Places of grace

Sanctuaries open doors during tour of local churches

June 25, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Just opening the front door requires a commitment.
The two doors at First Baptist Church of Greenwood, located on Grace Street, are massive — nearly 4 solid inches thick — and are not for the faint of heart.
But the beauty and majesty found within is well worth the effort.
The same could be said for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, a modern example of neo-Romanesque and basilica-form design, located on Mathis Road.
Both churches were open to the public Sunday afternoon as part of the “Churches of Greenwood” tour sponsored by the S.C. Festival of Flowers.
Built in 1971 at a cost of about $1 million, the current main sanctuary at First Baptist of Greenwood — a structure constructed mostly of cut stone — still inspires awe.
The church was first organized in 1870.
The ceiling stretches out high above the floor — some 40 feet or more — and stained glass installed down each side depict portions of the parables of the Gospels (on the left side) and the miracles of the Epistle (on the right side).
A mighty cross hangs at the front of the sanctuary, with a smaller version placed high at the back of the building (actually high above your head as you enter).
It appears from the outside and from within as a mighty house of worship.
Ken Lister, minister in music at the church, says Sundays at the church live up to expectations.
“Our members are very appreciative of our sanctuary,” he said. “It certainly helps to develop an atmosphere for worship. We are traditional in worship. I’m not so sure that you could be anything else in this type of sanctuary.”
The organ in the church — contracted from the Schantz Organ Company — contains 73 ranks and totals 2,763 pipes. Symbols were greatly used in the early New Testament church, as well as later during the medieval church period.
On the walls are the stained-glass renditions, which tell the familiar stories of the Bible — Jesus walking on the water with Peter, or the feeding of the 5,000.
Lister says the body at First Baptist Church of Greenwood does its best to carry on those traditions of service through its varied programs of ministry.
“This is a strong missions church,” Lister said. “We’re involved here in town and outside of Greenwood. They definitely put our missions statement (of service) into action.”
A quick trip across town leads to a vision that is a modern cathedral.
With a stunning combination of wood, stone and polished marble, visitors to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church are rendered more or less speechless for the first moments.
“It works well,” said the church’s facility manager, Dan Biron, who oversaw the building process that lasted for a total of eight years. “We kept fine-tuning for three years.”
Everywhere are beautiful statues of saints and holy persons of the Catholic tradition, carved by masters of the craft in Italy. The wooden ceiling beams were custom-made by the Harmony Exchange Company, of Boone, N.C., out of douglas fir.
Entering the building, one is met by a mind-boggling baptistery with waters that are constantly flowing night and day. The main sanctuary, which must be facing east in the church’s tradition — which is why the sanctuary appears backward from Mathis Road — features stained glass that is very unique: The depicted cross is made of actual wood that has been placed and encapsulated by the stained glass.
Another prominent feature of the alter area is the gold-plated tabernacle, which was constructed in Madrid, Spain. The church’s tabernacle — with a unique addition in a second door that allows the chapel to utilize it as well — holds the blessed communion wafers (treated as the living body of Christ among Catholic believers).
The church — named in honor of Bernadette Soubirous, a young French girl of the small town of Lourdes who is believed to have witnessed visions of the Virgin Mary (with several miracles following) in 1858 — was organized in Greenwood in 1913.
The main sanctuary — completed in 2004 after just 17 months of construction — will hold about 800 of the faithful, but there are plans for additional room.
“This place was built with the future in mind,” Biron said. “We have the ability, with moving these walls farther out, to expand the seating to 1,200 people.”
Such a move would allow even more followers to bow their heads in prayer inside of one of Greenwood’s amazing places of worship.

Man’s vision for restaurant staying alive

June 25, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Some people conjure a dream or vision of the future and will continue to hold onto that aspiration no matter what odds are placed in front of them.
Greenwood’s Thomas Firriolo is certainly one of those individuals.
Firriolo, a native of New York who also lived in Jacksonville, Fla., for many years, has had aspirations of opening restaurants and a reception hall on East Cambridge Avenue for more than a year now. His struggles to do so are well documented and have stirred up discussion among residents of the large area of older homes on Cambridge and the surrounding streets.
Firriolo originally intended to open a restaurant — Five Flags Over Greenwood — at 442 E. Cambridge and a reception hall next door at 446 E. Cambridge. However, those areas are zoned residential.
Firriolo sought a zoning change, from residential to Office Professional Industrial, with the city/county planning commission and city council. However, city council denied his requests last year, as well as his further requests to have the issues re-opened.
This led him to demolish the 121-year-old home at 442 E. Cambridge and acquire permits to either demolish or move the brick home at 446 E. Cambridge. He has been in talks to possibly build apartment complexes on that land.
Despite being turned back again and again, Firriolo is giving his dream another shot on Cambridge by buying another home on the avenue — at 514 E. Cambridge, a 5,000-square-foot home that served as a flower shop for many years. Not only that, but he has a contract on yet another home on the thoroughfare, this one at 405 E. Cambridge.
Firriolo now hopes to open two restaurants, both called Five Flags Over Greenwood, at 514 and 405 E. Cambridge, and he holds out hope he can keep the home at 446 E. Cambridge as his long-envisioned reception hall, with the vacant lot at 442 serving as a large parking lot for all the venues.
There is still one large hurdle to all of those plans.
According to Phil Lindler, of the planning commission, each and every one of those properties is zoned residential, leaving Firriolo, at the moment, in the same position he has been in since his quest began.
Lindler said Firriolo would have to file a request to run a restaurant business at 514 E. Cambridge, even though it was a florist shop for many years.
Still, Firriolo dreams of big plans, particularly at 514.
“This can open up the door for the zoning (at 405 E. Cambridge),” Firriolo said as he strolled in the yard at the old flower shop, “and hopefully for the home at 442 and the 2 1/2 acres next door for parking.”
Firriolo envisions the Five Flags restaurant concept as nutritious, health-conscious dining. He also said his restaurant would have a unique concept for a sit-down, casual-dining establishment: no tipping.
“We want nutritional dining with family values,” Firriolo said. “Tipping began as a European custom for appreciating the waiter and service. But I think it has been abused. It shouldn’t interfere with the quality of food or service you get.”
He acknowledged that if he ever gets the zoning he needs and his concept gets off the ground, he will have to pay his staff more than other restaurants to accommodate for the lack of gratuity.

Historic district

Firriolo’s actions led, in part, to a discussion among area residents, with talks turning to establishing a historic overlay district for Cambridge Avenue and several surrounding streets.
This overlay would state the allowed uses for property in the area, whether they be residential, office, commercial, limited commercial or other uses.
However, Lindler said, it still might be some time before this overlay district comes to fruition.
“The issue went before the board of architectural review (Wednesday),” Lindler said. “And the board decided to table that motion.”
Lindler said Cambridge-area residents were present and voiced their opinions. He said it was a mixed bag of suggestions, with some saying they would be willing to allow limited commercial properties within the overlay district, while others wanted strictly residential homes.
City Manager Steven Brown confirmed Lindler’s account, noting that some residents’ suggestions for the district went as far as to imply there should be very specific architectural allowances in any proposed overlay.
Lindler said the board of architectural review will meet again at noon July 18 in the city council conference room. If that board were to approve an overlay district, the issue would go before the planning commission at its July 24 meeting.

Liebler holds strong

Former USC golf coach wins invitational

June 25, 2007

By SCOTT J. BRYAN
Index-Journal sports editor

Back in the mid-1980s, Steven Liebler was golfing for a living.
Now, he’s living for golf.
Liebler won the Festival of Flowers Invitational Golf Classic Sunday at Greenwood Country Club with an 11-under-par 133, barely holding off a hard-charging Wesley Bryan, who fired a final-round 65 to pull within one stroke of victory.
Liebler stood just beyond the scoreboard Sunday afternoon, where he calmly nursed an adult beverage and accepted praise from well-wishers. But more than 20 years ago, Liebler wasn’t playing in statewide amateur events. He was staring down the best the PGA Tour had to offer.
“Working for a living is a lot different,” said Liebler, who played on the PGA Tour from 1981-85. “Golf is a lot more fun than it’s ever been.”
Winning, of course, will do that.
Liebler graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1981 and played in a few PGA Tour events that fall.
All total in his career, Liebler recorded four top-10 performances, seven top-25 finishes and made the cut in 41 events.
But missed cuts — there were 49 from 1982-85 — and a shoulder injury forced Liebler off the circuit.
“I’ve played professionally and against the best players in the world,” Liebler said. “I traveled all over the world. One thing I always say, I was probably too young and too immature to handle that. Then, my body gave out on me.”
Golf, however, didn’t disappear from Liebler’s life. After his shoulder injury sidelined him, Liebler took over as the USC golf coach. He led the Gamecocks from 1985-94, which included the school’s all-time best finish in the NCAA tournament of eighth in 1988. Liebler missed playing the game, but teaching it to younger players proved to be even more rewarding.
“I enjoyed coaching golf,” said Liebler, who coached Brett Quigley, who remains on the PGA Tour. “The relationships with the guys was great. Almost everybody who played for me graduated and went on to have good careers. Those are the memories I’ll always have.”
Liebler, who now sells health insurance for a living, added to those golf memories on Sunday.
After firing a 7-under 65 in Saturday’s first round, Liebler said a strong start could lead to a victory. He was right.
Liebler, for the second day in a row, birdied the first two holes, plus added a birdie on No. 8 to make the turn at 3-under. A birdie at 11 put him at 11-under for the tournament, and he was riding high. Perhaps overconfidence took over.
“I fell asleep when I hit my second shot,” Liebler said. “It was a spot where I took a chance when I shouldn’t have.
“The mental mistake was on the second shot. I had plenty of room to the left of the green, and I had just birdied 11, so I had some tunnel vision. Instead of just hitting the ball in the middle of the green, I tried to hit the pin. When you do that, you’ll end up at the bottom of the hill.”
Liebler closed, however, with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 to secure the win.
Bryan finished second in the event with a 10-under 134, while Mark Gaynor and Roger Blaine tied for third with 136s. Jeremy Revis fired a two-day 137 to finish fifth, and Patrick Cunning, Luke Hopkins, 2006 champion Ben Martin and Crawford Reeves all had 138s.
Liebler, who won a SCGA Father-Son event with his son, Chase Liebler, earlier this week, said he’ll be back next year to defend the title.
“As long as I feel like I’m competitive and that I can still outsmart these guys a little bit, I’m coming back,” he said. “I look forward to it. This is a great week. ... It’s great to come up here and see all the people from Greenwood and play against such a quality field.”

Cordial Lever captures senior tournament win

June 25, 2007

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

NINETY SIX — Tommy Lever, of Greer, had a three-shot lead after the first round of the Festival of Flowers Senior Golf Classic, and he had a two-shot lead when the final ball was struck Sunday afternoon at the Golf Club at Star Fort.
Therefore, the tobacco-chewing player from the Upstate claimed the trophy for the first seniors tournament played in conjunction with the Festival of Flowers.
“I hit the ball well, but I had a couple of errant shots on the back side,” Lever said of Sunday’s final round even-par 72 that he put with his first-round 70 to win with a 2-under-par 142.
That is two shots better than his playing partner both days, Bobby Gauze, of Columbia, who shot 74-70 — 144, and joined Lever as the only players to match or beat par for the two-day, 36-hole tournament.
“I was 2 under on the front side and 2 over on the back,” Lever said. “I had a couple of bad shots on the back side that penalized me, but the golf course played well. (Star Fort pro) Tommy (Pendley) and his staff did a wonderful job, and they need to get a lot of credit for the work they’ve done.
“As time goes on, this course is going to be a really good one, and we’ll be back next year.”
Even though Lever matched par, it wasn’t pretty.
“I didn’t hit my driver well today (Sunday),” he said. “I hit it really good yesterday (Saturday), but today I missed about five fairways. I missed it really bad on two holes, but I was able to save par. My putting was pretty good, and that’s the name of the game.”
As he prepared to leave for his return home, Lever said, “I got to play with some great people this weekend, and I met a lot of nice people. I try to be as cordial as I can be, and I tell them I will not spit on their shoes with my chewing tobacco.”
And, being the first to win the trophy, he added, “I feel good about it, and my name will always be on that trophy.” For the future, Lever said he has a lot of friends who, when they hear about the event, will want to come down and play — “especially when they hear I won.”
Ronnie Branyon, of Honea Path, was in the final group, but slipped from his first day and finished at 151 in the Championship A flight.
“I played with two great golfers and knew I had to play one of my better games to stay with them,” Branyon said. “I was three shots down and bogeyed four of the first five holes before I started playing pretty good.
“I congratulate Tommy on being the first one to win. He’s a super guy. I hope the tournament will grow. I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”

Obituaries

Annie Boyd

BLACKVILLE — Annie Olivia Marshall Boyd, age 90, of 1612 Jones Bridge Road, died June 20, 2007, at Laurel Baye Healthcare Center.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 26, 2007, by the Rev. Willie Choice and the Rev. Perry Griffin at Campfield Baptist Church, Abbeville, SC. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church one hour before the service.
Mrs. Boyd was the sixth child born to the late Andrew and Bessie Mosley Marshall on September 2, 1916, in Due West, South Carolina. Annie was a quiet, reserved, and compassionate lady, whose love of God was reflected daily as she moved about the home singing her favorite hymns, “In the Garden” and “Does Jesus Care”. Annie was trained as a registered nurse at the Waverly Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina and later resided in Greenwood, South Carolina, where she worked for a number of years at Brewer Hospital. While in Greenwood, she met and married the late Anderson Boyd. There were no children born to this union.
Survivors include one sister, Lilla Alberta Marshall Smith of Suitland, Maryland; a brother-in-law, Truman B. Smith of Suitland, Maryland; five nephews, seven nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Friends may call at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Green’s Funeral Home of Blackville, South Carolina.

John Falls Jr.

Funeral services for John Thomas Falls, Jr. will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frank Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
The family is at the home of his son, John T. Falls, III, 129 Richardson Drive, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Tom, 73, widower of Felecia Ann Foster Falls died Sunday, June 24, 2007 at NHC.
Born in Shelby, NC, he was a son of the late John Thomas and Emily Catherine Smart Falls. He was the former manager of Cresent Supply and a former member of the Moose Lodge. Mr. Falls was a long time member of Harris Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
Surviving is a daughter, Monean E. Harris of Abbeville; three sons, John T. Falls, III of Greenwood, Howard Foster Falls of Due West and David Mark Falls of Abbeville; a sister, Sarah F. McDowell of Anderson; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother William Floyd Falls of Greenville.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Nancy Kinsella Perry

LEXINGTON — A Celebration of Life service for Nancy Kinsella Perry, 62, will be held at a later date. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. Memorials may be made to Nancy K. Perry Endowment at Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter, P.O. Box 344, Lexington, SC 29071 or to Shiloh United Methodist Church, 1000 Spring Hill Road, Gilbert, SC, 29054.
Mrs. Perry was born in Rochester, NY November 9, 1944 and passed away on Saturday, June 23, 2007. She was the daughter of Emilie Dress Kinsella and the late Paul Kinsella. Nancy was a graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo with a BS degree and received a Master of Education Degree from the University of South Carolina. She was a licensed Independent Social Worker in the State of South Carolina. Nancy began her career in 1972 as the initial house parent with Welcome Home in Lexington. In 1978, Nancy was named Executive Director of this home, which is now the Lexington County Children’s Shelter. She held this position until 1994. In 1992, a new purpose shelter was constructed and in honor of Nancy’s dedicated service, it was named the “Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter”.
Nancy was an Adoption Specialist with Children Unlimited Inc., specializing in Special Needs Adoption. She served in the Office of the Governor, Continuum Care Division as Director of Planning and Development. Nancy was presently Executive Director of the SC Association of Children’s Homes and Family Services.
A Joint Resolution was passed by the State Legislature and concurred by the Senate honoring Nancy’s work with South Carolina children and families. In addition, she received the Palmetto Patriots’ Award from the office of Lt. Governor Andre’ Bauer and she has been approved for the Order of the Palmetto given by Governor Mark Sanford.
Nancy is survived by her husband Roy O. Perry, Jr.; children, Philip “Flip” (Rebecca) Reynolds of West Columbia, SC, Audra (Raul) Cruz of Rowesville, SC, Laura (John) Jefferson of Lexington, SC and Michael (Erika) Perry of Abu Dhabi, UAE; grandchildren, Nicole Heslewood, Alie, Jenna, Jaden and Tre Jefferson, Chase Cruz and Maegan Reynolds; three brothers, David Kinsella of Pelion, SC, Paul Kinsella of Atlanta, GA and John Kinsella of Columbia, SC.
www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

Christopher Steven Wethington

MULLINS — Christopher Steven Wethington, age 19, died Friday, June 22, 2007. He was the son of Anne Poole Wethington and the late Steven Wayne Wethington. He was preceded in death by his father, Steve Wethington, his paternal grandfather, Thomas Henry Wethington and his maternal grandparents, Ruby and George Poole. Chris was a loving father who enjoyed baseball as his favorite pastime.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, Anne Poole Wethington of Mullins, include one daughter Emmy Grayce Wethington and the mother of his daughter, Brittany Johnson of Marion; one brother, Graham Wethington of Mullins; his paternal grandmother, Margaret Campbell Wethington of Marion; several aunts and uncles, Tommy and Brenda Wethington of Florida, Martin and Liz Poole of New York, Mary and Ervin Moyd of Marion.
Funeral service will be held Monday, June 25, 2007, 11 a.m. at Macedonia United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Kem Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Cedardale Cemetery, Mullins.
Memorials may be made to Street Reach, 509 9th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29577 or Epworth Children’s Home, P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, S.C. 29520-0466.
Meares Funeral Home of Mullins has been given the honor of serving the family of Mr. Wethington.

Opinion

Taxpayers see lawmakers wasting time and money

June 25, 2007

As the debate over the state budget and other unfinished business heated up, so did the finger-pointing by leaders of the state Senate and House. The blame game began in earnest as lawmakers prepared to return to Columbia to haggle some more ..... and all among Republicans.
Of course, the fact that they had several months to accomplish what they anticipated handling in a few extra days is enough to give taxpayers something to point fingers over, too. Why? The extra days arguing over things that are expected by the people of South Carolina to be done during “regular and usual” work days cost taxpayers tens of thousands of extra dollars.
Furthermore, it showed once again that an efficiency expert could find a home in the State House.

IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, of course ..... or just about every year. The blame may be thrown around among a variety of leaders and actions - or lack of actions - but the fact that happens indicates that something just isn’t right about how the Legislature is organized and/or operated.
Politics, to be sure, has a lot to do with hindering the flow of lawmakers’ work. It could be tied to coming elections, political philosophy, peer or constituent pressures, and/or special interests ..... the list could go on. Taxpayers/constituents, though, aren’t all that fired up about partisan politics when it comes to taking care of the public’s business. They want results. Some complain that lawmakers waste too much time and money.

WHAT TAXPAYERS PERCEIVE is foot-dragging. To that end, they want less time spent on government, not more. To add to that, indications are they’d like to see less government, period.
There’s really no reason to extend the legislative session year after year after year. That would require discipline, though, along with diligence. Could the legislative leaders generate a little more of both instead of finding fault with each other? Taxpayers know about productivity and what it means in the business/industrial world. They would, no doubt, appreciate it if lawmakers made that a priority instead of what appears to be a constant dependence on spending extra days - and money - in Columbia.
After all, if something cannot be done in four or five months, why should taxpayers expect it to happen in a few days?