Daily Archives: 04/27/2016
Courier Letters to the Editor 4-27-16
Honoring mothers
Dear Editor,
We celebrate Mother’s Day in May. A celebration honoring women with children. A woman can be called Mother or Mama. Whatever the name is, Mother or Mama, she’s the one who raises a child or children who are biologically hers or not. If not biological, they may not have been born under her heart but in it just the same.
It has been said that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation. As a woman, you have a big part in the future of the world. Those things you teach a child they will carry into life. The home is the foundation of any nation. The Chinese have a proverb which goes, “when there is harmony in the home, there is peace in the nation.”
Adopted children need love as much as any other. Love is the key to happiness, no matter the situation. Do the best you can to raise your children correctly, for the world is depending on you. Children are an investment in the future planted today .
Don’t forget that woman who raised you, who comforted the pain, wiped away the tears, held you with loving arms and nursed you back to health. The one who sat up on weekends worrying and praying until you came home safe. Cooked your meals, and corrected you when you had done wrong.
Call her Mother or Mama, she deserves your best in return for she sacrificed for you to have a life. This Mother’s Day remember her not just with flowers but with your presence which will mean so much to her. She may be gone next Mother’s Day. If your Mother is gone, visit her resting place — she’d be proud of you. Living or gone from the earth, whether she were biological or adopted, whether she’s called Mother or Mama, she lives on in our hearts just the same. This woman that held our hand as we grew up and is in her hearts forever. Happy Mother’s Day.
Eddie Boggs
Westminster
Thank you from Azalea Festival
Dear Editor,
The 32nd annual Pickens Azalea Festival took place with two days of good weather and started Friday night in full swing.
I would personally like to extend my gratitude to Pickens Mayor David Owens, City Council, the Pickens Police Department and the Streets and Sanitation Department crews for their assistance in making the festival a safe environment for everyone.
Thanks to the several volunteer groups and individuals who assisted the Azalea Festival board/committee, Pickens Senior Citizens, PHS Science Club and Danielle Yother for performing the national anthem.
I am grateful to Pickens High School artist Hanna Jones, winner of the competition to design this year’s azalea artwork, which appeared on official references to the festival. Thank you to Pickens Rotary Club for serving as sponsors of the azalea art contest.
The 10th annual 5K Walk/Run hosted by the Pickens Women’s Association saw a very successful event Saturday morning raising money to benefit the Beverly M. Smith scholarship.
Thank you to the Pickens Sentinel and Pickens County Courier for publishing the annual Azalea Festival insert. I would also like to thank IWANNA for the festival booklet, Grace Methodist Church and Bowers Transportation Services for donating the use of shuttle buses for the Hagood Mill tours and parking Saturday during the festival and to TD Bank of Pickens for sponsoring Friday’s appreciation luncheon. A big thank you to Amy Hawley and the Burning Brick for hosting the vendor drop-in breakfast on Saturday morning and to Upstate Jeep Legends Club and Lake Keowee Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep for sponsoring the Friday night cruise-in dash plaque.
The festival board extends our deepest gratitude to our sponsors: The City of Pickens, Hendricks Honda of Easley, IWANNA, Pickens County Courier, Pickens Chamber of Commerce, Pickens Sentinel, SC Education Lottery, Domino’s of Pickens, Totman-signs, Stockade ‘n’ Stuff, Pickens Dental Associates, South State Bank, Senator Larry Martin, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, TD Bank of Pickens, Home Depot of Easley, Cornell Dubilier, Burning Brick, Grace United Methodist Church, Bowers Transportation Services, Cannon/AnMed Health, Wendy’s of Pickens, Cassell/Hendricks CPA, PA, Mike Holcombe’s Tire & Auto, Bojangles of Pickens, Pickens Family Dentistry, Hardee’s of Pickens, Behvioral Health Services of Pickens County, Pizza Inn of Pickens, TTI of Anderson, Cherokee Foothills Realty, Pickens Dental Association, R. Carl Byars Ins. Agency, General Ins. Agency, Gym Life, The Life FM radio and Pickens County Council.
I personally want to thank a very dedicated group of people who volunteer their time and energy to make this festival a success each year, the Azalea Festival board and committee. It takes months of planning to put on an event of this magnitude.
Russ Gantt
Pickens Azalea Festival executive director
Testing questions
Dear Editor,
Today it was confirmed to me by Wanda Davis of the S.C. Department of Education that it is not the state’s mandate that the SC Ready Test be placed in front of the child on the testing dates and that the child has to verbally refuse the test.
This means that School District of Pickens County superintendent Danny Merck has lied to me.
He sent me the following message when I inquired about why the schools were telling parents in Pickens that their child will have to verbally refuse the test and their parental letter of intent to refuse on behalf of their child is not enough.
“At present, SC requires its schools to administer certain tests to students, and our state does not have a formal ‘opt-out’ provision. From time to time, we do have students who refuse to test. Refusing to test is different from opting-out of testing. Districts must make an attempt to test all students who are required to take state tests. If the student is present at school the day of the test or during the testing window, we must attempt to test. The SCDE has told us that we would have to offer the assessment to the student. Offering the assessment means that the assessment must be put in front of the student for an attempt to test. SDPC would deal with a refusal to test in the least disruptive way possible by handling each case individually based on the circumstances. In some cases, a student may be moved to an alternate location, while in other cases the student may have to quietly remain in the testing site. The school administration and testing coordinator will have to make that call based on the availability of staff members for monitoring students and administering the test. Like the email Ms. Raines received from the state said, it may not be possible for a school to provide instruction during that time due to constraints with their staffing and duties. Please note that students who refuse to test will be not receive a score for the assessment. It is important to note that in the case of High School End-of-Course Exams, the state test accounts for 20 percent of a student’s final grade and without that score, the final grade would be impacted.”
Not only did the superintendent lie to me … it is my opinion they are breaking the Safe Schools Act that was passed back during Gov. Mark Sanford’s term, which states, “Since students learn by example, school administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers should be commended for demonstrating appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying.”
Read that act here: scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/3573.htm.
I have contacted the Thomas More Law Firm for advice.
Johnnelle Raines
U.S. Parents Involved in Education board member
Pickens
Courier Obituaries 4-27-16
Faye M. Rampey
Easley — Mrs. Faye Marchbanks Rampey, 77, wife of Harold Lewis Rampey, passed away Monday, April 18, 2016, at Baptist Easley Hospital.
Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Arthur Lee and Vergie Garland Marchbanks, Mrs. Rampey retired from Wometco Food Services and was of the Methodist faith.
Surviving, in addition to her husband of 61 years, are a son, Scott David Rampey (Christie) of Easley; and three grandchildren, Stephanie McCurley, Rodney Rampey and Courtney Rampey; In addition to her parents, Mrs. Rampey was predeceased by a son, Jimmy Rampey; three brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held April 21in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown with burial following in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
James Roach
Liberty — James Stanley Roach, 60, of 1148 Old Norris Road, died Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Pickens he was a son of the late Clarence and Agnes Duncan Roach.
He was of the Baptist faith, and throughout his life loved to work on old cars.
Surviving are a daughter, Jennifer Smith of Pickens; two sons, Kevin Roach and Kerry Roach both of Pickens, a sister, Barbara Owens of Easley; three brothers, Donnie Roach of Ark., Steve Roach of Easley, and Scott Roach of Liberty; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Roach will be at 1p.m. Thursday April 28 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the mortuary.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Head.
The family will be at the home of Kevin Roach, 113 Dakota Trail, Pickens SC 29671. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements
Vickie A. Long
Easley — Mrs. Vickie Alexander Long, 59, wife of Glenn Edward Long, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Baptist Easley Hospital.
Born in Pickens County, a daughter of Lela Perry Alexander, and the late Ray Edward Alexander, Mrs. Long was a homemaker and a member of Geer Memorial Baptist Church.
Surviving, in addition to her husband of 31 years, are two sons, Casey Bills and Keith Bills, both of Statesville, N.C.; two sisters, Barbara Kelley of Waterloo, and Martha Dillon of Easley; and six grandchildren. In addition to her father, Mrs. Long was predeceased by a daughter, Michelle Bills; and a brother, Carl Edward Alexander.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robionsonfuneralhomes.com or person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
David Lynch
Easley — William David Lynch, 83, husband of Virginia Ruth Green Lynch, went home to be with The Lord on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
David was born Sept. 22, 1932 at home on Sliding Rock Road in Pickens County, a son of the late Robert L. and Rosa Mae Talley Lynch. A U. S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a lifelong Jeep enthusiast, he was retired from Gaylord Container Corporation in Greenville after 40 years of service. David was a member of Cross Roads Baptist Church in Easley.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Lynch of the home and his brother, Harold Lynch of Sunset. His children include, Teresa Lynch Ford (Mark) of Highlands, N.C., Rhonda Lynch Lunsford (Kevin) of Easley, Christopher David Lynch of Salem, and Katrina Rose Lynch Trotter (Dwayne) of Polson, Mont., and step-daughters, Kim Sepulveda of Waco, Texas, and Jenny Provence (Michael) of Waco, Texas. Grandchildren include, Raquela Ford Alexander, Paul Ford, Levi Trotter, Whitley Sepulveda, Samuel Trotter, Tanner Sepulveda, Kenna Provence, Sophia Lynch, Gabrielle Lynch, Ava Grace Trotter, Dacey Provence, Cord Provence, and Gage Provence and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Griffin and Landon Alexander, and Cormac Ford.
David was a descendant of his great-great-great-grandfather Captain William Lynch who moved to the Table Rock area of Pickens County in 1792 following his service in the Revolutionary War. In addition to his parents, David was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Millard Lynch and a sister, Rosa Mae Lynch Revis.
Services were held April 23 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with Dr. Mark Ford, The Reverend Tommy Hayes, and The Reverend Phil Henry officiating. Following the service, a funeral procession passed by the place of his birth and family home on Sliding Rock Road, arriving at Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.
Those desiring may make memorials to Cross Roads Baptist Church Mission Trips, 160 Cross Roads Church Road, Easley, SC 29640.
Gwen A. Holliday
Easley — Joyce Gwen Adams Holliday, 81, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2016, at Capstone Health and Rehab of Easley.
Born in Greenville County, a daughter of the late Monford and Pauline Carlton Adams, Gwen retired from American Federal and was a member of Brushy Creek Baptist Church.
Surviving are a son, Dale Holliday (Sheila) of Easley; and three grandchildren, Taryn H. Thompson, Austin Holliday and Ashley Holliday. In addition to her parents, Gwen was predeceased by two brothers, Charles and Jerry Adams; and two sisters, Jean Brown and Iris McCoy.
Graveside services were held April 23, 2016, at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greenville, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
Eva P. Chapman
Pickens — Eva Lee Powell Chapman, 91, widow of William Walter “Shine” Chapman, passed from this life on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at The Rainey Hospice House in Anderson.
Mrs. Chapman was born in Pickens County, daughter of the late Mack C. and Janie McKee Powell. She was retired from The Glenwood Plant of Mayfair Mills in Easley and she was a member of Tabor United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir.
Survivors include her daughters, Joyce Aiken (Willie) and Teresa Stewart (Cecil) all of Pickens; grandchildren, Vicky Aiken, Tammy Cassell, Mandy Turner (Bart), and Christie Dunson (CB), seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held April 24 at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens in Pickens.
The family requests flowers be omitted and memorials be made to The Rainey Hospice House, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
Ray W. Reece
Pickens — Ray William Reece, 86, loving husband of Grace Lewis Reece, went home to be with The Lord on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
Mr. Reece was born in Pickens County, a son of the late Arthur G. and Edith Mary Aiken Reece. He was a 1957 graduate of Clemson University and spent his entire working career of 35 years at Ryobi Motor Products in Pickens. A devoted member of the Pickens First Baptist Church, Ray formerly served as chairman of the Deacons and in 2007 was awarded the status of Deacon Emeritus. He was also a U. S. Army veteran serving in the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Grace of the home, his son, William Ray Reece of Pickens, and his three grandchildren, Mattison Reece of Powdersville, Kaeleigh Reece of Pickens and Johnathan Reece also of Pickens. He is also survived by four nieces and one nephew.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Reece was preceded in death by his step-mother, Alice Whitmire Reece, daughter, Laura Luree Reece, daughter-in-law, Regina Reece and siblings, Manual P. Reece, Arthur N. Reece, Esther Reece, and Pauline (Polly) Wiggs.
Funeral services were held April 22 at Pickens First Baptist Church with burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family requests flowers be omitted and memorials be made to Pickens First Baptist Church, 406 E. Main St., Pickens, SC 29671 or to Hospice of The Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29629. A message of condolence may be left for the family at www.DillardFunerals.com
Violet S. Gilstrap
Pickens — Violet Edith Stephens Gilstrap, 91, wife of the late Arthur Henry Gilstrap, went home to be with The Lord on Saturday, April 23, 2016.
Mrs. Gilstrap was born in Pickens County, daughter of the late Olin Earl and Dora Leola Garrett Gilstrap. She was retired from The Singer Company after 25 years service. Mrs. Gilstrap was a member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church where she formerly taught Sunday school and nursery and taught Bible School.
Survivors include daughters, Shirley Morgan (Mike) of Seneca, Judy Parris (Harold) of Pickens, Edith Owens (J.R.) of Easley and Martha Tucker (Scott) of Columbia; sons; Pete Gilstrap, Mack Gilstrap, Jack Gilstrap (Arlene), David Gilstrap, and Steve Gilstrap all of Pickens. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, a sister, Lala Ann Stephens Rackley of Easley, and a brother, James Edward Stephens of W. Va.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Gilstrap was preceded in death by a daughter, Katie Virginia Gilstrap, a brother, Earl Olin Stephens, and a sister, Willie Kate Stephens Johnson.
Services were held April 25 at Mountain Grove Baptist Church.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.
Sara Jo Ford
Easley — Mrs. Sara Jo Snead Ford, 88, wife of William Marion “Bill” Ford, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Laurens County Memorial Hospital, Clinton.
Born in Anderson County, a daughter of the late William Arthur and Fannie Sue Elrod Snead, Mrs. Ford was a graduate of Erskine College and a homemaker. She was a member of Easley Presbyterian Church where she served in the Women of the Church. Jo loved the outdoors and had a passion for beautiful flowers.
Surviving, in addition to her husband of 66 years, are a daughter, Marian F. Dawkins (Chuck) of Easley; three sons, Ron Ford of West Memphis, Ariz., David Ford (Carlotta) of Canton, Ga., and Joey Ford (Vicki) of Easley; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ford was predeceased by three sisters.
Memorial services were held April 23at Easley Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Bill Seel and Rev. Christie Gravely officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Easley Presbyterian Church, 200 S. 1st St., Easley, SC 29640, or to the Presbyterian Community of South Carolina, Clinton Home, 801 Musgrove Street, Clinton, SC 29325.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
Alice Harper New Woodring
Pickens — Alice Harper New Woodring, 87, Widow of J. Carlton Woodring, died April 20, 2016.
Born Sept. 21, 1928, a daughter of Bessie Allen Harper New and Francis Hugh McKee New. Alice and her late husband made their home in Pickens County for the past 20 years. She was employed with the U.S. Postal Service in Hilton Head, and Greenville, until retiring in 1988.
Surviving include; siblings; Ellen N. Hiller, Sarah N. Gray, Francis H.M. New, Weston K. New; and many nieces and nephews;
Private services will be held to honor the life of Alice.
Memorials may be made to Pickens Co. Humane Society, 500 Five Forks Rd., Liberty, S.C., 29657.
Enrapt set to present ‘The Crucible’
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The latest production from Enrapt is all about how one lie snowballs, becoming hurtful — and even deadly.
Enrapt’s production of “The Crucible” opens this week, according to director and company founder Breann Griffin-Nicholson.
The show runs Thursday through Sunday..
Showtime is 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Sunday show is a 3 p.m. matinee.
There’s no cost to attend, but Enrapt does accept donations, Griffin-Nicholson said.
The show will be performed at the amphitheater in Pickens. The company’s last show, “Our Town,” was performed on the front lawn of Enrapt’s home, the former Bradley-Boggs House.
“The Crucible” is about the Salem witch trials, Griffin-Nicholson said.
“The play is based on the story of John Proctor, his wife, Elizabeth, and Abigail Williams, the young girl John’s had an affair with,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “That was very frowned upon in the 1600s, even more so than it is now.”
Williams seeks to replace Elizabeth as Proctor’s wife. So she and her friends begin telling tales and casting accusations of witchcraft at fellow townspeople.
“It’s a story of jealousy, deceit and a lot of judgment,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “It’s a huge lie — they get really caught up in it. It’s a really intense play, for sure.”
Though the play is a period piece, playwright Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” as a reaction to what was happening around him.
“Arthur Miller wrote this in the 1950s, when there were a lot of big Communist scares going on,” Griffin-Nicholson said.
Accusations of being a member of the Communist Party ended many careers during the “Red Scare.”
“All of these people were being judged,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “People in the media, even his wife at the time, Marilyn Monroe. That’s why he ended up writing it.”
Pickens High School English teacher Dr. Ashley Butler, who will act in the play, said that, in addition to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Miller drew inspiration from the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s.
“Miller’s message centers around the sense of security that conformity can bring,” she said.
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
The cast of Enrapt’s production of “The Crucible” recently performed scenes from the play outside the company’s home at the historic Bradley-Boggs House in Pickens during the Azalea Festival in preparation for this weekend’s series of shows.
Griffin-Nicholson first read the play in high school. “The Crucible” is a staple of Butler’s English honors classes at Pickens.
In fact, that’s what led Griffin-Nicholson to choose the play as Enrapt’s next production.
“A lot of my actors have read it already,” she said. “To get the high schoolers more involved and engaged, I could connect it with their school work. Plus, I just love the show so much.”
The play still resonates today, she said.
“Today’s world is full of judgment,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “I just think it really connects with politics, how everyone is in everyone’s business. It shows when you lie, when things get started like this, what a mess it can turn into. John Proctor speaks of his name, his reputation. It shows a lot of relevancy.”
The director and her cast often discuss the show.
“We ask, ‘What are we trying to tell the audience with this?’” Griffin-Nicholson said. “What we say about each other is so important. The cast has related it to cyber-bullying, how somebody says something about a kid and they kill themselves over it. It’s really important to know what our actions do to one another.”
Many familiar faces from Enrapt’s production of “Our Town” return for “The Crucible.”
Charles Griffin, an Enrapt board member, plays Deputy Governor Danforth.
“Danforth is somewhat arrogant, overly sure of himself, and does not like to be wrong,” Griffin said. “He is the judge of the witch trials and has to judge many of the people and essentially, sentence them to death or jail time.
The play’s message is about “how lies can be spun into a huge web that can consume an entire community,” Griffin said.
“The entire village of Salem gets caught up in the web when a few girls cry witchery on many of the people in the village,” he said. “Everyone becomes consumed, and it leads to more and more chaos.”
Danforth is an about face from the last character Griffin played.
“I have enjoyed playing this more serious, stern role, which was very different than my role last fall as the town drunk in ‘Our Town,’” he said.
Butler, who played Louella Soames in “Our Town,” plays Tituba.
“She is the West Indian servant of the town minister, Reverend Paris,” Butler said. “Tituba plays a pivotal role in making the first accusations of witchcraft.”
Some actors are making their debut in an Enrapt performance.
Erin Wilson received a B.A. in drama from Carson-Newman University. She plays Abigail Williams, who sets the plot and the hysteria in motion.
She enjoys “becoming someone who you are not, taking on a different personality.”
“I am a 36-year-old playing an 18-year-old,” she said. “Abigail is a vain, conniving individual. She has one goal — to make John Proctor hers — and does not care what has to be done to ensure said goal is achieved or who is hurt in the process. It is all about her.”
Wilson says the play can be summed up in one word — judgment.
“All it takes is one act, or ill feelings toward an individual, for someone to grasp the one loose thread and cause the teeniest of lies to grow until a whole town is judging each other and the most innocent of lives are lost,” she said.
Deidre Brown, a Pickens High School student, has been involved in many plays at the Foothills Playhouse, including “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” She’s been performing since she was 7.
She plays Elizabeth Proctor.
“Elizabeth is the good character,” Brown said. “She and Rebecca are the only two people who never give in to the hysteria in Salem. Despite John’s mistakes, she never stops believing that he is a good man, and she supports him to the end.”
Brown says the play acts as a warning.
“Arthur Miller shows us that blame and lies will only bring trouble on everyone,” she said.
Enrapt and its location are a dream come true for Griffin-Nicholson, who grew up in the area. She said she was always fascinated with the Bradley-Boggs House.
“I used to tell my parents, ‘That’s going to be my theater,’” Griffin-Nicholson said.
When she saw the “For sale” sign go up on the house, she began pursuing her dream, sending the owners her business plan for the property in 2014.
“I was very persistent,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “I called over and over.”
The owners were on board with the plan, and “we just started going with it,” she said.
The company held auditions for “Our Town” last year, began offering classes and also produced a Christmas showcase.
“We had a lot of support,” Griffin-Nicholson said. “We want to continue doing the shows. I think the community is really enjoying the shows in general.”
Future goals include renovating the Bradley-Boggs House to create a venue for the arts. Fundraising is underway.
“Our mission is to create a passion for the arts and bring the arts to a small town,” Griffin-Nicholson said.
To learn more about Enrapt, visit enrapt.org.
