Woman dies in crash

Motorcycle and sedan collide on Hwy. 72

March 22, 2007

By R. SHAWN LEWIS
Index-Journal managing editor

A female passenger on a motorcycle was killed Wednesday night in a collision with a car at the intersection of Cross Creek Connector and Highway 72 in Greenwood, near Buck Stove Pool & Spa.
The victim’s name was not released pending notification of her family. The driver of the motorcycle, who friends and witnesses said was the woman’s husband, was airlifted by helicopter to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment. A spokesman at the hospital confirmed his arrival, but could not give a status report as of 10:45 p.m.
Three people were in the maroon four-door sedan that reportedly struck the motorcycle about 8 p.m. — a driver, a front-seat passenger and a child in the back seat, said Maj. James Marshall, of Greenwood police.
Those three were taken to Self Regional Healthcare for treatment.
Details of the wreck were not released pending further investigation.
“We’ve got so many witnesses to interview,” Marshall said. “We really don’t know at this point (what happened).”
He did say the couple were ejected from the motorcycle, which came to rest under the vehicle. The car ended up in the median, perpendicular to traffic.
Assisting at the scene was Greenwood County EMS and the State Highway Patrol.
Neither Marshall nor deputy coroner Steve Owings could confirm or deny the victim was wearing a helmet.
“We’ll find out, though,” Owings said. He confirmed the woman’s death at the scene.
Zachary Grindell, a friend of the couple who was riding his motorcycle alongside them, told authorities the victim was wearing a helmet.
“She was the only one wearing a helmet,” Grindell said. “That girl always wears her lid. ‘I live by that.’ That’s the last thing she told me last night.
“They are the sweetest couple I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I’ve never seen two people more meant for each other. And now they got a baby without a mother.”
Zachary’s mother, Jackie Grindell, said “last night I rode with them. We were just slow cruising. I’ve even been on the back of (the male victim’s) bike.
“It doesn’t seem right. These are good kids. They were sober. They don’t drink and drive. They don’t do drugs.”
Looking over the debris from the wreck, she sobbed, “There’s just no reason for that.”
“The minute it happened,” she cried, “(Zachary) started yelling for help. But he didn’t have a cell phone or anything. He ran up to her, she looked up at him and died right there in his arms.
“I feel so much for him right now. He’s never even been to a funeral.”
A large crowd of curious onlookers watched from the sidewalk in front of Greenwood Mall. The woman’s body remained in the second eastbound lane covered by a white sheet for almost two hours before it was finally placed in a body bag by EMS workers under the close supervision of coroners.
Traffic on Highway 72 East was detoured around the scene. A single lane remained open on Highway 72 West.

‘When I looked back, she was gone’

Family recalls night 12-year-old was hit by car

March 22, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

ABBEVILLE — Everything happened so fast.
Just after dark March 15, Urika Enwright stood in the median of Greenwood Highway (or Highway 72) between O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and Cherokee Service Station with her daughter, Andrea Bryant.
They were waiting on Enwright’s sister, 12-year-old Aliyah Enwright, and her other daughter, 11-year-old Alexus, who were standing on the sidewalk in front of O’Reilly’s waiting on a car to finish passing by before joining them.
It was a trip they had made together many times — crossing the highway — but this one would be different than all the rest.
Aliyah yelled to Andrea that she should be more careful crossing the street.
Then suddenly — in a rush of wind and motion — Aliyah Enwright disappeared into the darkness.
A vehicle traveling toward town without its headlights on brushed the sidewalk — taking Aliyah with it.
A stunned Alexus Enwright could only stand there, dumbfounded.
“When I looked back she was just gone,” Alexus said. “I just remember seeing her shoes and her hair bow.”
The car had missed hitting her by mere inches.
Aliyah, her aunt — though only a year older than she — was not as fortunate.
She lay unconscious and bleeding in the middle of the highway with two dislocated knee caps, a badly sprained ankle, a broken bone in her left elbow and numerous abrasions on her arms and forehead.
“She had just finished telling (Andrea) that she needed to pay more attention when she crossed the road,” Urika said. “She had just got that out her mouth. Then she hollered Andrea’s name because I guess she thought the car was going to hit her, and then … I just remember him hitting her.”
The next few moments remain a blur of activity — and screams.
“Everything happened so quick,” Urika said.
And before they could dial 911, several cars had already stopped. Passersby emerged to offer what assistance they could before emergency personnel arrived.
“Everyone kept asking me if I saw the car, and I didn’t see the car because it didn’t have any lights on,” Urika added. “With the way they make tennis shoes now, they have that reflective stuff on it.
“He couldn’t have had his lights on because he would have seen her. He knocked her shoes right off her feet. It just happened so quick.”
City of Abbeville police arrested 42-year-old Abbeville resident Ronald Wharton at the scene, charging him with felony DUI. Wharton, who reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he had been drinking, remains in custody.
Urika Enwright said the car could easily have carried both girls off the sidewalk.
“(Aliyah) and (Alexus) were standing right beside each other on the sidewalk,” Urika said. “Me and (Andrea) were standing in the median. What I’m thinking he did is to keep from hitting us he swerved up on the sidewalk and hit (Aliyah), because if he was going to hit anybody he was going to hit me and my little girl.
“We were just walking to the store. That car could easily have hit both of them. It could have been both of them.” Despite her serious injuries — Aliyah remained in a Greenville hospital Intensive Care Unit until Tuesday and had surgery on both her knees — Aliyah displayed strength and courage en route to her ride to Greenville in the emergency helicopter.
“At first she wasn’t conscious, but I rode with her in the ambulance on the way to (Abbeville Area Medical Center) where she got on the helicopter,” Urika said. “She told me that if I would stop crying that she would stop crying, so I told her that I would stop crying. I’m the oldest (of five siblings), so I had to be strong for her.
“She’s the baby. I didn’t break down crying until Saturday. I guess I was in shock.”
Aliyah, a student at Wright Middle School, is expected to remain in Greenville with her mother, Georgette Enwright, and sister, Veronica Enwright, at least until the weekend, when she could return home to Abbeville.
Physically, her sister will likely experience a full recovery. The emotional recovery will be a tough one, though. “Emotionally, it’s taken a big toll on her,” Urika said. “She’s still upset about it.”

Obituaries

Ida Mae Abney

SALUDA — Ida Mae Bletcher Abney, 86, of 252 Fruit Hill Road, died on March 19, 2007 at the home. She was born in Saluda County, daughter of the late Will and Amanda Herrin Bletcher. She was a member of the Mine Creek Baptist Church, Mine Creek Burial Aide Society and the Women Home Aide Society.
She is survived by three sons, Bennie L. Kelly, Philadelphia, PA, Horace Kelly, Saluda, SC, and James A. Clark, Troy, SC; two daughters, Rosa M. Jones and Cora Bell Kelly, both of Saluda, SC; two brothers, Willie and Johnny Bletcher, both of Saluda; 19 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the Mine Creek Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. George Key. Assisting are Rev. Annette Mathis, Minister Catherine Smith and Rev. W.R. Thompson. Burial will follow in the New Salem CME Church Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Roosevelt Coleman

SALUDA — Roosevelt “Monk” Coleman, 72, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Hospice House of Greenwood. The family is at the home, 105 LaSalle St.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Emma Dominick

Emma Stewart Dominick, 83, of 4518 Highway 25 S., widow of James L. Dominick, died Monday, March 19, 2007, at the Mayo St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Romulus Dozier Jr.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the Rock Hill Baptist Church, Saluda, conducted by Rev. R.C. Holloway. Assisting are Rev. Herbert Martin and Evangelist Louise Holloway. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.

John Allen Ebo

John Allen Ebo departed this life at this home on March 17, 2007.
He was born in Greenwood, SC, on Dec. 14, 1947.
He was the son of the late Israel, Sr. and Carrie Marshall Ebo. He was formerly married to Shirley Morgan Parks. Surviving are two sisters, Yvonne Dargan (Kemp) of Suwanee, GA, and Barbara Harrison (Benjamin) of Cleveland, TN; four brothers, Isreal Ebo, Jr. of Seattle, WA, George W. Ebo, Sr. (Lillie), Clyde Ebo (Susanne), and Leon C. Ebo, all of Greenwood, SC; two aunts, Clyde Dixon of NY, Virginia Higgins of Washington, DC; six nieces, Kimberly Walker (Stacey) of Buford, GA, Zandria Ellis (Patrick) of Henderson, NC, Chanda Vintes (Anton) of Orlando, FL, Tekeya Weston of Powder Springs, GA, Alicia Harrison and Theresa Harrison, both of Cleveland, TN; three nephews, G. Warren Ebo, Jr. of Columbia, SC, Travis Ebo of Lansing, MI, and Jevon Weston of Greenwood, SC; a host of cousins, friends and his loyal and devoted caregivers, Beatrice Johnson, Tammy Peterson, Evon Hackett, Michelle Callaham, Nancy Gilchrist, who will greatly miss him.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Coronaca, with the Rev. Bernard White officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at this home on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Ebo family. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Greenwood, Upper Savannah Care Consortium or Mt. Zion Baptist Church Building Fund.
Online: pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Lawrence W. ‘Bud’ Finley

WARE SHOALS — Lawrence W. “Bud” Finley, 85, husband of Katherine Bowie “Tut” Finley, of 20 N. Greenwood Ave., died Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at his home. He was born in Greenwood County, a son of the late Jack and Mary Etta Ridge Finley. He was a member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church and Ware Shoals Masonic Lodge No. 306.
Mr. Finley served in the U.S. Naval Air Force during WWII and received numerous awards, one of which was the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Western Square Dancers.
Surviving besides his wife of the home is a daughter, Kathy Finley, Tallahassee, Florida.
He was predeceased by his sister, Helen F. Robinson.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, 2:30 p.m., at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, with Rev. Leon Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Morris Ridge, Buddy Ray Ridge, James (Conky) Gordon, Steve Gordon, James McCurry and J.E. Cooper.
Honorary escorts will be Deacons of First Baptist Church, Members of Western Square Dancers, Staff of Hospice and Dr. Carlos Manlich and Dr. Robert Todd.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, S.C., or to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 449, Ware Shoals, S.C. 29692.
The family is at the home and will receive friends Friday from 1-2:30 p.m. at The First Baptist Church. Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Glenda Greatorex

HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Glenda McDaniel Greatorex, 59, of Hilton Head Island, formerly of Ninety Six, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007.
The family is at the home of her mother, Lillian McDaniel, 226 Lowell Street, Ninety Six.
Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home and Crematory, Greenwood.

Lizzie Kate Marshall

McCORMICK — Lizzie Kate Marshall, 62, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
The family is at the home, 355 Smallwood Drive.
Services will be announced by Walker Funeral Home.

Opinion

Where politics involved, is public good an issue?

March 22, 2007

Some voters in South Carolina just might be wondering a little more than usual about what goes on in Columbia and Washington during these overly intense political times. Considering what they see happening, they can honestly hope it’s not what they get ...... that is, continue to get.
Too often it seems there is one political controversy after another. Few, it seems, are real but many appear to be manufactured by one side or the other. The subject apparently doesn’t matter. Anything and everything, it seems, no matter how inconsequential, is exploited to the maximum for self-serving purposes.
Voters can be forgiven if they view things with a bit of healthy skepticism. After all, they have years of politics-watching experience to give them an insight.

THE CONCERN THAT MIGHT be expressed these days speaks directly to what goes on ..... or doesn’t go on.
From all appearances, so many lawmakers of every political persuasion get so engrossed in playing politics voters surely must wonder. Are politicians more interested in politics itself than they are in putting aside pure partisan differences and working together for the good of the people in general?
The discouraging part about it is that the in-your-face politicking is just beginning ..... and the primary elections are almost a year away. There should be little wonder that many voters get tired of political games and stay home on election days.
The way things are going - and getting dirtier by the day - the next year and a half may reach new highs ..... or lows.