Monthly Archives: August 2019
Courier Letters to the Editor 8-28-19
It’s an evil, horrible thing
Dear Editor,
It’s an evil, horrible thing that someone has recently vandalized four local churches and graveyards. They should realize that they will have to answer to God almighty at the judgment seat of Christ after they die. This is a serious offense when anyone damages God’s house of worship. They need to wake up before it is too late.
Also, we all need to pray for our school teachers, staff and most of all, students for their salvation and safety this school year. Pray that there will be no more mass shootings or violence for all the schools of the entire world.
Diane Finley
Easley
Thinking outside of the box
Dear Editor,
Has anyone reading this thought as I have about how the more technology advances, the more abstract
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Pickens man gets 25 years for child assault
PICKENS — A Pickens man will spend more than two decades in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old child.
Brandon Jerome Clark, 28, was convicted in court last Thursday of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said in a news release.
A Pickens County jury found Clark guilty after a four-day trial, according to Wilkins.
Evidence presented by assistant solicitors Britni McCall and Scott Todd during the trial established that Clark assaulted the child at her Pickens home between Feb. 20 and March 20, 2017, Wilkins said.
Judge Donald Hocker sentenced Clark to 25 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, he said.
Defense attorney Jenny Barwick represented Clark.
Vet’s walk across SC to start Thursday
COUNTY — An Army veteran and three-time Purple Heart recipient will start a walk across South Carolina for awareness at the highest point in the state this week.
Greg Quarles’ journey will begin early Thursday morning at Sassafrass Mountain in Pickens County. Quarles’ walk
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‘Hee Haw’ to have final performance Saturday
PICKENS — A play based on popular 1970s and ‘80s TV show “Hee Haw” was a smash hit in its last two performances at the Pickens Senior Center/Hagood Community Center.
More than 50 people had to be turned away from the jam-packed auditorium at the the last performance at the center, located on School House Road in Pickens.
As a result of the incredible response, officials at the center have announced a farewell presentation.
The Hagood Community Center/ Pickens Senior Center will present the final presentation of “Hee Haw” with local
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Pickens boy steps up to help friend’s family after tragic loss
PICKENS — Lending a hand in times of tragedy is a sign of true friendship, and for one Pickens boy, that friendship shone bright following the untimely death of a school friend.
On Aug. 8-10, 10–year old Wayne Bennett, son of Dewayne and Renee Bennett, with help from family and friends, organized a snow cone fundraiser in honor of classmate Shakyra Young, who passed away on Aug. 3.
When Wayne heard of her passing, he immediately wanted to do something to honor his friend and help
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Courier Community Calendar 8-28-19
• Annual Ross reunion scheduled for Sunday
The annual Andy R. and Bessie Shelton Ross reunion is planned for 1 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 1, at Kings Grove Baptist Church near Six Mile. Plates and cups will be provided.
• Jones Hill set to host Chinese auction
Jones Hill Church of God will host a Chinese auction on Saturday, Sept. 21. Located at 1014 Dalton Road in Marietta, the event will include hot dog and bake sales and drawings for the auction.
Ticket and hot dog and bake sales will begin at 11 a.m. Auction and drawings will begin at 1 p.m.
• Gilstrap reunion planned for Sept. 7
The Gilstrap reunion will be held at Antioch Bapstist Church fellowship building on Highway 11 on Sept. 7. Bring a
Courier Obituaries 8-28-19
JOHNNY F. HOLCOMBE
EASLEY — Johnny Foster Holcombe, 78, of Mary Ann Street, passed away on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019.
Born in Pickens County, he was a son of the late Richard D. Holcombe and Eva Mae Forister Holcombe.
Johnny was retired from Creative Builders in Greenville after 21 years of dedicated service. He was also employed with R.T. Murrell and Bivens Construction erecting steel buildings, banks and apartment complexes. He was a lifetime member of Arial Baptist Church and a member of the Bible Fellowship Sunday School Class. He had a passion for and enjoyed repairing and remodeling tractors, especially John Deere.
Johnny was a man of great character and a humble Christian man who loved and was loved by all he met.
Surviving are his wife, Patricia Lance Holcombe of the home; a daughter, Tammy Porter (Randell) of Simpsonville; stepdaughters, Evetta Madden of Mars Hill, N.C., Diane Brown of Simpsonville and Stephanie Maynard; seven grandchildren, Matt Holcombe (Stephanie), Jessica Burroughs (Steven), Butch Brown, Jessie Holcombe, Trisha Morris, Andrea Naassan and Damion Maynard; 13 great-grandchildren, Jordan Wise, Danielle, Iszebelle, Hannah and Zae Standifer, Jerred Holcombe, Maggie Burroughs, Jonathon Holcombe, Jamie-Rae Bryant, Macey Reese, Mackeira Morris, Harvey Huntley and Hydeia Brown; a sister, Joan Gilstrap (Marshall) of Easley; many nieces, nephews and their families that he adored and loved; and his beloved pets, Jasper and Simon.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his second wife, Beatrice Timms Holcombe; a son, Barry Holcombe; a grandson, B.J. Holcombe; sisters, Jean Ouzts and Frankie Brooks; and brothers, Jack Holcombe and J.T. Holcombe.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 27 at Arial Baptist Church, with burial following in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Easley.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Arial Baptist Church Bus Fund, 618 Rice Road, Easley, SC 29640 or arialbaptistchurch.org
Condolences may be expressed online by visiting robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
BETTY DALTON CARTER
EASLEY — Mrs. Betty Jean Dalton Carter, 84, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.
Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Arthur Dalton and the late Melissa Hendricks Dalton, Betty was retired
Pickens falters in second half after
By John Robert Ayers
Courier Sports
EASLEY — It was a tale of two halves on Friday night, as the Easley Green Wave extinguished the Pickens Blue Flame, 31-14, for their first win under new head coach Caleb King.
The Flame jumped out to a 14-0 lead after their first two possessions
and took a 14-7 advantage into halftime before giving up 24 unanswered points in the second half.
“We gave out,” Pickens coach Chad Smith said. “I blame myself for that. Our conditioning was not at a level that it needed to be.”
Following a late kickoff due to the game’s inclusion in the Great America Rivalry Series, Pickens won the opening toss and elected to receive.
Jamorea Keith fielded the ball at the 13-yard line, bringing it out to the 26 to start the first possession of the season. Keith and Brennan Perkins split the majority of the carries on the opening drive as Pickens marched the ball downfield. The biggest play of the drive was a 30-yard run by bruising fullback Zach Hollman all the way down to the Easley 23-yard line. Keith finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown, and Mason LaMance’s PAT made it 7-0 Blue Flame with 8:05 left in the first.
The Blue Flame defense took the field after LaMance’s kickoff was returned to the 35. Easley junior quarterback Kasten Harvey opened his season with a six-yard pass to
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‘Still a lot of wins on the table’
By Clay Counts
Special to The Courier
claycounts21@yahoo.com
LIBERTY — High School football has made its return to Pickens County, but week zero proved to be a struggle for the Liberty Red Devils.
Coming off of a successful season, the Red Devils knew the Daniel Lions would present a major challenge, and Friday’s matchup proved even tougher than Liberty envisioned as the Lions v
isited Red Devil Stadium and left with a 44-0 season-opening victory.
While not the result they wanted, the challenge gave the Red Devils the opportunity to knock off some cobwebs and get their feet wet for another year of football.
Although it is always difficult opening with a top-tier opponent and the result was far from ideal, Liberty coach Kyle Stewart was still optimistic following the game.
“We’ve got to get some good guys ready to go,” Stewart said. “We’ve known depth was an issue and we’d get a little worn down, but I thought our guys played hard against a quality
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Green Wave come back to beat Pickens and kick off King era
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Coach Caleb King’s first win at Easley will be talked about for some time.
It will be remembered for a tremendous second-half comeback, as the Green Wave rallied from a 14-0 deficit thanks 
to a decisive third quarter to beat rival Pickens 31-14 in the teams’ season opener on Friday night.
It was the ninth in a row in the series for Easley dating back to a 2010 Pickens win, the last game in the rivalry at Bruce Field.
“It feels good.” King said of the win. “I’m more proud of our seniors and those guys for fighting and conditioning like we did. It’s an incredible group of young men to come in with as many new starters as we have, to be able to put up 31 points and have a lot more room for growth.”
Pickens scored on its initial two drives and Easley fans may have wondered if it was going to be a long night. But a few defensive adjustments, a huge turnover before halftime andYou must be logged in to view this content.
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