School board election nears
Facility improvement, financial strategy still dominate community needs in Ninety Six
May 7, 2007
By
By MIKE ROSIER and LARRY SINGER
Index-Journal staff writers
NINETY SIX Were you to ask 11 candidates
for public office their particular views on the greatest need
facing the community, youd probably get a variety of
answers because of the general nature of the question.
This is not the case in Ninety Six, however, for the 11
candidates running for election to the Greenwood County School
District 52 Board of Trustees.
In Ninety Six, the focus of attention sits squarely upon the
districts facility improvement strategy, after the board
had its $35 million bond referendum to build a new Ninety Six
High School soundly defeated at the polls.
The problem has not changed or gone away the district
still needs improved facilities that will keep pace with the
districts academic prowess.
Opinions, obviously, are varied on just how the district should
get there.
In Tuesdays school board election, three seats are up for
grabs. One election will fill the vacant seat left by Rodney
Smith when he took over as district finance director.
Two candidates current board member Butch Cobb and
newcomer Ray A. Jackson will vie for that seat. The winner
will have to run for re-election next year to retain the seat.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cobb is vacating his normal board seat, creating one of the other
openings, while incumbent Sam Corley is up for re-election.
Nine candidates are seeking election to those two seats.
They are Sam Corley, Betty Speach, Wayne Moore, Mary E. Molly
Harts, Bruce Werts, Amy Hilley, Tom McKellar, Dayne Pruitt and
Mack Galphin.
Board seats occupied by William H. Long II and Michael Bryant
will be up for election again in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
The Index-Journal recently asked each of the candidates five
questions concerning their views on several topics. Their answers
to those five questions follow in no particular order or
sequence.
1. What made you decide to run for the school board?
* Werts One thing is the new high school issue. I
dont think we need a new high school. And Im looking
for the kids interest in the school itself.
* Hilley I have an interest in being involved with
my childrens education.
* McKellar I have three sons in the Ninety Six
school district, and I want to take a more active role in the
educational system.
* Pruitt As a former school board member with two
children in the school district, I would like to see us continue
to improve academically.
* Galphin The $35 million bond referendum. Were
in a situation here where we have to address these facilities
problems, and I want to see it taken care of in a way that it
provides everything our students need and at the same time is
affordable for our taxpayers.
* Cobb Were into a time of need for a building
program, and I wanted to be involved in deciding as far as what
we built and how much we spent in that area. I wanted to be part
of the building program.
* Speach Primarily because of the past bond
referendum and all of the issues that have come out of that, like
the issues of a facilities plan and out-of-district students. I
think its also pointed out a need for better communication
between the board and the community. I think that I can bring a
different perspective to the board than maybe what has been
presented already.
* Jackson Ive got four kids, and I want to be
a part of their education. If I can serve on this board and help
direct this community and this board for every child in this
community, I want to do that.
* Moore My decision to run has been multi-faceted.
One, I have more time now that Im retired, and this past
bond referendum. I was one of the 800 people that were opposed to
it. Its time to introduce some new people and some new
ideas to the board.
* Corley Weve got so much going on, hopefully
with a building program, and being a veteran (of the board) of 15
years I still think I have a lot to give. Hopefully, were
headed in the right direction.
* Harts Being an educator and with my love for
children, Im concerned with a child getting a good, solid
education and a good background. So far, District 52 is the only
(local system) with schools of excellence. I just want to keep
that going. Thats why Im running.
2. What is your stance on (past, future) bond referendums for
school improvements?
Werts I want school improvements. We need that.
* Hilley I supported the bond referendum. Whether it
was the best plan, Im not going to say it was the best
plan, but I supported the bond referendum. There had been
discussions for over five years that I had heard, and nothing had
been done, and basically I was excited that they got up and
finally started to do something and woke up the community. There
will be something done.
* McKellar I would support a bond referendum for
school improvements. In addition we must keep our schools up to
date with changing technology.
Pruitt Id like to review everything that is
being considered, encourage and listen to community input, and
then make any decisions based on all these factors. I do believe
something needs to be done about our middle school.
* Galphin I was solidly against the $35 million
referendum, and I worked very hard to defeat it. I think before
another referendum is presented to the voters, there needs to be
a series of public meetings where the voters can input ideas or
suggestions that they have. I was upset that the present board
never met with the public on the $35 million referendum.
* Cobb My stance was always for a middle school. I
supported the boards decision to build a high school and I
went along with that, but I wanted to build a middle school from
the beginning. I would support right now the building of a middle
school and renovating the high school for whatever needs, like
expanding the cafeteria and adding classrooms.
Speach I voted against the bond referendum, and I
was in the majority. I dont think there was enough study
and planning put into that whole process. We need to build
something that will address our needs and not something that just
looks good. I dont think we have the type of population to
support that type or size of school, or that much money.
* Jackson The past bond referendum was a solid vote
against what the board had recommended. We are in big need of a
new building and a new school. We need to sit down with parents
and the board and come up with ideas of what is best for this
community and our children. I feel personally that we can do it
for less than what the last referendum was for, and I hope that
we can because we need the community support and we know that
didnt happen last time.
* Moore Im telling everyone that if Im
elected and if the board changes, that that doesnt mean
that we wont revisit the issue and ask the people for
something. It just wont be $35 million. We will have to ask
for something because we definitely have to make some
improvements.
* Corley To be honest, when we did the last
referendum I didnt want to go the route that some others
(of the district) went. We just wanted the people in Ninety Six
to have a voice in what we were doing. Im not real
surprised that it didnt pass, but I was surprised in the
difference. We just felt like we needed to get more input than
just the four or five people (on the board).
* Harts This year the citizens have spoken and I
feel that its a moot point.
3. What are the greatest challenges facing the Ninety Six School
District?
* Werts To have the best employees at the school.
* Hilley Youve got school consolidation and
school choice. If we dont have the facilities that can
accommodate these students, our children may be bused over to
Greenwood. Weve also got the head football coach position
thats open. There is also school construction,
consolidation and school choice.
* McKellar Since we are a small school district, the
community will need to pull together and offer some assistance in
updating and maintaining the current facilities like schools and
athletic fields, but not necessarily by raising taxes to cover
these expenditures.
* Pruitt I think we need to work more at the state
level to ensure we get the most funding available to us. We also
need to put to the best use the tax dollars that are currently
available to us.
* Galphin We need to put together a long-term
comprehensive plan for our facilities. We have a middle school
that is running on life support. We have a primary school that
has many old buildings in it. We have a problem here with
operations cost because we have four campuses in a 1,600-student
school district. We must develop a plan that brings us back to
three campuses, and at the same time resolve any and all
facilities problem we may have now and in the future.
* Cobb As far as the education side, we hire people
to do that and they do a good job at that.
The building thing is our job.
Speach The greatest challenge is to develop some
type of facilities plan and to address the needs of our
facilities. I also think we need to restore some of the
confidence in the board that may have been damaged as a result of
this last referendum. We also need to maintain our reputation for
academic excellence in Ninety Six. We need to safeguard that.
* Jackson We have building needs, not only with the
middle school, but once we take care of that situation we need to
make sure that the high school, the elementary school and the
primary schools are up to par. We dont want those schools
to look in five or 10 years like the middle school and well
be right back in the same pot. We just need to make sure those
things are up to speed and that we are providing an atmosphere
where students can learn and teachers can teach because it makes
a big difference.
* Moore Weve got to look at the board, and
thats what Im doing. I think that the school board
has lost credibility with the people, with the taxpayers, with
the voters and with the parents. The credibility in the school
board has to be restored before the voters are going to let us do
anything, or trust us with the money. The greatest challenge in
the district is with Edgewood Middle School. We have to do
something there, and thats going to cost some money.
Edgewood is definitely the first thing that has to be corrected.
* Corley Our biggest priority right now is building
a new middle school. We need to get these children a better
atmosphere. That just needs to happen.
* Harts The greatest challenge is getting and
keeping qualified educators. We really need to do a background
check, so to speak, so we can have a quality education.
4. What would you seek to change, or see accomplished if elected
(or re-elected)?
* Werts Id like to cut some of the politics
out of it. To let the kids enjoy the athletics and the future of
the school.
* Hilley Im not going into it with any agenda.
My stance is that I want to be involved. I feel Im a
candidate that has the experience of making decisions that can
help this school district if it goes into a construction phase. I
think the community has to come back together as a whole. Theres
a lot now thats separating this community with the bond
referendum.
* McKellar I would like to see a new high school
built, although a referendum has been passed against it. If we
can find a way to bring more students to the district, then it
would increases our chances for getting additional funding.
* Pruitt I really am not going into this election
with an inflexible agenda, but as only one of five board members,
I do hope to work with the rest of the board and the
administration to address new concerns as they arise.
* Galphin I think it would be in the best interest
of the school district if the board were to have a review of the
policy manual making, any changes to policy that are necessary
and then running this school district by that policy manual. Our
athletic department is in need of attention. Non-football sports
have lacked the support and funding they need to excel for much
too long.
* Cobb One person cant make any changes; it
takes the whole board to get things done. The education and
academics are so good I wouldnt want to change anything
along those lines.
Speach We need to make sure that the facilities that
we have are what we need and to see that they are safe. Probably
the biggest need now would be Edgewood (Middle School).
* Jackson I would love to see a united community
behind a building program, and just a united community behind our
kids, and support our kids in every aspect whether that be
academics, sports or whatever.
* Moore Weve got to restore confidence in the
board. We had one of the largest voter turnouts and its
because people didnt think it was right. They didnt
believe that the board was being totally honest and factual.
* Corley It would be hard to find anything to
change. You can go anywhere in the state, and if they ask you
where you live and you say Ninety Six, they will say
thats the best school district in the state of South
Carolina. It really makes you proud when you hear people
recognize that fact. We have great administrators and we can pick
and choose the best teachers, and thats who we get, the
best.
* Harts Id like to have mentors. Id like
to protect safe places, structured activities, and nurture a
healthy start for a healthy future. We need to prepare marketable
skills for these children and cultivate opportunities to serve. I
want to see these children and this community just lock hands.
5. What is your position on school safety measures currently in
place?
* Werts We need to do something about issues on all
these shootings and stuff like that. We need to put some kind of
cameras or something up to keep it safe. You dont want
nobody else to come in there and hurt somebody in the schools.
* Hilley We do not have enough. The safety is not
there for our littlest children. We need locks on the middle
schools and high schools, and theres more safety issues
that need to be addressed.
* McKellar The school safety measures Ive seen
in place allow for people to enter a school building without
notification of the principals. As a parent, I feel I should be
able to visit my children in school; however, I would like to see
additional security by providing safe access around campuses and
playgrounds.
* Pruitt Id like to review the policies that
are currently in place and ensure that we are protecting our
children to the best of our ability.
* Galphin I believe our staff and administration is
doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our students.
We should, however, always be on the lookout for any new
technology or measures to help increase our safety.
* Cobb Ive talked with a guy at a large 4-AAAA
school, and every morning they have two officers that (scan)
everyone that comes through the doors (for weapons), and thats
what its coming to. We just need to look at other things.
Locked doors dont always deter violence. I dont know
that anyone has the answer.
Speach I have not seen their safety plan, so I dont
see how I could honestly address that particular question at this
time.
* Jackson School safety is a very important thing.
Thats a big concern of mine. We need to make sure that our
kids are safe, and not only the kids but our teachers and staff.
Safety is a big thing.
* Moore School safety is everyones concern. I
spent 32 years in a college environment where safety was a
concern. The problem is that were open. The board has
looked at locks and things, but its almost impossible to be
totally safe. One thing I would look at is when people come to
our schools that there is a point of entry where people cannot
get any further without restrictions. To me thats the only
thing we can reasonably do.
Corley I think we are doing everything we can do,
but I do think we can do better. We just have to look at
everything (safety improvement) as it comes.
* Harts Im looking at the middle school and we
have these modules (mobile units), I call them out-houses, and I
know thats not the proper term, but thats what I call
them. I am not a big fan of them at all. Someone told me about a
story in another school district where a teacher took a cell
phone from a student and took it to the office. A half-hour later
and a parent is in the module confronting the teacher and the
authorities didnt even know she was there. That scared me.
Id like to see a better middle school, even if they have to
build it up from the ground. We need to put these children under
one roof where they can be protected.
Police: Suspects used phony prescriptions
May 7, 2007
By
MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer
ABBEVILLE Police say they have arrested
three suspects after busting a local prescription drug ring.
Placed into custody and charged with obtaining prescription drugs
by false pretense are Lindsey Smoak, 23, of 403-4 Greenville St.;
David A. Shores, 19, of 403-4 Greenville St.; and Debra Harriott,
53, of 4402 Highway 25 S. in Greenwood.
Police say Smoak first arrested Jan. 18 would call
in the phony prescriptions posing as a doctors office
employee. Either she or Shores would then pick up the
prescription (most often painkillers).
Local drugstores began to grow suspicious of the increased
activity, and police say Smoak and Shores were finally arrested
after trying to pick up the same prescription from an
Abbeville-area pharmacy within 10 minutes of each other.
A specialized criminal fraud division from the state joined the
investigation when it was learned the two suspects had a more
wide-ranging operation than had previously been thought.
Eventually, on Feb. 23, police arrested Smoaks mother
Debra Harriott and charged her with attempting to
obtain prescription drugs by false pretense after she also
attempted to pick up a prescription that had been called in by
Smoak.
Law enforcement then decided to execute a search warrant on an
Abbeville apartment serving as a residence for Smoak and Shores,
calling upon the Calhoun Falls Police Departments canine
unit for assistance. Authorities say drug dog Nero
located several items of interest suggesting the presence of
illegal prescription drugs inside the residence.
Smoak and Harriott have been released on bond, while Shores
remains in jail.
The state attorney generals office will prosecute the case
now awaiting a date in general sessions court by
way of a special criminal fraud prosecutor.
Abbeville Police Department Lt. Det. Curtis Killian wished to
thank the Calhoun Falls Police Department for the helping hand in
bringing this case to trial.
We definitely appreciate the full cooperation received from
the Calhoun Falls Police Department in being able to utilize
their canine unit within this investigation, Killian said.
We want to thank them for their help.
S.C. Highway Patrol urges summer motorcycle safety
May 7, 2007
By
CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer
As the weather grows warmer and summer approaches, vans and SUVs
filled with families heading on vacation wont be the only
vehicles flooding the road.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is warning residents of
Greenwood and the Lakelands area to be vigilant of an increasing
number of motorcycles in the roadways during the coming months.
Late spring and summer are usually the times when people ride
motorcycles purely for recreation and when many bike shows and
motorcycle-themed weekend events take place.
The main thing is that we want people to be safe out there
on the roads, said Scot Edgeworth, a state trooper in the
Greenwood-based Troop 2. We need those riding motorcycles
to be alert and those in cars to keep their eyes open for those
riding them.
Highway Patrol Col. Russell Roark agreed.
Our most important advice right now is to share the road,
Roark said. A 3,000-pound car is easy to spot, as opposed
to a motorcycle that can get in your blind spot or seemingly come
out of nowhere. Motorists must make an effort to interact with
motorcycles safely.
According to the Highway Patrol, 23 motorcyclists have died on
the roads of South Carolina so far this year, as opposed to 28 at
this time a year ago. There has been at least one motorcycle
fatality in Greenwood: April Bryan, 21, who was a passenger on a
motorcycle driven by husband John Bryan, died in March when the
bike collided with a car on the Highway 72 Bypass.
The number of motorcycle collisions and fatalities has been
consistently up in South Carolina and across the nation in recent
years. There was a jump in fatalities in 2006, prompting the
South Carolina Department of Public Safety to organize a
committee to review motorcycle safety issues.
Roark said failure to yield either on the part of the
motorcyclist or on the part of the driver is the leading
cause of fatal motorcycle crashes in South Carolina. He said
inattention and speed are two other leading causes.
The Highway Patrol will be instituting a Trooper Every 10
program for Memorial Day weekend. A trooper will patrol every
10-mile stretch of I-20 from Aiken to Florence. Additionally,
Highway Patrol motorcycle units and other units will focus
heavily on I-26, I-85 and I-95.
Roark said he fully supports the program.
Trooper Every 10 is an effective deterrent program that we
used heavily several years ago when our trooper strength was
higher, Roark said. The idea is to heighten
visibility and conduct proactive enforcement. This immediately
slows traffic down, thus saving lives during the heavily traveled
holiday weekends.
Obituaries
Michael John Dotson
SALUDA
Michael John Dotson, 37, of Saluda, formerly of
Fayetteville, NC, died Saturday, May 5, 2007, due to a car
accident. He was the son of Larry E. and Marianne Beck Dotson of
Fayetteville.
In addition to his parents he is survived by a son, Michael
Nelson Davis of Fayetteville, NC, a brother, Jimmy L. Dotson of
Aiken, SC and a host of friends.
A memorial service to celebrate Michaels life will be held
at a later date in Fayetteville, NC.
Online condolences may be sent to the Dotson family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.
Harris Funeral Home, of Abbeville is assisting the Dotson family.
Irmaline Campbell Hall
CALHOUN
FALLS Irmaline Campbell Hall, age 81, of 877
Savannah Street, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2007, at Abbeville
Area Medical Center.
A native of Calhoun Falls, Mrs. Hall was the daughter of the late
Eben Campbell and Alice Crout Campbell, and was the widow of
Gaines O. Hall. She was a lifelong member of Calhoun Falls
Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the
choir. She was a graduate of Anderson College, President of the
American Legion for over 18 years, a member of The Golden Age
Club and United Methodist Women. She was very active in the
family grocery business and will be greatly missed by her family
and friends.
Mrs. Hall is survived by son, Gene Hall of Calhoun Falls;
daughters, Donna H. Smith of St. Simons and Stella Dent of
Hogansville, GA; grandchildren, Dana and Brian Smith of St.
Simons; great-grandchildren, Ria Smith of Michigan, Adrienne
Smith of Illinois and Ramie Smith of St. Simons; and a sister,
Betty Jo Hall.
A graveside service will be held Monday, May 7, 2007, at 2 p.m.
at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Abbeville. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to Calhoun Falls Methodist Church, 329
Jackson Street, Calhoun Falls, SC 29628, or to Hospice Care of
South Carolina, 102 Trinity Street, Abbeville, SC 29620. The
family may be contacted at the residence.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dewey Lowery
NORTH
AUGUSTA Preston Dewey Lowery, 67, of 77 Dupriest Circle,
husband of Sara Frances Ford Lowery, died Saturday, May 5, 2007,
at University Hospital in Augusta, GA.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of the late Preston Brooks
and Ethel Harter Lowery. Mr. Lowery was the terminal manager at
Pope Transport and a member of Cambridge United Methodist Church
in Ninety Six.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home is a daughter,
Susan Evans of Acworth, GA; two stepdaughters, Penny Norris of
Ninety Six and Liz Stokley of Belton; a stepson, Michael Roberts
of Columbia; a sister, Hilda Sims of Ninety Six; two brothers,
Ronald Lowery of Six Mile and Donald Lowery of Powdersville;
eleven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Harley Funeral
Home Chapel with Dr. Steven Todd officiating. Burial will be in
Elmwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Davis Mitchel, Joe Reese, Patrick Blakenship,
Steve Kubcik, Cris Marshall, Mark Adams, Randy Smith and Sam
Stevenson.
Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of Pope Transport of
North Augusta, SC, Ray Jones, Drew King, Bill McClam, and Bill
Pow.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday
from 6-8 p.m.
The family is at the home of his sister, Hilda Sims, 108 Dogwood
Drive, Ninety Six, SC.
Memorials may be made to the American Foundation of the Blind, 11
Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001. Online condolences may
be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
Alma McFaddin
Alma
Davis McFaddin, 83, of 1608 Hwy 246 South, died Sunday, May 6,
2007, at Hospice House.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Harley
Funeral Home & Crematory.
The family is at the home of her granddaughter, Jennifer
Reynolds, 312 Circle Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Helen Marie Murphy
CHESTERFIELD,
Mich. Helen Marie Murphy, age 75, a resident of
Chesterfield Twp., Michigan, formerly 15 year resident of
Greenwood, South Carolina, died on Saturday, May 5, 2007.
She was born June 24, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan.
Mrs. Murphy was a homemaker. Shortly after she was married, she
was employed at Firestone in Detroit in the secretarial
department and left work after her first child was born to
concentrate on home and family.
She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Mt. Clemens,
where she served with the Ushers Club. Taking pride in her home,
she decorated it beautifully and was talented with sewing,
especially making clothing. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels
and enjoyed meeting and visiting with the recipients of those
meals.
She is survived by her husband Edward; four children, Elizabeth
(Douglas) Daligga of Okemos, Maureen Murphy of Clinton Twp.,
Sally (Steve) Vanvyve of Mason, MI, Timothy Murphy of Sterling
Heights; granddaughter, Sarah Rose Daligga; a brother, John
(Rita) McMichael of Harrison Twp.; a sister, Marge Hamman of
Breckenridge, MI; sisters-in-law, Eileen McMichael of Clinton
Twp., Helen Salata of Rochester, NY, Barbara Murphy of Clinton
Twp.; brothers-in-law, Frank Ruggero of Clinton Twp., Michael
(Sharon) Murphy of Fraser; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents James and Margaret
Gallagher McMichael, a brother, Leo McMichael, a sister, Frances
Ruggero and brothers-in-law, Grover Hamman, Al Salata, William
Murphy and sister-in-law, Frances Gehart.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in St.
Peter Catholic Church, 95 Market Street, Mt. Clemens, with the
Rev. Father Michael Cooney officiating. Private cremation will be
at Evergreen Crematory, Detroit. Visitation will be held in the
Harold W. Vick Funeral Home, 140 South Main, Mt. Clemens on
Tuesday, from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. with a Holy Rosary at 7 p.m.
Additional visitation will be held on Wednesday in the church
from 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., the hour of services. Family suggest
contributions to St. Peter Catholic Church.
Share memories with the family at www.vickfuneralhome.com.
Joseph Bob Wharton
McCORMICK
Mr. Joseph Bob Wharton was born in McCormick,
SC on January 28, 1939 to the late Gussie and Lillie Mae Thompson
Worden. He was a graduate of Mims High School in 1958.
After leaving South Carolina, he resided in Boston, Mass. and was
employed with the Brewster Wall Covering Company. He was a
resident at Savannah Heights Living Center, McCormick, SC.
He joined Shiloh A.M.E. Church at an early age and rejoined upon
his return to McCormick.
Joseph departed this life following a long illness on Friday, May
4, 2007.
Survivors are three brothers; Gussie (Beatrice) Worden, Jr.,
James (Betty) Worden and Claude (Marjorie) Worden all of
McCormick, SC; two sisters, Mrs. Patricia W. (James) Price of
McCormick, Ms. Jennie Patrick of Atlanta, GA; two aunts, Mrs.
Lizzie T. Avery and Ms. Edna Holmes both of McCormick, SC; and a
host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services are Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Shiloh A.M.E. Church with the
pastor, Rev. James Louden, III officiating. Assisting will be
Rev. Ruth Robinson and Rev. Albert Bell. Interment will be in the
church cemetery.
Friends may call at the home of Gussie Worden, 138 Coleman Hill
Road.
Walker Funeral Home is in charge.
Harold White
HODGES
Harold Ethan White, 85, resident of 105 North Hills Court,
husband of Louise Tripp White, died May 6, 2007, at Self Regional
Medical Center.
Born in McCormick County, August 21, 1921, he was a son of the
late Arthur P. and Ellie Ridlehoover White. He was a graduate of
Greenwood High School.
Mr. White retired in 1992 as Chief Deputy of the Greenwood County
Sheriffs Department after 26 years service. He was formerly
employed by Southside Mercantile Company for 25 years.
A member of South Main Street Baptist Church and the Lions Club,
he was also a member of the SC Law Enforcement Officers
Association.
Surviving in addition to his beloved wife of 65 years are three
daughters, Glenda W. Bazen of Greenwood, Carole W. Roberts of
Hurley, NY and Debroah W. Herig of Greenwood; nine grandchildren,
Sonya R. Davis, Suzanne R. McFerrin, Tracy R. Pryde, Don Rushton,
Tripp Bazen, Jason Bazen, Ben Herig, John Herig, and Grant Herig;
thirteen great-grandchildren. Mr. White was the last member of
his immediate family.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Tuesday from the
Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ryan Eklund and Rev. Richard
McWhite officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, and a great-grandson, Taylor
Davis.
Honorary escort will be members and retired members of the
Greenwood County Sheriffs Department along with Reese
Roberts, Stephen McFerrin, Larry Davis, Mackie Bazen, Lina
Blizzard, Donna Knight, Giles Daniel, Sam Riley, Joe Bolton, Ray
Tripp and Franchot Parnell.
The family is at the home on North Hills Court and will receive
friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 Monday evening.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to South Main Street
Baptist Church, PO Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to Greenwood
Humane Society, PO Box 242, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the
White family.
CORRECTION
For the obituary of Harold Simpson in Sundays paper, survivors were omitted in the information provided to The Index-Journal. Survivors also include nephews; Ray Holder and Ronnie Holder, both of Greenwood, Barron Davenport of Columbia, Bob Davenport of Cross Hill, Wayne Davenport of Greenwood, and Gene Simpson of Waterloo; also a niece, Deanne Salter of Greenwood.
Opinion
Supporting
right of faith has kept the U. S. strong
May 7, 2007
Part
Two: These are quarrelsome times. People, it seems, are
more litigious, disputatious and downright combative. Tolerance -
religious tolerance - once the hallmark of a way of life, is
being lost in the one-size-fits-all shuffle.
Nothing is more illustrative of this than the way we have treated
the faith of our fathers and indeed faith in general.
While Christianity was and is dominant in this nation, the rights
of people of every faith have been recognized and accepted as an
integral part of everyday life.
Throughout our history we have worshipped or not worshipped
according to our own beliefs. Tolerance has been demonstrated in
the fact that we uphold the right of others to worship as they
see fit ..... and leave them alone to do it.
Whether they follow a religion that differs from Christianity has
never been a question.
TOLERANCE HAS MARKED the way we behave, but
rights is the operable word. No one even has to think
about rights, though. It has historically been the way things
were.
Christianity has respected other religions and other religions
have respected Christianity ..... and all have lived accordingly,
without questions.
Now religious intolerance is becoming a constant and growing
tension on the freedom of worship granted to everyone in the
Constitution. There are increasing attempts to deny Christians
the ability to observe the customs that are historically
intertwined with their faith.
Not too many weeks ago, there was an overt attempt to take Merry
Christmas out of that Holy Season and substitute Happy
Holidays. Just recently, as some might know, there were
some who wanted to eliminate the Easter Bunny and
replace it with the Spring Bunny. No joke.
THERE ARE SURE TO BE those who argue that such
customs work to promote Christianity as the state religion. Thats
pure folly. Christianity dates back for centuries worldwide and
throughout the life of this nation. In all that time it has not
become the state religion, and all other religions continue to
exist.
Tolerance is not unconstitutional. Its upholding and
observing the right of everyone to have or not have his own
religion. Its supportive. It doesnt mean that one
individual or one group has the right to deny the right of
worship to anyone, whether its in church on Sunday or some
other day. Nor does it preclude the observance of customs that
are integral parts of whatever faith is involved.
Intolerance? Thats when anyone tries to deny anyone the
right or ability to follow his beliefs, particularly in public
places, in public view. Being free to observe our faiths,
whatever they might be, is what validates the First Amendment.
Doing it publicly validates our faith.