By Nicole Daughhetee
Courier Staff

LIBERTY — The Liberty community suffered a great loss Jan. 30, as Luther Johnson, Jr., a longtime civic leader and local businessman passed away in his sleep at age 82 with his wife and son at his bedside.

A son of the late Luther Johnson, Sr., and Eva Louise Anderson Johnson, Luther Johnson, Jr., was born in Pickens County and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Benedict College in Columbia before continuing with graduate-level courses, earning a Master of Science from North Carolina A&T State University.
Education was important to Johnson, so he sought additional courses at the prestigious Penn State University, and studied religion at Clemson University in Pickens County.

During his professional life, Johnson served as principal at both Greer Elementary and Belton Middle Schools. He was also a member of the Pickens County Retired Teachers Association.

Perhaps most notable, however, was Johnson’s service as one of the oldest licensed funeral directors in the state of South Carolina. He earned his professional license as a funeral director in 1955, at a time when the licensing process was just beginning. He was an active member and also served as an officer for the South Carolina Mortician Association (SCMA) and National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.

EASLEY — An Easley man is behind bars after turning himself into authorities on Sunday after his stepbrother was shot in the face on Friday.

Derrick Jeremiah Goode, 42, of 123 21st Street in Easley, had been at large since the incident and sought by police in the shooting, authorities with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said.
Police say they believe a verbal dispute between two family members resulted in a single gunshot wound to the face of an adult male also living at the home at the Silverlake Mobile Home Park.

Deputies say they were called to the Baptist Easley emergency room in reference to a shooting. When they arrived they spoke to the victim, who told officers that he was holding his brother’s gun and it went off, striking him in the lower jaw. When officers went to the waiting room, a witness at the scene told deputies that the victim was covering for his stepbrother.

After taking a written voluntary statement from the witness, deputies obtained warrants for the arrest of Goode for attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Pickens County Chief Deputy Creed Hashe told the Courier that no bond had not been set, and Goode is being held at the Pickens County detention center.

EASLEY — The Baptist Easley Hospital board of directors announced Thursday that Michael L. Batchelor has been named as the hospital’s CEO.

“I am pleased to announce the selection of Michael Batchelor,” board chairman Greg Rusnak said. “Michael comes to us with over 20 years of healthcare experience, including progressive leadership in health system and operational management, business development, and team building. While there were several qualified candidates interviewed, the board was impressed with both Michael’s experience and his commitment to the Easley community.”

The Baptist Easley board of directors, working with Atlanta-based search firm Witt-Kieffer, conducted a national search for the candidate from an initial pool of 188 applications. After personal interviews, the consulting firm chose six candidates to be interviewed by the Executive/Governance Committee of the board.

From those six candidates, three finalists were selected to spend two days (individually) being interviewed by senior leaders, board members, representatives from the Medical Executive Committee, the BEH foundation board, and the community, along with the CEOs from Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health System, and Baptist Easley Hospital. After careful review, the board selected Batchelor at its January meeting.

The ambiance of the iconic Birdland Jazz Club in New York City will be re-created on Clemson University’s Brooks Center stage with “Live at Birdland” featuring the Birdland Big Band directed by Tommy Igoe at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12. Created in 2006 by Igoe, the Birdland Big Band has become the most popular weekly musical residency in New York City. It is dedicated to performing unique music from all over the world. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and are available for purchase online at www.clemson.edu/Brooks and through the box office at 864-656-7787 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

By Ben Robinson
For the Courier

PICKENS — Get ready, Pickens.

Little Texas is coming to town.

Promoter Pat Mulkey showed up at Monday night’s meeting of Pickens County Council with news that the tremendously popular country music act will be the headlining act for this year’s Azalea Festival.

“We always try to get somebody special for Pickens and the festival,” Mulkey said. “Last year we had T. Graham Brown, but this year really tops anything we’ve been able to do. Little Texas is one of the hottest groups out there. And these guys have worked their way to the top of the charts, so they don’t give half-hearted concerts.

“Everything they do is top notch.”

BOB EFLIN

CLEMSON — Robert Dean “Bob” Eflin, 83, of Clemson Downs, and longtime Clemson resident died peacefully on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013.
Born in Wichita, Kan. he was the widower of Janet Eflin and a son of the late Elmer and Louise Eflin. He was a founding member of Schaefer, Schirmer, and Eflin Architectural Firm in Wichita, Kan. He later retired as a Professor Emeritus & Master Planner for Clemson University and was also a custom home builder.

Surviving are a daughter, Lynn LaClair of Aiken; two sons, Camden Eflin of Liberty and Vance Eflin of Inarajan, Guam; a brother, Richard Eflin of Naples, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
Memorial services to honor his life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com.

Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.

EASLEY — The Palmetto Bank has donated $25,000 to the Pickens County YMCA for capital development on future projects at the Easley YMCA.

A gift of $5,000 annually has been made over the past five years through a pledge made in 2007. The donated funds help to maintain and develop needs of the YMCA in Easley.

“We are deeply thankful to the Palmetto Bank for their contribution to our YMCA,” said Sid Collins, CEO of the Pickens County YMCA. “Gifts like these ensure the Y’s ability to serve the community for many years to come. The Palmetto Bank has been a great partner with our YMCA since it came to the Easley area. Their community support and commitment reflects the type of business they are as well as their values. We consider Palmetto Bank and its employees here in Easley part of the Y family.”

“We are honored to support the Pickens County YMCA,” said Trish Springfield, retail banking executive at The Palmetto Bank. “The Palmetto Bank has been serving the Upstate communities since 1906. We take community support seriously, and it has been our privilege to partner with an organization that provides great programs that help the community stay healthy.”

EASLEY — At the age of 61, Dr. Mike Carmical, an Easley High School science teacher for the last 16 years, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 22, of a coronary-related issue, according to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley.

Described by co-workers and students alike as a great man with a terrific sense of humor, his untimely death was a huge loss not only to his family, but also to those he worked with in Pickens County. SDPC spokesman John Eby said that his students honored him last Thursday by coming to school dressed in a white shirt and wearing a tie — Carmical’s unofficial uniform.

After students learned about his death, counselors were made available to help students cope with their loss and grief.

Easley High School principal Tim Mullis said that everyone at EHS was shocked and saddened by the sudden loss.

“Dr. Carmical always had a smile on his face and was ready to help out anyway he could. He was optimistic,” said Mullis. “He was a guy who loved people, saw the good in people and really touched people’s lives.”