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The Gamecocks are the second seed in the Raleigh, N.C., regional, the NCAA announced Monday. N.C. State is the top seed, with Charlotte the third seed and James Madison fourth.

USC will face Charlotte in Friday's first round. The teams faced each other twice in last year's Columbia regional, when USC was the top seed and Charlotte the third. USC beat Charlotte to advance to the Super Regional round.

N.C. State was the second seed in that regional, but it never faced South Carolina.

USC coach Ray Tanner is an N.C. State alum, and coached the Wolfpack for nine years before leaving for the Gamecocks. He has never coached at Raleigh since then, and has never faced the Wolfpack.

Today, that framed memorial is displayed in the S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum — representative of memorials 19th century Americans used to remember their war dead.

Later, the Civil War added urgency to the need to enshrine memories of fallen soldiers. A trickle of remains that returned home for reburial turned into a flood as casualties of Gettysburg were unearthed from the battlefield after the war.

What started with many individual acts coalesced over the years into today’s national Memorial Day that honors military dead of all wars.

“The impulse for Memorial Day was there all along, carried out by individuals and families,” said Kristina Johnson, curator of history at the museum. “Memorial Day just takes it to a collective level for the nation.”

Manning, 80, was a visionary in developing Northeast Richland, said two of his longtime friends.

“He had the ability to see way down the road like very few people can,” said Edwin Cooper Jr., Manning’s friend and business acquaintance for more than 40 years. Cooper developed Woodcreek Farms with Manning.

“He would see a piece of country property, buy it and sit on it for 20 years knowing the value of real estate (in that area) 20 years down the road,” Cooper said.

He is known for his upscale developments such as WildeWood and Woodcreek Farms in Northeast Richland and Lake Katharine closer to downtown, but he also created more affordable communities such as Woodland Hills and Drexler Lake, said Doug Bridges, a longtime friend and business acquaintance.

But both candidates in the June 10 primary are connected to her.

Kelvin Washington is her son-in-law.

Helen “Ree” Daniels-Taylor ran against her four years ago.

The two candidates have similar views on key issues. Both say they’re receptive to the growth heading to Lower Richland County and say it’s fair to ask developers to help pay for the expansion of services with an impact fee.

The campaign’s big picture pits the sway of an incumbent who prides himself on his bullish style that delivers for constituents against challengers hoping to ride the national wave toward change.

In the trenches, the contenders are maximizing any political advantage they can.

Yet none of the three candidates in the GOP primary is far apart on hot-button issues such as immigration.

Incumbent Jake Knotts portrays himself as a blue-collar independent who stands up to a vengeful governor and outside influence peddlers.

The unidentified man passed two officers involved in another traffic stop at the intersection of Gervais Street and Millwood Avenue at 3:28 a.m., said Lt. Jay Evans, spokesman for the Columbia Police Department.

The officers followed the Honda SUV traveling at a high rate of speed east on Gervais Street as it turned left onto Glenwood Road.

The officers came upon the vehicle in the 3000 block of Forest Drive, where it had struck a tree and a home and caught fire, Evans said.

The home, at 3001 Forest Drive, sustained $20,000 in damage and the owner escaped without injury, said Deputy Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins of the Columbia Fire Department.

The Memorial Day concert on Sunday at Virginia Hylton Park in Lexington was festive, but not the kind that sets off fireworks.

It was more about spending time with family, and remembering the sacrifices of others.

The sun kicked through the pine trees on a pleasantly warm evening. The shrill screams of children in the park’s playground was a music of its own.

Melinda Mitchell was drawn to the sounds of the band, which was provided on-beat accompaniment by a young girl tapping on her sippy cup.

The Camden couple recently were presented the first “Kappy Hubbard Voices for Children Award.”

The award is sponsored by the Voices for South Carolina’s Children, Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina and the Children’s Trust Fund of South Carolina. It recognizes outstanding dedication to children and their well-being.

The Byarses were formally recognized during the recent Picasso Project Gala and Auction — an annual statewide competition featuring artwork from the state’s promising art students.

William R. Byars Jr. is director of the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice. He is a retired family court judge and a former director of The Children’s Law Office at the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is noted as an effective advocate for children, having dedicated the majority of his professional career to children’s issues.

The Kershaw County store, similar to the Central Midlands Habitat for Humanity ReStore in West Columbia, hopefully will open by the end of June, said Bruce Little, executive director of the Kershaw chapter.

Little and Habitat’s Kershaw board had hoped to open the store earlier. But finding enough volunteers and hiring a store manager, as well as gaining inventory, took longer than expected.

“We were just overly optimistic,” Little said. “We haven’t had the volunteers we needed and have used the go-slow approach. When we open, we want it to be right.”

The Habitat resale store will occupy the space left open by Burns Hardware when the more than 100-year-old neighborhood staple closed in January 2007.

The findings reported Sunday by The Sun News of Myrtle Beach come more than 15 years after the military left the site. Environmental reports indicate it could take another two decades for officials to bring contamination under control.

The chemicals in groundwater are at levels far above what the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for drinking water.

Regulators require the military to reduce pollution on the site so that the groundwater is safe for drinking, even though the water hasn’t been used for consumption since 1999. The military has spent more than $53 million on cleanup efforts since the base closed in March 1993 and expects to spend $10 million more before the job is finished.

Tests show the contamination is largely contained, and government agencies say the toxicity likely does not pose a threat to people who live in the area.

The fire, which started about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, caused about $4 million in property damage and $2 million in damage to the contents of the home, said Fire Marshal Todd Blomdahl. It also put neighbors and other DeBordieu residents on high alert.

The blaze is under investigation by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office and the State Law Enforcement Division.

But with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest gearing up this weekend — drawing away some manpower — investigators may not have more information until Tuesday of this week, said SLED spokeswoman Bobbi Schlatterer.

Tuesday’s fire, at 123 Pioneer Loop, was the third since February in DeBordieu. The fires have destroyed three homes, damaged eight others and caused more than $10 million in damage.

SCHOOLS

Richland 1 trustees: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the District administration building, 1616 Richland St., Columbia. (803) 231-7504; trustees will meet in a private session at 5:30 p.m. Online agendas are available at www.richlandone.org/school board/board_agendas.htm

Richland 2 trustees: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the District administration building, 6831 Brookfield Road, Columbia. (803) 787-1910; trustees will meet in a private session at 6 p.m. Online agendas are available at http://esb.richland2.org/

LEXINGTON COUNTY

For 15 years, the laundry machine operator has ridden 180 miles a day on the bus to work at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Hilton Head Island.

“I should be at home resting them bones,” the 47-year-old said on a recent Thursday. But she said she doesn’t have a choice.

Jobs are scarce in Allendale County — South Carolina’s poorest — where more than one in three residents lives in poverty.

The few jobs that are available pay minimum wage — $5.15 per hour — or just a few pennies more. Work on the island can pay almost double that or more.

It’s not that the combat engineer from Lexington would be embarrassed. He just never was a man who reveled in awards or fancy ceremonies, his parents said.

Now, in the words of the soldier’s mother, Jane Caughman, “Whether he wants it or not, he’s got it.”

Next Sunday, June 1 — in the calendar’s shadow of Monday’s Memorial Day — the 81st Regional Support Command will put Thomas Caughman’s name on its new headquarters at Fort Jackson.

Caughman, 20, was the first soldier in the 81st to die in combat in Iraq. He was killed June 9, 2004.

Chance, an 8-month-old male, scarfed down his chunk of the sheet cake with yogurt and honey icing, while Carmella, a 1-year-old female, nibbled daintily at the portion on her plate on the floor of Three Dog Bakery at 625 Harden St.

The dogs were there for a celebration of their completion of an eight-week course by area dog trainer Teoti Anderson. Carmella is being offered for adoption, and Chance is being kept by the society to take to area schools to teach people about the dogs.

Kelly Graham, the society’s director of public relations, said Anderson had tested Carmella and Chance and found they had no aggressive tendencies.

“We never want to place a dog that could bite a child or a dog because that destroys the breed,” she said. “It’s another nail in the coffin for the pit bull.”

In the state capital, you can work on your golf swing at the James E. Clyburn Golf Center — admiring the life-size bronze statue of Clyburn as you enter — or cross the James E. Clyburn Pedestrian Overpass over S.C. 277 northeast of town.

With the price of gas so high, consider catching a bus at the James E. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center in Sumter.

Or you can sign up at the James E. Clyburn Community Empowerment Center in Orangeburg to learn some high-tech skills or freshen up your resume.

When it comes to compiling “living memorials” — places, events and philanthropic funds that carry his name — House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, has few peers in Congress, past or present.

The e-mails and letters, requested by The State newspaper through the Freedom of Information Act, show the governor:

• Personally thanked local residents who wrote letters to the editor supporting his approach to developing the land

• Looked to help local shrimpers who worried their business will be harmed by development plans

• Apologized to a campaign contributor and bidder for the land whose ties to the governor were the subject of news stories.

New county standards require developers to leave buffers of trees and bushes to reduce erosion and runoff that pollutes creeks and rivers.

The requirement is part of an effort to meet new federal and state water-quality standards.

Buffers could reduce pollution as much as 70 percent, officials estimate.

But some builders don’t like being forced to leave natural buffers up to 100 feet wide along creeks.

Mark Anthony Anderson, of Rich Creek Road, was arrested several hours after the 6:45 p.m. incident and charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, Columbia Police Lt. Jay Evans said Saturday. Both the suspect and victim, 40-year-old Antwan Sumter, lived within a mile of the incident near Monticello Road and Duke Street, Evans said.

Witnesses said Sumter walked toward a Ford Ranger pickup and began talking with the driver. The driver grabbed Sumter, started the truck and dragged Sumter 30 to 40 feet at 15 to 25 mph. Sumter fell and was struck by the left side of the vehicle, Evans said. Sumter was transported to Palmetto Health Richland.

Contributing: Jim DuPlessis, Lee Higgins

No one was injured in the 8:41 p.m. blaze that started after cooking materials were left on a stove, Jenkins said.

The fire was under control about 11 p.m. and caused $850,000 damage, destroying 12 apartments, Jenkins said. The Red Cross and management at the apartment complex are assisting the families, Jenkins said.

The building — which will be named after Spc. Thomas Caughman, a Lexington Reservist killed in Iraq in 2004 — will house the 81st Regional Support Command. The building features offices, a computer training lab, an auditorium and displays from the unit’s 100-year history.

The building will be dedicated during a ceremony next Sunday, June 1.

The 81st oversees Army Reserve units in nine Southeastern states and Puerto Rico. That region includes 268 Reserve centers, 23 maintenance shops and three equipment depots.

The 81st is in charge of facilities, payroll, human resources and other management functions for those Reserve units, said Maj. Gen. Charles Gorton, the 81st’s commander.

Brian Blount, head of Richmond’s Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, is positioned to shape everything from recruitment to curriculum for the institution.

Supporters hope Blount’s high-profile position will inspire black students to attend the school; later, as pastors, those students could draw a more diverse group of parishioners desired by this shrinking 2.3-million-member denomination, which is 92 percent white.

Blount, 51, embraced the challenge at a May 7 inauguration ceremony.

“Are we ready to be more diverse?” Blount asked, to applause. “If we’re going to transform a multicultural world, we must be a multicultural seminary.”

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin said the state failed to show the youngsters were in any immediate danger, the only grounds in Texas law for taking children from their parents without court action.

It was not clear when the children — now scattered in foster homes across the state — might be returned to their parents. The ruling gave a lower-court judge 10 days to release the youngsters from custody, but the state could appeal to the Texas Supreme Court and block that.

The decision in one of the biggest child-custody cases in U.S. history was a humiliating defeat for the state Child Protective Services agency. It was hailed as vindication by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who claimed they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs.

“It’s a great day for Texas justice. This was the right decision,” said Julie Balovich, a Legal Aid attorney for some of the parents. She was joined by several smiling mothers who declined to comment at a news conference outside the courthouse.

A majority of Republicans broke ranks with Bush on a veto-proof 75-22 vote while adding more than $10 billion for various other domestic programs, including heating subsidies, wildfire fighting, repair of roads, bridges and levees, and health research.

Democrats crowed, but there was confusion about when the must-pass measure will become law and what the final version will contain.

Senators voted 70-26 to approve $165 billion to fulfill Bush’s request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring. The measure contains $212 billion over the coming two years — $28 billion more than the administration sought — plus about $50 billion more through 2017 for veterans’ education benefits. It goes back to the House, which had kept its version clean of most of the domestic add-ons.

Bush has promised to veto the Iraq spending if it exceeds his request. He has enough GOP support in the House to sustain a veto.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and death. Having it checked a few times a year in a doctor’s office or at the drugstore is not enough to keep tabs on it, and regular home monitoring is more accurate, the new advice says.

Closer checks would let doctors fine-tune the many medicines used to control high blood pressure, just as diabetics adjust their insulin levels by regularly monitoring blood sugar. Only a third of people with high blood pressure now have it under control.

“We need new approaches. Our current approach is simply not working,” said Dr. David Goff, a preventive medicine specialist at Wake Forest University and a member of the panel that wrote the advice.

Outside experts strongly agreed. But some said the case would be more compelling if those pushing the monitors had no industry ties. For example, a leading device maker pays more than $300,000 a year to co-sponsor the heart association’s blood pressure Web site. The company played no role in the new advice, the association said.

USC

The University of South Carolina board has two new trustees.

Egerton Burroughs, chairman of the board of Grand Strand developer Burroughs and Chapin Co. since 1990, was elected to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit seat on the USC board.

Burroughs, who will take the seat July 1, won the position currently held by Conway banker Wayne Staton, who withdrew from the race before the vote was taken Wednesday. Phyllis Nye also withdrew from that contest.

Federal authorities do not plan to seek terrorism-related charges against Jason Ryan Henderson, 28, who now lives in Inman, acting U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said Friday.

The discovery of the bomb-related items prompted the evacuation of two dozen homes around Henderson’s home.

Henderson will be issued a summons to appear in federal court in the next few weeks and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

“I don’t know what his intent was,” McDonald said.

Schools in Kershaw County, Cayce-West Columbia, Gaston-Swansea and Irmo-Chapin will be open. Closed for the federal holiday are schools in Batesburg-Leesville, Richland 1, Richland 2 and Lexington 1, which serves Gilbert-Lexington-Pelion-White Knoll.

John V. Furgess Sr., 67, a retired U.S. postal service employee, wants to replace King B.L. Jeffcoat, who will not seek another term representing northern Forest Acres, Satchel Ford, Keenan, Fairwold and parts of north Columbia.

Jamie L. Devine, an officer in a not-for-profit housing and economic development corporation, announced in January his intentions to run for the seat.

For Walker, who has been principal since 2005, it was his religious and professional values that kept him from remaining in his job after a gay-straight club was allowed to form on campus. He said it would promote sexual behavior and run counter to the school’s abstinence education.

Walker announced this week that he would step down at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Many in the community are standing by the principal’s decision to uphold his values. But others, including gay-rights groups, are calling for Walker’s immediate removal because they believe he is upholding intolerance in a position charged with creating openness.

“Professionally, ethically and religiously, this principal is way wrong,” said Patricia First, a professor of education leadership at Clemson University.

Average price of a gallon of gas

Then: $1.17

Now: $3.68 (215 percent increase)

Price of a first-class stamp

With very little new money available, lawmakers had to borrow from reserve accounts and focus on core services. As a result, Senate negotiators held a hard line and eliminated any local projects that could be considered pork or wasteful.

State agencies will need to squeeze more out of budgets trimmed between 2.5 percent and 5 percent. Agencies will be able to use money not spent in previous years to weather the cuts, a change the General Assembly allowed after the last state recession.

“A lot of agencies are very creative if you give them the ability to move money,” said Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence.

The cuts include the Department of Corrections, which has announced a $4.3 million deficit this year and could be in the red again for the budget year beginning July 1.

The move comes just days after Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker announced he will resign because his beliefs conflict with a gay-straight club forming on campus.

At its Tuesday meeting, the school board will discuss and consider the approval of a policy that will define the district’s relationship with extracurricular clubs and organizations. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the district office, 1020 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo.

Under federal law, school systems are prohibited from discriminating against any noncurricular club — unless it is unlawful — if others have been allowed to form.

The proposed policy is expected to define which groups are student-initiated but not sponsored by the school, and which groups are school-sanctioned.

He was an A student during his 12 years at Ben Lippen School, which today is the first Columbia-area school to send its class of seniors — 73 of them — into the world.

Earlier this year, Jonathan, 18, won the South Carolina Independent Schools Association’s heavyweight wrestling title. (He has dropped 25 pounds since and now carries about 240 pounds on his 6-3 frame.)

And since entering middle school, he has been a member of the school band, playing trumpet and encouraging younger students to persevere in learning to play music.

“I was terrible when I started. It was eight months before I could play two good notes in a row.”

1. None of the invited are slam-dunk picks. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is a new, bright governor who at 36 brings energy and youth. But he might not be ready to step in as president. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist helped McCain win the Sunshine State, which put him over the top for the nomination. But recent polling suggests McCain won’t need Crist to win Florida.

2. Look at who else won’t be there. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, two names mentioned as vice presidential candidates, won’t be with McCain this weekend. That means the attendees this weekend surely aren’t the only ones being considered.

3. This weekend could be a smoke screen. McCain wants the public to talk about his choice for vice president. That process makes him look presidential and takes media attention away from U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who he’ll probably face this fall.

But the process for selecting a vice president has seldom looked like this — public and obvious. That’s why the denials of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who will be in attendance, might be genuine. He says this isn’t an audition.

Neither House Republican nor Democratic leadership knew which way the vote was going to go. After a half-dozen votes, state residents still don’t have an up-or-down vote to determine who was for and against the tax.

And that was deliberate.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell warns newly elected House members that they will learn the rules of debate as they are used against them, and Democrats used them to their advantage Wednesday.

The cigarette tax already had passed the House and Senate, so Wednesday’s debate was about whether to accept the Senate bill or change it. House leaders were pushing 30- and 50-cent a pack increases to the tax with the money funding health insurance tax credits.

The bill raises amounts individuals and households can protect from creditors. They can keep cars worth up to $5,000, up from $1,200, and keep up to $4,000 in household goods, up from $2,500.

Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed the bill, but it was overridden.

Meanwhile, the confirmation process has stalled for a Columbia attorney nominated nearly nine months ago for a federal appeals court seat.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously approved Walt Wilkins to be South Carolina’s top federal prosecutor. A final confirmation vote by the full Senate could come as early as next week, after the Memorial Day holiday.

Wilkins, an assistant U.S. attorney in Greenville since 2005, is the son of former 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge William “Billy” Wilkins and the nephew of David Wilkins, the current U.S. ambassador to Canada and former S.C. House speaker — both from Greenville.

Efforts to reach Walt Wilkins, who was nominated earlier this month by President Bush, were unsuccessful Thursday.

Also, trash won’t be picked up Monday. All routes will be delayed one day. The Richland County C&D landfill will be closed and will reopen Tuesday.

The Lower Richland drop-off center will be closed Sunday and Monday. It will reopen Tuesday.

«Obituary posted: May 25, 2008»

Mary was born January 16, 1943, in Camden, SC, the daughter of the late W.D. (Doug) Ogburn. After graduating from McClenaghan High School, she attended Francis Marion College in Florence.

Mary had a diverse career path beginning with co-hosting a radio show and then moving into a co-hosting position for a local television show in Florence, SC.

Mary then began her career in fashion and merchandising with local companies which led into opening a store of her own in Florence called La Femme.

She later moved to Surfside Beach, SC, where she spent the last eighteen years with the J.C. Penny Co., in their jewelry merchandising department. Through the years at J.C. Penny, she won numerous “Excellence in Sales” awards.

Born in Greenville, he was the son of Richard Ernest Parrott of Greenville and Marcia Stutts Parrott of Greer. Mr. Parrott was a graduate of Eastside High School and the University of South Carolina, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and Business Management. He was a computer consultant with Genesis Solutions, Inc. He was also a member of the Brookwood Community Church Family.

Mr. Parrott enjoyed lifting weights, boating, fishing, and spending endless hours with Colton and Erin, as well as being outdoors and attending Gamecock sporting events.

Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are a daughter and son, Erin M. and Colton G. Parrott, both of the home, and sister, Kimberly McMurray of Greer.

Visitation will be held Monday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. The funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Advent United Methodist Church with Todd McMurray, Bruce Clayman, Kevin Pitts, Eric Van Heiningen, Dean Frailey, Joey Bailey, Bill King and David Hodge serving as pallbearers. Interment to follow in Graceland East Memorial Park.

Mr. Byrd died Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Born in Marion, NC, he was the son of Evelyn Spears Byrd Vinson. He worked 12 years with Kennecott Mining Co. He had also worked with A.P. Bowden, JWG Construction Co. and WalMart. Mr. Byrd was an avid reader who also loved music, especially piano and singing.

Mr. Byrd is survived by his wife of 23 years, Teresa Moore Byrd; mother, Evelyn Spears Byrd Vinson of Indiana, PA; son, Preston David Byrd and daughter-in-law, Christy Byrd; daughter, Amber Byrd, all of Lugoff; sister, Regina Smith of Indiana, PA; mother-in-law, Joanne Maupin; fathers-in-law, Bruce Maupin and Paul Moore; Uncle, Jerry Spears, Aunt, Linda Spears of Millers Creek, NC, and other nieces, nephews and cousins.

www.ShivesFuneralHome.com

(803) 754-6290

Mrs. Pound, loving wife of Hammond Pound, passed away Friday, May 23, 2008. Born in Toccoa, GA, she was the daughter of the late Olin and Nannie Smith Medlin. She was a member of State Street Baptist Church and the Barbara Zeigler Sunday School Class. She was a Registered Nurse who graduated from the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. Mrs. Pound retired from Dorn VA Medical Center and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health.

Surviving in addition to her husband of 50 years, Hammond Pound of Cayce, is her son and daughter-in-law, Jamey and Stacie Dillard Pound of Gaston; two grandchildren, Justin Pound and Caycey Pound; sister, Gail Medlin Moss and husband, James Moss of Seneca; brothers, Johnny Medlin and his wife, Evelyn of Six Mile, Sloan Medlin and wife, Gail of Tamassee; and Frank Medlin and wife, Janet of Seneca.

www.thompsonsfuneral.com

«Obituary posted: May 25, 2008»

Mr. Myers, husband of the late Stella Benfield Myers, died Friday, May 23, 2008. Born in Lexington, N.C., he was a son of the late Lee and Lillian Gibson Myers. A decorated veteran of WW II, Korean conflict and the Vietnam War, he retired as CWO2 from the U.S. Army. Employed for many years at R. H. Clark and Pope Davis, he enjoyed woodworking and attended St. Michaels Catholic Community at Fort Jackson.

Surviving are sons and daughter-in-law, Phillip A. and Elizabeth Myers of Eastover and Joseph A. Myers of Columbia; grandchildren, Ashleigh Myers and Kellie Myers; brothers, Carey Myers of Mississippi and Roland Myers of Clover; and sisters, Carolyn M. McClannon of Mocksvlle, N.C., Doris Myers and Grace Butler, both of Lexington, N.C. He was predeceased by brothers, Taylor, Harold, Victor and Donald Myers and sister, Rachel Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Camp Kemo, 7 Medical Park, Suite 215, Columbia, SC 29203.

Please sign online guest book at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

Joseph is survived by his parents; maternal grandmother, Sarah Ellen Hammond; maternal grandfather and grandmother, Crockett and Debbie Hammond; paternal grandmother, Shirley Ford; aunts and uncles, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Ford and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Ford and family and Mr. Crockett Hammond, Jr. Joseph was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Joseph Wesley Ford.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com

«Obituary posted: May 25, 2008»

Mrs. Guice was born December 24, 1920, in Pageland, SC, daughter of the late Bruce and Etta Mae Laney and came to Charlotte in 1937. She served in the U.S. Navy during WW II as a Pharmacist Mate. Mrs. Guice was married to James Medlin for over 39 years. After his death she married Paul H. Guice and they were married for 26 years. She was a lifelong retail sales associate and manager at Carol Ann Hat Shop and later at Belk’s Department Stores. She faithfully served her church, acting in numerous roles at Calvary Baptist Church. She has taught various Sunday School classes in excess of 50 years, worked meals for seniors and served faithfully in other roles for her FISH group.

Surviving are stepsons, Steve Laney of Dawsonville, Ga., and Bill Guice of Charlotte; sisters, Margie Moore of Columbia, SC, Dean Matney of Cayce, SC, Sylvia Rock of W. Columbia, SC, Georgia Leuth of Indian Trail, NC; brothers, Bill Laney of Columbia, SC, Amon Laney of Matthews, NC. She was preceded in death by brother, John Bruce Laney of Pageland, SC, and a sister, Jerry Laney, also of Pageland, SC.

Virginia was a loyal wife, stepmom, aunt and great-aunts to innumerable nieces and nephews and Christian mentor to countless members of her church and family. She will be missed by all, but we celebrate her release to the Lord and Savior.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 2200 Ashley Road, Charlotte, NC 28208 or to a charity of choice. Arrangements by Forest Lawn Funeral Service, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC (704) 395-0055.

Colonel McLees, 83, passed away Friday, May 23, 2008, after a brief illness. Born in Orangeburg, SC, December 26, 1924, he was the son of George Cornelson McLees, Sr., and Alma Keller McLees Buford. He was predeceased by his wife, Elaine Katherine McLees in 1969.

Colonel McLees was a career officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1967 when he retired. He was an Air Force fighter pilot and highly decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, in addition to serving at various duty stations around the world.

Upon his retirement in 1967, Colonel McLees joined the Systems Development Corporation out of Santa Monica, CA. During that period of time, he assisted the Air Force in developing computerized warfare logistics and tactics. Since his retirement from SDC, he has been involved with many veteran and community organizations including the Air Force Association, American Legion (Sumter Post #15), Military Officers Association (Santee Wateree Chapter), National Fraternity of Military Pilots (Daedalians), the 18th Fighter Wing Association, VA voluntary services, and served as a Sumter County election pollster.

Colonel McLees was a longtime member of St. Matthews Methodist Church. He was a generous humble man, a leader in the community, and dearly loved his family and friends. He always found time and energy to help those in need. Colonel McLees was very generous in his support of organizations that helped people (in particular wounded and other disabled veterans) and that supported the preservation of natural wildlife and land resources in SC for future generations to enjoy. He touched the lives of many people and will be missed.

Virginia died Friday, May 23, 2008, at Brian Center of St. Andrews after a lengthy illness. Born in Glenn, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Jerome and Ida Hamlin of South Haven, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Benjamin F. Martin. They lived in Forest Acres for over fifty years, serving and influencing the community in a positive way. She loved helping others, providing scholarships, and guidance to the youth of the community.

Virginia was an active member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, the Charles Burley Sunday School Class, Ladies Church Circle, Order of the Eastern Star, Forest Lake Garden Club, and The Carolina Horseman’s Association. Virginia and B.F. traveled the U.S. showing American Saddle bred horses with their daughter, Mary Kay.

Virginia and B.F. opened the first large grocery store in the Greenview Community. For forty-two years, she kept the books and took care of the finances. Virginia and B.F. shared a love of horses, traveling, gardening and Lake Murray fishing and boating.

Virginia was the role model for her family. She was called the “Beautiful Lady,” always quiet, dignified, and smiling.

Mr. Leitzsey died Friday, May 23, 2008. Born in Newberry, SC, he was a son of Mary Livingston Leitzsey and the late Thomas Suber Leitzsey. He was an elder in the Blythewood congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Surviving are his mother of Columbia; sons, Keith Leitzsey of Simpsonville, Kevin Leitzsey of Woodruff; former wife, Mona Leitzsey of Woodruff; grandchildren, Brian, Jennifer and Allen Leitzsey, all of Woodruff; sisters, Bonnie Carter of Columbia, Mary Sue Bradley of Lincolnton, NC; brothers, William Leitzsey of Columbia, George Leitzsey of Elgin; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father and brother, Tommie.

www.ShivesFuneralHome.com

(803) 754-6290