District 51 didn’t have to look far to find someone to occupy the principal’s office at Ware Shoals High School.
They simply looked to the man who has been handling the job for the last four months.
Charlie Mayfield has been named principal of the high school for the 2007-08 school year.
Mayfield will be doing so after serving as interim principal of the school since late January.
Mayfield, who began the 2006-07 school year as the principal of Ware Shoals Junior High School, took over as interim principal of the high school in January after former principal Jane Blackwell was suspended with pay. Blackwell is charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office investigation of former cheerleading coach Jill Moore.
Mayfield said he is eager to segue into his new role.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence from the administration in District 51,” Mayfield said.
“This is a big job we have at hand, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to it.”
Mayfield will act as principal of grades 7 through 12.
He will have two assistant principals.
Janice Walpole will be one, focusing on the high school.
A second assistant position is still in the interview stage.
Mayfield said that person will focus on the seventh- and eighth- graders.
Mayfield has been with District 51 for seven years. A graduate of T.L. Hanna High School and Presbyterian College, with a master’s from Furman University, the principal began his career teaching middle school in the Upstate before heading to Mauldin High School, where he taught and coached soccer for seven years and worked in administration for one year.
Mayfield and his wife, Shea have three children: Sullivan, 13, Rebekah, 8 and Torre, 5. The couple’s other son, Ellis, died from complications with a brain tumor three years ago.
The Mayfields have turned their son’s death into a positive.
“We have started the charitable Ellis Mayfield Foundation,” Mayfield said. “It helps raise money for children in the Upstate suffering from the effects of brain tumors.”
Mayfield, who has been acting principal of the high school and the junior high for four months, said the experience of wearing both hats has more than helped to prepare him for his new position. He talked of one particular goal he has for the coming year.
“I have a goal to help improve relations between the community and the school,” he said. “With everything that has gone on, I believe it is important to mend some fences and help build bridges from the school to the community.”
Mayfield said he thought Ware Shoals High closed the year with several positive events such as banquets, academic awards presentations, athletic events and a smoothly run graduation. Now he wants to keep things heading in the right direction.
“It’s always been my goal to leave things better than I found them,” he said. “We’re all going to leave one day, we won’t stay in the same place forever. But my plan here has always been to leave it in better condition than when I found it.”

Walking for a cure

Event starts tonight in Abbeville County

June 1, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Deborah Ayers’ heart crumbled.
In an instant, three short words altered her way of life.
“You have cancer,” her doctor had told her, days after removing a recurring cyst from just below her left eye. She thought of the small bump — which would come and go periodically — as nothing more than a nuisance.
But suddenly, her whole world flipped upside down.
Shock turned to an incomprehensible level of fear and uncertainty.
Her surgery took place in 2001 — the day after the tragic events of 9/11.
In Deborah Ayers’ world, everything seemed to be spiraling out of control.
While leukemia and lymphoma had claimed the life of her older brother years before, three years after she was diagnosed with cancer, her father was diagnosed with the disease.
There seemed to be a finality and inevitability in those three words.
“You think that it’s a death sentence when you hear those three words, that’s how you feel at the time — but it’s not,” Ayers said.
So she did what millions of cancer victims do — she fought.
Tonight, at Abbeville High’s Hite Stadium, Ayers — the 2007 Abbeville County Relay for Life chairwoman and also literacy coordinator for Abbeville County Adult Education — will join other survivors and supporters to walk and raise funds for cancer research.
Last year’s event raised $70,000. This year’s goal stands at $75,000.
“We’re going to do it, we’re very optimistic,” Ayers’ said. “This is always an emotional thing for me, especially with the survivor walk. I’m going to walk with my dad. Seeing all the people who have fought this terrible disease — I cry every time.
“So I have several reasons why I Relay (for Life).”
Cancer survivors will lead the charge around the stadium track — teams of walkers will circle the track constantly through the night — immediately after skydivers land in the middle of the stadium’s football field.
Several bands will perform through the night, including The Edgewood Band, Blu Monday and The 501 Band. Games. A silent auction and a womanless beauty pageant are just a few of the festivities planned.
“We’ll have food and entertainment for the kids, and a lot will be going on to help people stay awake,” Ayers said. “It’s just going to be a lot of fun.”
Most importantly, Ayers said the event makes a real difference.
“Cancer deaths (in the United States) have gone down for the second year in a row, and we feel that part of the reason is because of the funding and research that has been done,” Ayers said.
“There are so many families that are affected by cancer. We have to find a cure so that our children and grandchildren will not have to face this horrible disease.”
A balloon release will conclude the event Saturday morning.
“We’re going to have a great time,” Ayers said.

Obituaries

Harold J. Burden

NINETY SIX — Services for Harold J. “Diddy-Y” Burden will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Bobby Davis officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Marty McCall, Darren Burden, Chuck Burden, Justin Byrd, Jessie Duncan and Grayson McCall.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
The family is at the home, 917 Martin Town Road and at the home of his brother, Jimmy Burden, 215 West Main Street, Ninety Six.
Memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church, 95 Saluda Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666.
Mr. Burden, 64, of 917 Martin Town Road, Ninety Six, husband of Betty Hollingsworth Burden, died Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Judson Burden and Nancy Carolyn Estes Burden Brooks. He retired from the US Army with the rank of Sergeant after 20 years of service, having served during the Vietnam War. He attended Temple Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of the home; two sisters, Mildred Carithers of Taylors and June Evans of Greenwood; a brother, Jimmy Burden of Ninety Six; and was the great-uncle of 11 children.
He was preceded in death by two nephews, Tim McCall and Barry Carithers.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Fannie Freeman

McCORMICK — Homegoing service for Ms. Fannie Freeman, 89, will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine Grove AME Church in Plum Branch, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 6-8 this evening at the church.
Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home, 2930 Colonial Drive in Columbia, is in charge of the service.
Ms. Freeman died May 29, 2007 in McCormick. Friends may call at her residence, 312 Pine St.
Ext. in McCormick.
She is lovingly survived by a host of nephews and nieces.

Patricia Diane Holloway

CROSS HILL — Patricia Diane Holloway, 53, of 1784 Pineland Shores, died Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at her home. Born in Greenwood, she was the daughter of Willie Lane and Minnie Goode. She was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. She attended Brewer High School and was a former employee of Solutia.
Survivors include her mother and father of Greenwood; a longtime friend, Thomas Dunlap of the home; one son, Trevor Holloway of Philadelphia; one daughter, Yolanda Holloway of Greenville; one brother, Dennis Jarnette of Greenwood; two sisters, Brenda Holloway of Philadelphia and Linda (Obie) Tolbert of Greenwood; two aunts, Fannie Mae Richie and Susie Wade, both of Greenwood; and four grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, conducted by Bishop Emanuel Spearman. The body will be placed in the church at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park, Inc. Pallbearers are cousins, and flower bearers are nieces and cousins. The family will be at the home and at the home of a sister Linda Tolbert, 505 Maxwell Ave. Robinson & Son Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to robson@nctv.com.

Ann Pratt Hutchison

COLUMBIA — Ann Pratt Hutchison, formerly of Winston-Salem, NC, died May 31. She was born in Greenwood, SC, on Dec. 23, 1923 to Margaret Eliza and Hugh Hackett Pratt. She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur “Hutch” Waring Hutchison, Jr.
She graduated from Greenwood High School and Greenwood School of Commerce. She worked in Atlanta, GA, and Columbia, SC, where she met and married Hutch in 1947 and moved to Winston-Salem, NC, where they raised three children. She was a full-time mother, wife, school and community volunteer, outstanding grandmother, and friend to many. She was a member of the Winston-Salem Junior Women’s Club, a volunteer at the Wake Forest Heart Rehabilitation Center, and active in many activities at Augsburg Lutheran Church. She loved playing bridge with her many friends at Pine Brook Country Club. In 2001, she moved to Columbia, SC.
She is survived by her son, Arthur Waring Hutchison, III and daughter-in-law, Cheryl Berenson of Philadelphia, PA; a daughter, Margaret Ann Hutchison Greene and son-in-law, Michael Greene of Irmo; a daughter, Beth Hutchison Burn of Irmo; and five grandchildren, Anna Margaret Greene Sawyer and her husband, Joel Sawyer, Erich Michael Greene, Emily Duncan Burn, and William Augustine Burn, IV, all of Irmo and Cara Elizabeth Hutchison of Philadelphia. She is also survived by her sister, Peggy Buchanan of Greenwood, SC, and her brother, The Reverend Hugh Hackett Pratt, Jr. of Maysville, NY.
She will be remembered for her love of family and friends; her gregarious nature; her easy laughter; her love of reading; her card-playing abilities; and her positive outlook on life.
A celebration of her life will be held at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel on Friday at 3 p.m. Burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery and Gardens immediately following the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Her family would like to thank her many caregivers including the staff at Laurel Crest, Carroll Campbell Place, and Lutheran Hospice for their compassionate care.
www.dunbarfunerals.com.

Jerome ‘Cool Breeze’ Kelly

McCORMICK — Mr. Jerome (Cool Breeze) Kelly, age 54, a resident of 808 Hammond Street, died in McCormick, SC, May 30, 2007. He was born in McCormick, SC, May 20, 1953, a son of the late Clarence E. and Mary Ann Dean Kelly. He was a graduate of Mims High School, worked in lawn cutting and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors are four sisters, Mrs. Eula Mae Beach of Washington, DC, Mrs. Florence Goodine of Seneca, SC, Mrs. Martha Perrin of McCormick, SC, and Mrs. Ora Mitchel of Redmond, Washington; five brothers, Clarence Kelly, Hercules Kelly, Willie Lee Kelly, Earnest Kelly and Herman Kelly, all of McCormick, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Services will be Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Walker Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m., with Revs.
Thelma Kelly and Willie Alvin Cannady officiating. Interment will be in Overbrook Cemetery. The family is at the home of a brother Clarence Kelly at 1399 U.S. Highway 378 E. Walker Funeral Home, directors.

Serena Steifle

ABBEVILLE — Serena Johnson Steifle, 68, resident of 411 Sunset Dr., died Thursday, May 31, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC.
Born Nov. 29, 1938, she was a daughter of Nyoda and Joe Scott.
She was a very active member of the Greenwood ARP Church.
Survivors are: 3 daughters, Angie “Sissy” Hunt and her husband, Tony of Verdery, SC, Chaney Wilson and her husband, David of Abbeville, SC, Lisa Callaham and her husband, Lee of Ninety Six, SC; 1 son, Eric Steifle and his wife, Jami of Abbeville, SC; 4 sisters, June Smith and her husband, Ansel, Debbie Massey, Pam Moats, Paula Bourne, all of Greenwood, SC; 1 brother, Frankie Johnson of Greenwood, SC; 9 grandchildren, Andy Hunt, Marc Hunt and his wife, Maggie, Adam Hunt, Jonathan Wilson, Walt Wilson, Reghan Steifle, Christian Marler, Cason Calliham and Kaylee Calliham; 1 great-grandson, Johnathan Hunt; a number of loving nieces and nephews.
Special friends: Gene Gardner, Eleanor Lomax and Ernest Steifle.
She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Johnson, Jr. and a brother Ricky Johnson.
Graveside services will be conducted Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Greenville Presbyterian Church in Shoals Junction, SC, with the Rev. Neely Gaston officiating.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends after services Saturday at the cemetery. The family is at the home of Chaney and David Wilson, 411 Sunset Drive, Abbeville, SC, where they will also receive friends.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Conway Shirley, PO Box 566, Due West, SC 29639 or to Greenwood ARP Church, PO Box 982, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be made to the Steifle family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC, is in charge of arrangements.

Theodore Roosevelt Susewell

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Theodore R. Susewell, 76, of 15 W. 139th Street, New York, NY, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2007 at New York Medical Hospital.
Born in Abbeville County, he was a son of Mary Frances Susewell Williams and the late Willie Susewell, Sr. He was a graduate of Brewer High School, a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Mt. Nebo Masonic Lodge. He was a retired chef.
He is survived by, in addition to his mother of Greenwood, a beloved associate, Annie Griffith of New York, NY, and her son, Ronnie Griffith of California; her sister, Virginia Harbinson of North Carolina; his son, Sammy Susewell of Greenwood; two daughters, Patricia Mansell and Henrietta S. Lockhart, both of Greenwood; a brother, Willie Susewell, Jr. of Hodges; two sisters, Dorothy Boone of Long Island City, NY, and Vivian Lanier of Hodges.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Abbeville County, with Reverend Randy Jackson, Sr. officiating.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Flower bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The family is at 204 Freetown Road, Hodges.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Susewell family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Opinion

Floride Carpenter lived for family, faith, others

June 1, 2007

Greenwood and South Carolina lost one of the stars in their crowns this week when Floride Carpenter died at age 93. Anyone who didn’t know this gentle woman missed something special. Floride Carpenter was the living embodiment of a kind of grace and caring that generally elude ordinary people. She showed it in everything she did, from writing about people when she was society editor of this newspaper, to just being Floride in her “everyday” life with her beloved family and legion of friends.
There was nothing mundane about her “everyday life,” though. Far from it. This petite woman was, first and foremost, a lady. That was obvious in so many ways.
She was never pretentious, although she was an impressive and unbelievably knowledgeable individual.

WHETHER SPEAKING ON A variety of subjects (she was expert), writing articles and books, socializing, reaching out to people in need, emotionally or otherwise, or living up to her faith, she always took the positive path.
Floride Carpenter was an intelligent, well-read, wise and witty person whose public image sometimes may have belied all of those qualities. But that’s the way she was ..... never presumptuous. On the contrary, humility and deference were second nature to her. If she ever had a negative word about anyone nobody every heard it. In fact, she looked at everyone through kind, caring and loving eyes and that’s what everyone saw ..... and they knew without question that she was the real thing.