Monthly Archives: January 2016
Rec dept. volleyball, soccer signups open
PICKENS — The Pickens Recreation Department is taking registrations for the spring volleyball and soccer seasons during the month of January.
[cointent_lockedcontent]Signups for both sports began Monday at the Pickens Recreation Center on Sangamo Road in Pickens and will run through Jan. 29.
For volleyball, the following age divisions are offered: 7-9, 10-12, 13-14 and 15-17.
For soccer, coed age divisions offered will include 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. Depending on the size of leagues, the top two division may be combined.
Birthdate cutoff for both sports is Sept. 1, 2015.
Following registration, a skills/evaluation day will be held for each age division in each sport. The registration fee provides a jersey to be kept, and the fee is $45 for in-city residents and $55 for out-of-city residents. Birth certificates are required at registration.
If you are interested in coaching or need more information, contact the recreation department at (864) 878-2296.
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Courier 1-20-16
Donald Louis “Don” Hayes
Pickens — Donald Louis “Don” Hunter, 64, husband of Renee Hunter, passed from this life Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at his home.
Mr. Hunter was born in Elizabeth, N.J., to the late Norman Hunter III and the late Helen Horin Hunter. He retired from traveling all over the world as a pipe welder and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife Renee of the home; his son, Michael Kelly Hunter of Asheville, N.C.; and two brothers, Norman Hunter of Easley and Terry Hunter of Crawford, N.J.
A memorial service will be held at later date at Griffin Baptist Church, 1629 Pumpkintown Highway, Pickens, SC 29671.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 300 Chamberlain, SD 57325 www.stjo.org.
Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.
Chuck Hayes
Easley — Charles G. “Chuck” Hayes, 69, husband of Ethel Fant Hayes, passed from this life on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital.
Chuck was born in Pickens County, a son of the late Odie and Bertie Simmons Hayes. He was retired from Benson Ford in Easley, where he was a mechanic and later dealer auto transfer. He was a member of Graceway Baptist Church in Easley and a U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam War. Chuck loved his family, playing golf, fishing and shooting pool.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Ethel Hayes of the home son, Phillip Hayes of the home, and daughter, Unna Lockaby of Easley. Also surviving are brothers, C. B. Hayes, and Furman “Gabby” Hayes, both of Pickens, and his sister, Irene Kelley, also of Pickens.
In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by twin grandchildren, Jonathan Patrick and Jessica Mae Hayes; and two brothers, Bertran Hayes and Fred Hayes.
Services were held Jan. 14 in the Dillard Funeral Home chapel, with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.
Dr. Taze Leonard Senn
Clemson — Dr. Taze Leonard “Tee” Senn, 98, of 201 Strawberry Lane died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016.
Tell the people that you saw him passing through.
Born in Newberry, Dr. Senn was a son of the late George Walter and Rebecca Reeder Senn.
Tee graduated from Clemson College in 1939 and earned his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He also proudly served in the Corps of Cadets at Clemson and in the U.S. Navy in World War II.
He was a long-time member of Clemson United Methodist Church.
At Clemson University, Dr. Senn was a professor of horticulture and was also named chair of the Department of Horticulture. He was a mentor to his students, who not only taught his students academics but also taught them that “no matter what you do, you have to be happy.”
Dr. Senn received the Danforth Teaching Fellowship, the only South Carolinian in agriculture to ever receive this award. Among the many awards Dr. Senn received over the years regarding both his academic and agriculture careers, the Thomas Green Clemson Medallion was bestowed upon him, the highest award given by Clemson University.
Many have stated that it was a privilege to know and work with Dr. Senn. He was an inspirational colleague and friend at home and abroad. His words and actions kept his students, colleagues and friends focused on whatever matter was at hand.
Following his academic career, Nature’s NOG was created and refined by Dr. Senn, a well-known scientist, researcher, educator and horticulturist. After 40 years of research and hundreds of lab and field tests, Dr. Senn researched the positive impact certain seaweed extracts and hamates can have on plant growth.
Dr. Senn was instrumental and invaluable with the conception, establishment and implementation of the Class of 1939 Award for Faculty Excellence at Clemson University. This award is presented annually to one distinguished member of the faculty whose outstanding contributions have been judged by her/his peers to represent the highest achievement of service to the student body, university and community, state or nation. The recipient also becomes an honorary member of the class; therefore, the great Class of 1939 will live forever because of the foresight of the original members of the class with this award. Guided by Tee Senn, Jim Sweeney and others, the great Class of ’39 had and continues to have an uncommon devotion to Clemson University proven by the many scholarships bestowed to students over the years.
An innovative concept of Dr. Senn’s, also its founder, was the South Carolina Botanical Garden located on the Clemson campus, of which the original 44 acres are dedicated in his honor. His talents and tenacity as an administrator, educator and innovator went beyond formal plan collections to create a progressive public garden. The Horticultural Gardens integrate nature, recreation and therapeutic resources with preservation, conservation teaching and research.
Surviving are his wife, Betty Connor Senn of the home; son, David L. (Virginia) Senn of Central; stepdaughter, Pamela Y. (Rick) Polhemus of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Shane (Sarah) Senn, Richard A. (Ann) Senn, Jr. and Rusty (Kimball) Senn; step-grandchildren, Stephanie L Polhemus and Jason C. Polhemus; great-grandchildren, Emma Y. Senn, Trevor D. Senn, C.J. Senn, Gabe Senn and Axton Senn; and daughters-in-law, Cleve Ann Senn of Clemson and Sonya Senn of Six Mile.
In addition to his parents, Dr. Senn was predeceased by his first wife and partner, Marguerite Busby Senn; and two sons, Richard A. “Dickie” Senn and Thomas L. “Tommy” Senn.
Funeral services were held Jan. 16 at Clemson United Methodist Church, with burial following in Woodland Cemetery on the campus of Clemson University, which he loved so much. Memorials may be made to the South Carolina State Botanical Gardens, 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, SC 29631.
In the spirit of a true ‘39er, let’s all make a toast to honor Tee Senn: a great friend, a great ‘39er, a great man, a great American, and most of all, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett – Robinson Funeral Home, Central.
Harold B. Holden
Easley — Harold Bennett Holden, 70, of 101 Wallace Drive, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at Baptist Easley Hospital.
Born in Cateechee, he was the son of the late Timmon and Geneva Merck Holden. He was previously a member of Faith Baptist Church.
Surviving are three daughters, Tonia Holden of Easley, Heather Holden of Liberty and Jennifer Young of Kileen, Texas; three sons, Lonnie Bennett Holden of Liberty, Joshua Holden of Salem and Corey Bradley of Anderson; a brother, Johnny Merck of Pickens; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey Holden.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Holden were held Jan. 18 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel, with burial following at Westview Cemetery.
Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements. www.libertymortuary.com.
Rocky D. Cater
Pickens — Rocky Darrell Cater, 61, husband of Glenda Hardin Cater, passed from this life on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Rocky was born in Pickens County, a son of the late A. C. and Hattie Medlin Cater. He was retired as a brick mason and was of the Baptist faith.
Rocky loved all things sports, including golf, Gamecock football, horseshoes and anything else competitive. He was a star football player at Pickens High School, where he won “Player of the Year” in 1973. Following high school, he went to Mars Hill College on a football scholarship, where he played for two years.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Glenda Cater of the home; daughter, Kellie “Benes” Reeves (Travis Ballard) of Pickens; grandchildren, Paylin and Veda Ballard. Also surviving are twin sisters, Brenda Eisenman of Simpsonville and Linda Mangum (Bob) of Powdersville; and brothers, Jimmy Cater (Kathy) of Marietta, and Roger Cater (Margaret) of Pickens.
In addition to his parents, Rocky was preceded in death by a niece, Mandy Mangum, and a nephew, Tyler Mangum.
Funeral services were held Jan. 19 in the funeral home chapel, with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pickens High School Athletic Department, 150 Blue Flame Drive, Pickens, SC 29671.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.
MARKUS BATES
PICKENS — Markus Bates, 45, of Pickens, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
He is survived by his children, Joseph Bates and Christy Anthony; his siblings, Frinda Hill and Opal Bates; his parents, Larry Bates and Faye Cassell; and one grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lester Thornton Bates and Flonnie Mae Bates; and his maternal grandparents, Rev. Vessie Hoxit and Ollie Mae Hoxit.
Funeral services were held Jan. 19 at Rocky Bottom Baptist Church in Pickens, with interment following in the Rocky Bottom Baptist Church Cemetery.
Joe Earl Murphree
Pickens — Joseph Earl Murphree, 73, husband of Paulette Burns Murphree, went to be with our Lord on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca.
Joe was born in Pickens County, son of the late N. Earl and Bernice Stewart Murphree. He was an interior designer and was former head of interior design for Harper Brothers in Greenville, and later he was self-employed, installing draperies. A farmer at heart, Joe loved to work with his cattle and to garden. He attended Clemson University and Cecil’s Business College and he served with the U.S. Army as a reservist.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Paulette, of the home; sons, Joe E. Murphree, Jr. (Darleen) of Greenville, and Keith McCurley of Pickens; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Kannie Murphree Wallis.
Funeral services were held Jan. 18 in the Dillard Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.
Memorials may be made to Cottingham Hospice House, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.
Joyce James
Liberty — Joyce Elaine Osteen James, 75, of 1163 Stewart Gin Road, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at her residence.
Born in Altamont, Ill., she was a daughter of the late Otha and Jennie Alwerdt Osteen.
She retired from Sunex Tools in Travelers Rest. She enjoyed playing the piano, reading, sewing, cooking for family occasions and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She especially loved Christmas and collecting special ornaments.
Surviving are her husband, Phillip R. James of the home; a daughter, Cindy Turner (Bryan) of Easley; two sons, Mark James (Vikki) of Greenville, and Tim James (Heather) of Greer; a brother, Buddy Osteen (Judi) of Altamont, Ill.; four grandchildren, Katie, David, and Matthew James, and Allie Turner; also surviving are several cherished nieces and nephews.
Services and burial will take place at a later date in Altamont, Ill., conducted by the Gieseking Funeral Home, 208 N. 2nd Street, Altamont, Ill.
Liberty Mortuary is handling local arrangements.
Nina Elizabeth Durham Sims
Pickens — Nina Elizabeth Durham Sims, 86, wife of the late Donald Ernest Sims Sr., went to be with the Lord peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Sims was born in Liberty and was the daughter of the late George “Guy “Durham and Nora Turner Durham.
Mrs. Sims enjoyed quilting, preparing meals for her family and meeting with her Bible study class at the YMCA. She was a member of East Pickens Baptist Church and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Survivors include two sons, Steve Beasley (Sheila) of Easley and Donald E. Sims Jr. (Tracey) of Pickens; two daughters, Sandy Beck (Jerry) of Easley and Janice Pappas (Bill) of Charleston; seven grandchildren, Kim Anthony, Cynthia Pate, Melissa Flynn, Nicole Alford, Jessica Beasley and John Sims; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Durham; and one sister, Ruth Davis.
Funeral services were held Jan. 19 in the Dillard Funeral Home Chapel.
Services were officiated by the Rev. Jamie Duncan, the Rev. Roger Gwinn and Mr. Rick Grant, with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens. Mrs. Sims was predeceased by her husband, parents, two sisters and four brothers.
The family requests memorials to be made to Pickens Senior Center, 129 Schoolhouse Road, Pickens, SC 29671, or Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 184, Easley, SC 29640.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.
Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Sims family.
The Rev. Graham Gillespie
Six Mile — The Rev. Graham C. Gillespie, 73, of 4 Sleepy Hollow Lane, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.
Born in Central, he was a son of the late Jimmy Dart and Lois Gillespie.
He retired from Poinsett Construction Company and was a member of Mile Creek Baptist Church. He loved to preach and spend his free time fishing.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce Henderson Gillespie of the home; a daughter, Kristal Doherty (Thomas) of Pickens; a son, Scott Gillespie (Cynthia) of Liberty; two sisters, JoAnn Gillespie and Marilyn Gillespie, both of Central; a brother, Jimmy Gillespie of Liberty; six grandchildren, Tommy, Ryan, and Erin Doherty, and Katelyn, Avery, and Jaylie Gillespie; and his mother-in-law, Gertrude Henderson Nix of Easley.
Funeral services to honor the life of Rev. Gillespie will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
The family will be at the home. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Nancy G. Atkinson
Easley — Nancy Godfrey Atkinson, 68, of West Arial Street, wife of the late Larry Eugene Atkinson, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.
Born in Greenville County, she was the daughter of Frances Alexander Anderson of Easley and the late Harold Godfrey.
Mrs. Atkinson was retired from Mayfair Mills in Easley.
Surviving are her children, Robby Atkinson of Easley and Jenny McCall (Donald) of Pendleton; seven grandchildren, Nicole Pressley, Cody Hollingsworth, Abby Atkinson, Claire Atkinson, Ian Richardson, Kristen Richardson and Savannah McCall; nine great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elaine Atkinson (Wayne) of Easley.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, with burial to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Flowers will be accepted. The family will be at their respective homes.
Condolences may be expressed online by visiting www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
A respite from winter
This past weekend, I went with a group to Edisto to stay with a generous friend who had invited us all down.
We were a group of nine women, and we had a wonderful time together.
A few of us were gathered on the screened porch overlooking the canal drinking hot tea and listening to the twittering of birds. There is a group of gourd birdhouses hanging near the porch, and a good deal of activity was going on.
It looked like two couples of brightly colored birds, but I didn’t know what they were.
At first I thought Eastern Bluebirds, but after getting the binoculars for a close-up view, it was clear these little birds were something else.
So, we looked through the field guide to birds and found they were buntings.
They are beautiful birds who look as though the rainbow wrapped itself around their little bodies.
They were very busy, chirping, flying away, then returning and going in and out of their gourd homes.
Their feathers reflected the bright sunlight, and it was a pleasure to be able to watch them.
The weather was beautiful on Saturday, and we were able to go to Botany Bay Nature Preserve and explore.
The marsh is all around the area, and the river bounds the land on one side. Spanish moss cloaks the ancient live oaks.
There is a pond on the land, where we spotted a floating log. Or so we thought.
The pond was covered with green scum, and the log had an irregular, somewhat bumpy, appearance.
Then it moved slightly.
“It moved. It moved.”
We were excited. I got the camera and zoomed in on the log and found it was not a log at all. It was the head of a fairly large alligator.
He didn’t seem at all interested in us, but we were very interested in him.
I got one good head shot.
As someone wisely pointed out, where there is one gator there might well be more. I also remember reading that a gator is capable of lunging 20 feet out of the water, and this made me a little nervous.
We left the gator and walked about half a mile to the beach, which is as untouched as it was in the 1700s. The guide on the beach said the shoreline has eroded about one mile in a hundred years, but by placing large felled trees along the edge, the shore line has regained about 50 yards in a decade.
There were a variety of shells, but people aren’t allowed to remove them from the beach. However, people had hung conch shells on the bark trunks of Palmetto trees. We did the same. I suppose it was like placing our flag on the shore to mark that we had been there.
I took off my shoes and walked along the shore line. The water wasn’t all that cold, and the feel of wet sand beneath my bare feet gave the illusion of summer.
We were so lucky to have been given such a beautiful day right in the middle of winter. What a gift. And the memory will remain imprinted on our spirits and will help get us through the remainder of the winter. Thank you to all the wonderful friends who made this such a memorable experience.
New South Carolina: Who are those guys?
One of my favorite movies is the 1969 classic “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The ultra-cool Paul Newman and Robert Redford play small-time bank robbers in the turn of the century cowboy West who were relentlessly pursued by a posse of lawmen that followed them for months across mountains and deserts, to big cities and ultimately even to South America.
The constant refrain between Butch and the Kid as they struggled to stay one step ahead of the posse was “Who are those guys?”
I thought about the movie this week when I was reading about the massive influx of new South Carolinians to our state. The rate of our population growth is the fifth highest in the country. I asked myself, “Who are those guys” and equally important, “why are they coming to South Carolina?”
The more I thought about it, the more I saw parallels with the movie — so stay with me on this one.
The underlying backstory of Butch and the Kid was the relentless change that was coming to the West with new people and new technology that disrupted our boy’s traditional way of life. In the past, our heroes would ride into some isolated little town, knock off the bank for a few hundred dollars and then ride off in a cloud of dust.
By the time the local sheriff realized what happened, gathered up the locals and rode off in search of the boys, Butch and the Kid were safely in some two-bit cow town in the next county over, blended into the local saloon and bordello culture.
But technology changed all that. With the advent of the telegraph, one lawman could reach another miles away in minutes and the railroad enabled a posse to load up their horses and cover vast distance in a hurry in pursuit of the outlaws.
OK you say; good story but how does this relate to South Carolina?
We in the Palmetto State are like the Old West; our way of life is changing (for better and worse) with the relentless influx of new people, largely driven by technological changes. Consider this:
South Carolina is among the top 10 states in the nation for both the pace of growth and the actual number of additional residents.
According to United Van Lines, South Carolina is the second most popular destination for state to state moves. We are second only to Oregon. They calculate that for every four people that move out of our state, six more move in.
The Census Bureau says that between 2010 and 2014, our population grew by 4.5 percent while the national population only grew by 3.3 percent.
In real numbers, this means that 150,000 people moved to our state from 2012 to 2013. By comparison, Columbia’s population is only 130,000
The Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metropolitan area, which now includes Brunswick County in North Carolina, is the seventh fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation.
Four of the nation’s 100 fastest-growing counties are now in South Carolina, all of them along the coast.
All of this tells us there are a lot of folks coming, but who are they?
As expected, most come from surrounding states, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. After that, it’s the Northeast and Midwest states.
Folks moving here are disproportionately old. Across South Carolina, nearly two-thirds of the population gains from mid-2010 to mid-2013 were more than 65.
The technology changes are part of what is driving folks to come to South Carolina. Now that air conditioning is ubiquitous, our hot summers are now tolerable and our mild winters have always been attractive.
Today, it’s easy for people to live anywhere they want and stay connected to their family via smartphones and other technology. You may not have your grand kids on your lap, but you can FaceTime with them on your smartphone as often as you’d like.
And when you do want to have them on your lap, air travel has become so easy and cheap that living 1,000 miles away is no big deal.
Well, we know what happened to Butch and the Kid — ultimately they fled to Bolivia (where the forces of modernization had not arrived) and they ultimately died in a hail of bullets. It’s like the saying “adapt or die”…and our boys couldn’t adapt.
We in South Carolina need to be thinking a lot about what all this means and how we can adapt.
Because they will keep coming. Count on it.
Phil Noble is a businessman in Charleston and president of the S.C. New Democrats, an independent reform group founded by former Gov. Richard Riley to bring change and reform. He can be reached at phil@scnewdemocrats.org.
Why we celebrate the King Holiday
The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We 
commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.
The King Holiday honors the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also lead a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.
On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America.
It is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples’ holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.
We commemorate on this holiday the ecumenical leader and visionary who embraced the unity of all faiths in love and truth. And though we take patriotic pride that Dr. King was an American, on this holiday we must also commemorate the global leader who inspired nonviolent liberation movements around the world. Indeed, on this day, programs commemorating my husband’s birthday are being observed in more than 100 nations.
The King Holiday celebrates Dr. King’s global vision of the world house, a world whose people and nations had triumphed over poverty, racism, war and violence. The holiday celebrates his vision of ecumenical solidarity, his insistence that all faiths had something meaningful to contribute to building the beloved community.
The Holiday commemorates America’s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence — the man who taught by his example that nonviolent action is the most powerful, revolutionary force for social change available to oppressed people in their struggles for liberation.
This holiday honors the courage of a man who endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.
Every King Holiday has been a national “teach-in” on the values of nonviolence, including unconditional love, tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation, which are so desperately-needed to unify America. It is a day of intensive education and training in Martin’s philosophy and methods of nonviolent social change and conflict-reconciliation. The Holiday provides a unique opportunity to teach young people to fight evil, not people, to get in the habit of asking themselves, “what is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?”
On the King Holiday, young people learn about the power of unconditional love even for one’s adversaries as a way to fight injustice and defuse violent disputes. It is a time to show them the power of forgiveness in the healing process at the interpersonal as well as international levels.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all a day of service. All across America on the Holiday, his followers perform service in hospitals and shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can’t read, mentoring at-risk youngsters, consoling the broken-hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream.
Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we “will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life’s most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?’” he would quote Mark 9:35, the scripture in which Jesus of Nazareth tells James and John “…whosoever will be great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever among you will be the first shall be the servant of all.” And when Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons, on February 4, 1968 in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. “I’d like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others,” he said. “I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life…to love and serve humanity.
We call you to commemorate this Holiday by making your personal commitment to serve humanity with the vibrant spirit of unconditional love that was his greatest strength, and which empowered all of the great victories of his leadership. And with our hearts open to this spirit of unconditional love, we can indeed achieve the Beloved Community of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream.
May we who follow Martin now pledge to serve humanity, promote his teachings and carry forward his legacy into the 21st century.
The man behind the dream
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta in 1929 to teacher Alberta King and Baptist Minister Michael Luther King. He graduated high school in 1944 at age 15 and enrolled at Morehouse College, where he earned a B.A. in Sociology in 1948. Following this, King went on to earn a B.D. from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951, and a Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955.
In 1953, King married Coretta Scott, a New England Conservatory music student, and they eventually had four children. The son of the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King was ordained in 1947, and in 1954, he became the minister of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.
King’s legacy as a Civil Rights advocate began in 1955 when he led a boycott of Montgomery’s segregated city bus lines. The following year earned King a major victory and prestige as a civil rights leader when Montgomery buses began to operate on a desegregated basis. As a result of his outspoken criticism of segregation, King’s home was bombed.
King organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, which gave him a base to pursue further civil rights activities, first in the South and later nationwide. In 1959, he visited India, further cultivating his philosophy of nonviolent resistance. King’s practice of civil disobedience led to his arrest on numerous occasions in the 1950s and ‘60s. His campaigns had mixed success. The anti-segregation protest he led in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963 brought him worldwide attention: King was arrested and jailed. During his incarceration, King penned “Letter from a Birmingham City Jail,” which is still studied in writing and rhetoric classes today.
The August 1963 March on Washington, during which King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, brought together more than 200,000 people. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In the same year, King and the SCLC joined the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., made famous by police who beat and tear gassed participants. In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which suspended literacy tests and other restrictions that prevented blacks from voting.
King’s leadership in the civil rights movement was challenged in the mid-1960s as other civil rights leaders grew more militant. His interests, however, widened from civil rights to include criticism of
Although there still exists some doubt that he was the lone shooter, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty in the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., and died in prison in 1998.
the Vietnam War and a deeper concern over poverty. His plans for a Poor People’s March to Washington were interrupted by a trip to Memphis, Tenn., in support of striking sanitation workers.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
James Earl Ray, a career criminal, pleaded guilty to the murder and was convicted, but he soon recanted, claiming he was duped into his plea. Ray’s conviction was subsequently upheld, but he eventually received support from members of King’s family, who believed King to have been the victim of a conspiracy. Ray died in prison in 1998.
Vineyards at Lake Keowee ladies ‘Tie One On’ to spread warmth
EASLEY — Seven years ago, Vineyards at Lake Keowee resident Kay Schultz wanted to do something to support her new community.
Like many newcomers to Pickens County, Schultz was shocked to discover how many children were living in poverty and how many people were being served by Meals on Wheels.
When she learned a blanket tying technique using the softest fleece, an idea was hatched. Why not organize her neighbors and make blankets for children and the elderly?
Being a fun-loving group, they called themselves “Tie One On.” For the next few years, the ladies met around the holidays, and eventually each month, to make blankets for local charities.
United Way director Julie Capaldi and the “Tie One On” ladies of the Vineyards at Lake Keowee enjoy a drink as they make blankets for those in need.
Because United Way director Julie Capaldi was knowledgeable about Pickens County, she was invited to be a part of the group. While sitting around the dining room table each month, Capaldi had the opportunity to educate the women about the most pressing needs in Pickens County. The list of blanket needs grew to include the elderly, impoverished children and homeless families with children.
Eventually Schultz moved to Atlanta, but her legacy did not move with her. Mary Steele and Cathy Rogers took over the project, and on Jan. 11 the 1,000th blanket rolled off the dining room table and into the arms of someone who desperately needed a warm hug.
Someone like three children that school district family liaison Cindy Burgess helped after a house fire destroyed everything they owned. Burgess met the family at their grandmother’s house, where they were living temporarily.
“The sadness was written on the children’s faces,” she said. “When I handed them each a soft new blanket of their own, they immediately grabbed them and just hugged on them. It meant so much to them to have something soft and comforting to hold that belonged just to them after losing everything.”
Family liaison Whitney Moore also finds the blankets incredibly important in her work.
“There was one family that I helped last year that needed a bed,” she said. “The little girl’s bed had a hole in the mattress, and her brother was sleeping on a couch in his room. Through United Way’s Ron Webber fund, I was able to purchase new beds, and through Tie One On, I gave each child a new a fleece blanket. They were so excited.”
According to Capaldi, an active and engaged volunteer is the key to a vibrant community.
“Whether driving for Meals on Wheels, organizing food baskets for the elderly, serving on local boards or organizing programs for local schools, Pickens County is lucky to have a community so devoted to making life better for everyone,” she said.
Rebuild Upstate celebrates record
UPSTATE — The lives of 120 Upstate families were made better in 2015 thanks to the volunteers at Rebuild Upstate.
This nonprofit that serves Pickens, Greenville, Anderson and Oconee counties more than doubled its number of homes repaired from its previous record of 62 in 2013, said Chris Manley, the nonprofit’s founder and executive director.
In 2015, 120 homes were repaired and improved throughout the four-county area through the work of 900 volunteers, who performed more than 15,000 hours of service. Rebuild Upstate’s community impact was more than $562,000.
Completed projects included 50 large handicap accessible ramps (20 feet or longer), 19 small handicap ramps (smaller than 20 feet in length), six wedge ramps for aided accessibility, four roof repairs, 13 roof replacements, 12 shingle replacements and three metal roof installations, three HVAC replacements or repairs, 20 flooring repairs or replacements, two electrical repairs, 14 plumbing repairs, 15 grab bar installations (for safety purposes) and 36 assorted other projects.
Rebuild Upstate helps low-income homeowners with home repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods. Typically, homeowners fall into one of three segments: low-income families with children in the home, seniors age 60 and older and people with disabilities.
Rebuild Upstate uses a diverse funding model comprised of individuals, corporations, foundations, local churches and small businesses that support the organization, Manley said.
“This year is a testament to the awesome ability of people to come together as a group to help and aid others across the Upstate,” Manley said.
Courier Community Calendar 1-20-16
• Classes offered at Hagood Center
New Fiber Room Center activities at the Hagood Center in Pickens have been scheduled for January and February.
There will be additional new activities scheduled throughout the next few months. Pre-registration and lists of the supplies are not available. In January, the center will offer self-binding receiving blankets with Sara. Cost is a $5 donation for the center.
On Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 and 8, enjoy an introductory painting on silk three-day class with Cheryl. All supplies will be provided at the cost of a $10 donation to the center.
A new weaving class will be held each Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This class will continue each Tuesday for approximately three months. During the class the participants will complete three weaving projects: a teacher orientation practice project, a teacher directed color-scamp project, and a student designed project. At the completion of the class, the participants should be able to weave “on your own.” The participants will be expected to purchase a book and minimal supplies for a total cost of approximately $20.
On Jan. 14 and 21 will be the “self-binding receiving blanket” with Sara. It is an all-day participation class beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 2:30 p.m., with a break for lunch around 11:30 a.m. The cost for the class is a $5 donation to the Pickens Community Center. Please have your squares of flannel cut before class. Supplies you will need include one 40-inch square of flannel, one 30-inch square of contrasting flannel and thread to match.
The center does have a few sewing machines which have been donated, but you may prefer to bring your own.
Below is a list of the center’s regular activities:
Monday: 10-11:30 a.m. — cathedral window quilts with Jacquie
Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat; 9-11:30 a.m. — doll clothes with Jacquie; 10-11:30 a.m. — yo-yos with Irene and prayer shawls and cancer caps with Sharon (in the library). Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. — weaving with Pat (in the heritage room); 10-11:30 a.m. — knitting with Tally.
Thursday: 10-11:30 a.m. quilting with Sara; 1:30-3:30 p.m. — rug hooking with Cheryl.
• Grace UMC plans 5th Sunday Singing
The community is invited to Grace United Methodist Church in Pickens as it will host a 5th Sunday Singing in its fellowship hall at 6 p.m. on Jan. 31. Each “5th Sunday Singing” at Grace will include special music and your favorite songs to sing along to.
• Pickens Church of God plans breakfast
Pickens Church of God’s community breakfast will resume this month from 8-10 a.m. on Jan. 23. The church will also host a car wash during the breakfast to raise funds to take the youth to WinterJam next month.
• Camp Creek moves Sunday services
Camp Creek Baptist Church will move its Sunday service to the Rosewood Center in Liberty for the next few weeks. The move is temporary due to the remodeling of the church’s sanctuary. AWANA clubs will still be held at the church in Central as usual, in the fellowship hall on Wednesday nights.
Ground meats make great supper dishes
By Olivia Fowler
For the Courier
ofowler@thepccourier.com
As long as we live, we are faced with the daily question “what’s for supper?”
Not everyone has a suggestion, but if we offer options we often hear “no, I don’t want that.”
If you’re tired of that tired routine, blow their minds.
Don’t ask what they want. Just fix it.
One of the great things about these recipes is how different familiar ingredients become when mixed with ground meats.
Ground sirloin is used in the Salsa Meat Loaf, ground beef and pork are combined in the Swedish Meatball recipe and ground round is the meat featured in the Chili Con Carne.
A word to the wise, though — if you have a houseful of picky eaters, just don’t tell them what’s in the dish until after they eat. It can save a lot of wear and tear on the nerves.
Salsa Meat Loaf
- 1 lb. ground beef sirloin
- 1/2 c. salsa
- 1/2 c. Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 c. shredded Cheddar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Dried parsley to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix the ground sirloin, salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, egg, and garlic. Season with parsley, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a 5×9 inch loaf pan.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Swedish Meatballs
Meatball Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow or white onion, peeled, grated (through a cheese grater)
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 2/3 c. milk
- 4-5 slices of bread, crusts removed, cut into pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp. ground cardamom
- 2 tsp. black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 6 tbsp. butter
- 1/3 c. flour
- 1 qt. beef stock
- 1/2 to 3/4 c. sour cream
- Salt
- 2 to 4 tbsp. of lingonberry, cranberry, red currant or raspberry jelly, more or less to taste (optional)
Sauté the grated onion in the butter over medium-high heat until the onions soften and turn translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a medium bowl, mix the bread pieces with the milk. Set aside for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread soaks up all the milk. When it does, pulverize the bread in a food processor and pour it into a large bowl.
Add the cooled onions to the bowl of milk and bread. Add the rest of the meatball ingredients—eggs, ground pork, ground beef, salt, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper. Wash your hands then mix well for about two minutes until the ingredients are well combined. Wash hands thoroughly after this.
Use a tablespoon to measure out the meat for the meatballs. As you form the meatballs, set each one aside on a sheet pan or plate. You should get 40 to 50 meatballs.
Heat six tablespoons of butter for the sauce in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted, reduce the heat to medium and add some of the meatballs. Do not crowd the pan. Work in batches, browning them slowly on all sides. Be gentle when you turn them so they don’t break apart. Do not cook the meatballs all the way through; only brown them at this stage. Once browned, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the pan, setting them aside so you can make the sauce with the remaining pan butter.
Start the sauce. If the butter has burned throw it away and use six new tablespoons. Heat the pan butter on medium and whisk the flour in. Cook until the color of coffee with cream. This is how you make a roux.
As the roux is cooking, heat the beef stock in another pot until it simmers. When the roux has cooked until the color of coffee-with-cream, slowly add the hot beef stock a little at a time. Everything will sputter at first, and the sauce will seize up and solidify. Keep stirring and adding stock slowly, and it will loosen up and become silky.
Add the meatballs to the sauce and turn the heat down to low. Cover the pot and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. You might need to do this in batches.
To finish, move the meatballs to a serving dish. Add the sour cream and mix well. Either add the lingonberry jelly to the sauce or serve it on the side.
Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients for potato crust:
- 1 1/2 lbs. russet potatoes
- 1/4 c. half-and-half
- 2 oz. unsalted butter
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 egg yolk
Ingredients for meat filling:
- 2 tbsp. canola oil
- 1 c. chopped onion
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground lamb
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. tomato paste
- 1 c. chicken broth
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. freshly chopped rosemary leaves
- 1 tsp. freshly chopped thyme leaves
- 1/2 c. fresh or frozen corn kernels
- 1/2 c. fresh or frozen English peas
Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch sauté pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and sauté just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Chili Con Carne
- 2 cans (15 oz. each) red kidney beans or small red beans, drained
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, quartered, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 lb. ground round
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) tomatoes
- 1 can mild green chiles
- 2 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno chile pepper, optional
- 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Dash ground cloves
- 1 small bay leaf
Prepare beans unless using cans. Rinse dry beans, cover with cold water, and let soak overnight. Drain, transfer to a large saucepan, and cover with fresh water. Cover and simmer for about an hour, or until tender. Drain.
In a large skillet, brown the onion, pepper, and ground beef in oil. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, peppers, and seasonings. Cover and simmer for 1-2 hours, adding a little water if needed to keep from sticking. Check and stir frequently. Add the cooked or canned beans and heat through.
