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, you’d 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 district’s 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 district’s academic prowess.
Opinions, obviously, are varied on just how the district should get there.
In Tuesday’s 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 don’t think we need a new high school. And I’m looking for the kids’ interest in the school itself.”
* Hilley — “I have an interest in being involved with my children’s 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. We’re 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 — “We’re 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 it’s 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 — “I’ve 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 I’m retired, and this past bond referendum. I was one of the 800 people that were opposed to it. It’s time to introduce some new people and some new ideas to the board.”
* Corley — “We’ve 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, we’re headed in the right direction.”
* Harts — “Being an educator and with my love for children, I’m 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. That’s why I’m 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, I’m 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 — “I’d 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 board’s 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 didn’t happen last time.”
* Moore — “I’m telling everyone that if I’m elected and if the board changes, that that doesn’t mean that we won’t revisit the issue and ask the people for something. It just won’t 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 didn’t 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. I’m not real surprised that it didn’t 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 it’s 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 — “You’ve got school consolidation and school choice. If we don’t have the facilities that can accommodate these students, our children may be bused over to Greenwood. We’ve also got the head football coach position that’s 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 don’t want those schools to look in five or 10 years like the middle school and we’ll 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 — “We’ve got to look at the board, and that’s what I’m 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 that’s 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 — “I’d like to cut some of the politics out of it. To let the kids enjoy the athletics and the future of the school.”
* Hilley — “I’m not going into it with any agenda. My stance is that I want to be involved. I feel I’m 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. There’s a lot now that’s 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 can’t make any changes; it takes the whole board to get things done. The education and academics are so good I wouldn’t 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 — “We’ve got to restore confidence in the board. We had one of the largest voter turnouts and it’s because people didn’t think it was right. They didn’t 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 that’s 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 that’s who we get, the best.”
* Harts — “I’d like to have mentors. I’d 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 don’t 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 there’s more safety issues that need to be addressed.”
* McKellar — “The school safety measures I’ve 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 — “I’d 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 — “I’ve 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 that’s what it’s coming to. We just need to look at other things. Locked doors don’t always deter violence. I don’t know that anyone has the answer.”
Speach — “I have not seen their safety plan, so I don’t see how I could honestly address that particular question at this time.”
* Jackson — “School safety is a very important thing. That’s 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 everyone’s concern. I spent 32 years in a college environment where safety was a concern. The problem is that we’re open. The board has looked at locks and things, but it’s 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 that’s 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 — “I’m looking at the middle school and we have these modules (mobile units), I call them out-houses, and I know that’s not the proper term, but that’s 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 didn’t even know she was there. That scared me. I’d 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 doctor’s 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 Smoak’s 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 Department’s 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 general’s 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 won’t 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 Michael’s 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 Sheriff’s 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 Officer’s 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 Sheriff’s 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 Sunday’s 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. That’s 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. It’s upholding and observing the right of everyone to have or not have his own religion. It’s supportive. It doesn’t mean that one individual or one group has the right to deny the right of worship to anyone, whether it’s 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? That’s 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.