The News Journal

Florence Rotary opens Beauty Trail

The Florence Rotary Club offi cially opened its Beauty Trail on Saturday. According to club offi cials, it is the only Rotary Beauty Trail in the world. Page 5

CHAMPS!

Sellers, Bruins overpower Trojans to win state title

The South Florence Bru ins completed a historic sea son on Saturday, defeating Northwestern 57-30 in the South Carolina 4-A State Championship Game held at Benedict College’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Winning the first state

football championship in school history, the Bruins capped off a perfect 15-0 season.

As he has all season long, quarterback LaNorris Sellers turned in another dominating performance to lead South Florence. The South Carolina

‘Mr. Football’ finalist and Syracuse University commit, completed 10 of 14 passes for 260 yards and five touch downs. He also had 201 yards rushing on 27 carries and ran for a touchdown. See CHAMPS, Page 2

McLeod Hospice Hundreds gather for annual tree lighting

HOME: From Loris, lives in Florence.

FAMILY: Wanda has been married to her husband, Michael, for 24 years. They have three children - Stephen, Derrick and Olivia.

OCCUPATION: Vice President of Client Services for the House of Hope of the Pee Dee.

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE:

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:28-31.

McLeod Hospice cele brated its 37th Annual “A Light for Someone You Love” Tree Lighting Cere mony, presented by Signa ture Wealth Strategies, on Thursday, Dec. 1 at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Hundreds attended the event, which raised a recordbreaking amount to support programs and services pro vided by McLeod Hospice.

During the ceremony, the family of JoAnn Denney Fisher, representing all the families who have been served this year by McLeod Hospice, lit the trees. Wilson High School’s Tiger Produc tion performed, and Pastor Lacy Gay with Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Florence

offered the closing prayer.

During the tree lighting ceremony, Administrator Crystal Orphan also pre sented the Spirit of Hospice award to Betty Taylor of Dil lon.

“This award was estab lished to honor individuals or groups who have positively impacted the care of our patients and families,” said Orphan. “Each year, our team faces the difficult choice of selecting the hon oree among the many who compassionately give of their time. The award is a wellkept secret until the night of the tree lighting. This year, all agreed to honor Betty,

Bridge opens at FDTC

Florence-Darlington Technical College officialty reopened its 5000 Building bridge during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 29. Also, Dr. Jermaine Ford reflected on his first year as FDTC president . . . Page 3

NAME: Wanda Vereen

The family of JoAnn Denney Fisher, shown above, represented all families who were served this year by McLeod Hospice during last week’s tree lighting ceremony.

Photos courtesy of Daisy Bostick Photography

For the first time in school history, the South Florence Bruins hoisted the Class 4A State Championship trophy on Saturday. Led by another sensational effort by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, the Bruins defeated Northwestern 57-30 to cap off a perfect 15-0 season.

A ‘Mr. Football’ finalist, LaNorris Sellers passed for 260 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for201 yards and another touchdown.

DEATH NOTICES

Elizabeth Powell Cagle, 92, passed away Nov. 26, Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.

Alma Young Campbell, 87, passed away Nov. 29. Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.

Terry Allen Evans, 62, passed away Dec. 1. KistlerHardee Funeral Home.

Patricia Harley, 66, passed away Nov. 28. Draper G. Myers Mortuary.

Natalie N. Harris, 44, passed away Nov. 23. Draper G. Myers Mortuary.

Annie “Ann” Brunson Hawkins, 74, passed away Nov. 28. Ideal Funeral Home.

Kurt William Meier, 57, passed away Nov. 29. CainCalcutt Funeral Home.

Patricia Ann Wright Morgan, 78, passed away Nov. 30. Belk Funeral Home.

John Henry Parker, 82, passed away Dec. 2. Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home.

JoAnne M. Ross, 86, passed away Dec. 1. Stouden mire-Dowling Funeral Home.

Nickolas Joseph Allen Smith, 38, passed away Nov. 22. Draper G. Myers Mortuary.

County chosen to receive federal emergency funds

Florence County has been cho sen to receive $46,540 to supple ment emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Man agement Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches

TREE FROM FRONT PAGE

a beautiful volunteer who has touched thousands of families served by our program.

“You may be aware that the butterfly is a symbol of hospice care. It represents the transformation of the soul from the body to the spirit much as the caterpillar trans forms into a beautiful butter fly. Betty has served as a volunteer for 12 years cro cheting butterflies for McLeod Hospice patients and their families. For years, her late husband, Ralph would drive her from Dillon

CHAMPS

of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The local board was charged to distribute funds appro priated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A local board made up of local volunteers will determine how the funds awarded to Florence County

are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter pro grams run by local service agencies in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non

profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Flo rence County has distributed emer gency food and shelter funds

previously with 12 agencies partic ipating.

Public or private voluntary agen cies interested in applying for emer gency food and shelter program funds must contact United Way of Florence County for an application at (843) 662-2407 for an applica tion. The deadline for applications to be received is Friday Feb. 10, 2023.

each week to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Florence where she was part of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, cro cheting items for hospice patients. Her goal was 1,000 butterflies per year. Following Ralph’s passing, she has con tinued her ministry of caring and providing comfort to patients and families from her home in Dillon recently com pleting her 12,000th butterfly. Each one she makes is as beautiful and unique as our patients. We are honored to name Betty our 22nd recipi

FROM FRONT PAGE

“I will say it one more time. He’s the best football player in the state and it’s not even close,” Bruins head coach Drew Marlowe said. “He did it all tonight.”

Sellers’ brother, sopho more receiver Jayden Sell ers, caught four of his brothers’ spirals to account

for 122 yards. Two of those passes, one for 31 yards and the other for 39, went for touchdowns.

Receiver Evin Singletary had five receptions for 126 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bruins led by a margin of 35-20 at halftime. North western responded to this by

ent of the Spirit of Hospice Award,” added Orphan.”

“A Light for Someone You Love” is sponsored by the McLeod Health Foundation to directly fund items needed for the McLeod Hospice House, to help patients remain com fortable in their homes and to provide bereavement care for families being served.

While the lighted trees will brighten the community this season, the gifts they repre sent will help bring the light of hope to McLeod Hospice patients and their families.

returning the second half kickoff for a touchdown to once again make it a one score game.

With LaNorris Sellers leading the way South Flo rence outscored Northwest ern 30-3 during the final 12 minutes of play to put the game out of reach.

BABYLAND – The children’s nursery at First Baptist Church during a Christmas celebration, circa 1950. The nursery, called Babyland, was located in a former residence facing S. Irby Street adjacent to the church parking lot. One of the ladies in the photo has been identified as Mrs. A.T. Williford. Do you have an old photo you would like to submit for The News Journal’s Do You Remember? You may do so by emailing a digital copy of the photo, including information about the photo, to editor@florencenewsjournal.com. You may also submit photos and infor mation in person at our office, located at 312 Railroad Ave.

2022 Spirit of Hospice Award recipient Betty Taylor, right, with McLeod Hospice Administrator Crystal Orphan.

God is able to bring us peace

Q: I’m a Christian, but since childhood I’ve been easily discouraged and find it hard to have friends. I can’t pinpoint any one thing that has caused this and I feel guilty for not being more content than I am. I sincerely want to overcome this battle that brings me emotional pain. Is there a Bible verse that can help? – D.S.

A: We can be crippled by things that come into our lives. We are weak vessels, but through God’s strength, He can channel His power to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Regardless of how twisted our lives may be, God is able to bring us peace and He gives us right thinking. God has promised His presence to those who belong to Him. This comes through His Holy Word. His truth is the power that enables us to rise above discouragement and leads us through defeats in life. God can even use our dis appointments to bring us closer to Him. When we realize that God does not call us to be successful, but rather to be obedient, our lives can flourish.

In some cases, emotional pain is caused by physical ill ness. There’s a sense in which pain acts as a warning sys tem, alerting us that medical assistance is needed. This can also be true spiritually. Our struggles can produce a form of suffering. But as Christians, we do not go into bat tle defenseless. God does not promise to take the battle from us, but to take us through the battle. God equips us with His “whole armor” (Ephesians 6:13). He has also left us with tremendous hope and when we place our hope in Him entirely, He meets our every need.

“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

(This

Billy Graham.)

FDTC President Ford talks bridge reopening, year-one progress

One year has passed since Dr. Jermaine Ford took over as president of Flo rence-Darlington Technical College. In that short amount of time the college has seen some major changes includ ing an increase in fall to fall enrollment, a new strategic plan, increased donations, an increase in morale on cam pus, and, the most visual of these changes, the restora tion of the college’s 5000 Building Bridge.

“It’s a new day at Flo rence-Darlington Technical College,” said Ford. “Upon my arrival, I realized that we needed to revitalize interac tion with our market, our community, and our stake holders. This bridge symbol izes the work that we have been doing. It’s been a long process, but I think people are finally starting to see that things are changing at Flo rence-Darlington Technical College and they want to be a part of it.”

FDTC officially reopened its 5000 Building bridge dur ing a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 29. The ceremony included several speakers, including Ford, FDTC Area Commissioner’s Chair Paul Seward, and the FDTC Stu dent Government Associa tion President Letia James.

As to the other changes on campus, Ford’s words can be directly reflected in the numbers, as the college saw its first increase in fall-to-fall

enrollment in more than five years with a 3.6 percent increase.

“This increase is a direct reflection of the FDTC team coming together and realign ing our goals of student suc cess and workforce development,” Ford said.

Those two goals were selected as the focus of the college’s new strategic plan, “The Road to 2027: Commit ted to Student Success and Workforce Development,” which was completed earlier this summer. Upon arrival, Ford realized the college needed a strategic plan to serve as its North Star over the next five years.

As the plan emerged, it introduced five new strategic pillars that will create the foundation for the college’s planning efforts moving for ward. Those pillars included

student success, relevance, fiscal environment, visibility, and engagement. The strate gic planning team also cre ated seven core values including accountability, excellence, innovation, integrity, leadership, team work, and communication.

Those pillars and values will inform the process over the next few months as mas ter plans are developed cam pus wide with specifics for such key elements as aca demics, facilities, institutional advancement, information technology, marketing, qual ity enhancement, enrollment, and workforce development.

“As the president of Flo rence-Darlington Technical College, I am extremely pleased with the outcome of the new strategic plan, mis sion, vision, and values and the five new strategic pillars

designed to guide our work over the next five years,” said Ford. “Through this new strategic plan, we will con tinue to fulfill our promise to the Pee Dee Region that FDTC is where our students can learn locally and earn globally.”

With a new strategic plan in place, the college has also begun to work on building moral for its employees. Through a series of on-cam pus committees, employees were given a chance to express changes they want to see across a litany of top ics. These committees then had the opportunity to report their findings in a public forum for all college employ ees.

“We are creating an envi ronment where employees feel empowered to share their ideas to help us make FDTC a world-class college,” said Ford. “It’s important that they know we listen to their ideas and we actually take action on them.”

Ford added several more exciting changes are on the way, but the work is not done yet.

“The future looks excep tionally bright for FlorenceDarlington Technical College,” said Ford, “and we will continue our college-wide effort to build a high-perfor mance culture where every one is accountable for student success and work force development.”

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev.

©2022 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Florence-Darlington Technical College President Dr. Jer maine Ford is joined by others as he cuts the ribbon on the newly completed 5000 Building Bridge.

First Amendment to The Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the govern ment for a redress of grievances.

S.C. teacher shortage is still an issue

South Carolina has struggled for years to hire enough teachers to fill all of our classrooms, but we largely misun derstood the problem: It wasn’t that teachers were fleeing the classroom. It was that we were growing the number of teaching positions we wanted to fill faster than we were growing our supply of teachers.

So even as the number of teacher vacancies kept hit ting new records, the number of teachers in our class rooms also kept hitting new records. Indeed, we routinely managed to cut those start-of-the-year vacancies enough that we had nearly all the teachers we needed before the year was over.

But that changed last year, in what we hoped without much confidence was a blip: A mid-year report showed that the number of teacher vacancies actually increased during the year, as more than 1,000 left their jobs by the start of the second semester.

The S.C. Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement puts the total number of vacancies at the start of the 2022-23 school year at 1,474, up from 1,063 the previous year. And unlike previous years, that increase in vacancies isn’t the result of schools trying to hire more teachers: They actually tried to hire 150 fewer teachers.

Yes, that’s still a vacancy rate of less than 3%, which would be considered full employment for many positions, but we have to take seriously the possibility that we are encountering an entirely different problem than what we faced all those years before COVID-19 and even in the first two years of the pandemic.

Before, we simply weren’t growing our supply of teach ers fast enough to keep up with the growing demand. That is, we had the type of problem that it was reasonable to believe could be solved through traditional job recruitment and retention efforts that focus on salary and benefits. Pay wasn’t the only problem, but increasing wages likely could have solved it if we had been more aggressive.

If in fact the number of teachers who are willing to work in our schools is declining, though, that means there’s something about the profession that’s driving them away.

Of course it’s not reasonable to assume that there’s any one thing that caused the number of teachers leaving the profession early last year to increase by more than 10% over previous records, but it’s hard to ignore the cul tural shift that has coincided with this exodus of teachers from S.C. classrooms.

First we had the mask wars, when a small but strident group of parents became increasingly belligerent about schools making their children wear masks (or, in some cases, about not making other children wear them). And then, many of those same parents started peddling the claims — picked up from provocateurs on social media and cable TV with agendas that might or might not have anything to do with protecting children — that teachers were indoctrinating their children in what they call “critical race theory,” encouraging them to explore alternative approaches to gender and sexuality and even “grooming” them.

That is, a growing number of parents have come to think of not just school administrators but teachers them selves as the enemy.

We have no doubt that there are some teachers who push a political or ideological agenda on their students. South Carolina has more than 55,000 teachers, and some of them do not belong in the classroom; that’s true of any profession. Likewise, statistically speaking, there are almost certainly some criminals among those 55,000 or so.

But the idea that teachers are the enemy is simply ludi crous, and those of us who realize that need to stand up to the bullies who are to trying to indoctrinate us with their exaggerated claims of danger. That goes especially for school board members and legislators, who need to start thinking about what their reckless claims are doing to our state’s ability to find people who are willing to teach the next generation.

Reprinted with permission from The Charleston Post & Courier and the S.C. Press Association

Worked up over the World Cup

The rest of the world calls it football. Here in America, it’s soccer.

Referred to as ‘The Beau tiful Game,’ it is by far the most popular sport interna tionally. In America, soccer is a secondary sport at best. The game played on a pitch as opposed to a field has always taken a backseat to baseball, basketball and our own brand of football. The sport has made great gains in terms of popularity in recent years, but it has nowhere near the fanatic fol lowing in the States as it does in every other nation around the world.

Maybe all that will change. The 2022 World Cup is currently being played in Qatar and the U.S. Men’s National Team reached the round of 16. They fought valiantly, but the young Americans lost to a more experienced Netherlands squad on Saturday by a score of 3-1. Still, the U.S. men caught the attention the American public. They have certainly caught mine. Go ‘Merica!’

There are certain sports that get very little, if any of my attention, until a major annual event takes place. I’ll tune in to watch professional golfers chase a little white ball around Augusta National every April, but that’s about it. Hockey does very little for me until there are a couple of teams vying to hoist Lord

Sloan Editor

Stanley’s coveted cup. Each year the NBA regular season slips quietly by until midJune when the finals are played and a champion is about to be crowned.

Soccer is very much the same. It’s not even a blip on my radar, but every four years it commands my atten tion as the best players in the world gather to see who is the best of the best. It’s kind of like the Olympics in that regard, I suppose. His torically, Americans have had very little to cheer about when it comes to the World Cup, so it’s understandable that we don’t often get worked up about it. Every so often, though, we Yanks can make a little noise. When they do we can’t help but get behind them and rightly so, as they do represent the red, white and blue.

When I speak of Ameri cans having very little World Cup success, I need to make sure I clarify that I speak only of the men’s team. The ladies are an entirely different story. The U.S. Women’s National Team is the two-time defend ing World Cup champions and will be highly favored to win a third title when the

tournament is played next year in Australia and New Zealand.

The women’s team stepped onto soccer’s center stage in 1999 when the U.S. beat China on penalty kicks to win the World Cup in front of a sold out crowd at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. The U.S. women have been the team to beat ever since.

I’ll bet you can name a women’s soccer player. There’s a strong chance its former players Mia Hamm, Kristine Lily or Brandy Chas tain. Then again, it might be a current player, like Alex Mor gan and Meagan Rapinoe. Now name a men’s soccer player? Other than current player Michael Pulisic, you probably can’t

And speaking of names, hang onto this one - Trinity Rodman. She is a soccer phenom who is on the rise and will get lots of attention in next year’s women’s World Cup. She’s the daughter of colorful and outspoken NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rod man. Trinity is as good at scoring goals as her dad was at snatching rebounds.

So why is it that women’s soccer has caught on in America, but not the men’s? Is it simply because of the lack of success on the pitch? Who knows, but maybe, just maybe, that will change this year.

My favorite World Cup memory is from the summer

of 2010. I was in downtown Minneapolis, Mn., while cov ering the PCUSA General Assembly for the Presbyte rian News Service. Walking down Nicolett Mall, I could hear a large crowd cheering from somewhere in front of me. I was curious and decided to see what was going on. It was coming from Brit’s Pub. When I asked what all the commotion was, the hostess simply pointed toward the roof.

I took the stairs to the rooftop and to my amaze ment found a 10,000-foot grass-covered lawn and a giant screen playing the world cup semifinals between Germany and Spain. The lawn was filled with thousands of fans, some with faces painted and others waving flags. All of them, I think had visited the nearby rooftop bar called The Clubhouse. I found myself with little choice but to join them. I grabbed a pint of Guinness and took a seat on the lawn. Best soccer match I’ve ever watched.

So, do the American men have a chance to be even better in 2026, maybe even (dare I say it?) win it all? I think Ted Lasso, America’s most famous soccer star, sums it up best with his oneword mantra - “Believe!”

Editor Bob Sloan at editor@florencenewsjour nal.com.

Getting it right on vaping

The most recent data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey tell a story that you probably haven’t heard.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the 2022 NYTS results, which showed underage e-cigarette use had dropped below the level that led the FDA to declare an “epidemic” in 2018. The data show the epi demic continues to be reversed.

That same data show youth combustible cigarette smoking is at an all-time low, standing at 1.6%. In fact, youth use of all tobacco products has decreased sig nificantly over the past few years. Many stakeholders (including me) have worked tirelessly to reduce underage use, and they’ve succeeded. I applaud their efforts. We all should.

However, this progress isn’t being matched by a driv ing down of the number of adult smokers, currently num bering 34 million Americans according to the American Cancer Society. The FDA can do more to help America stop smoking, and they need to start talking to smokers again like they did before the 2018 NYTS data were released.

Like youth smoking, adult smoking rates have declined but not by nearly as much. Smoking continues to be the single largest preventable

Holman Guest Columnist

cause of death in the United States according to public health data. So, while it’s important to recognize the great strides that have been made in recent years to reduce youth tobacco use, it is equally important to recog nize that there are still too many Americans smoking.

As a 20-year veteran of the FDA, most recently as the top scientist at the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products, I know it is home to talented scientists who want to do more to help smokers make better choices than sticking with cigarettes, while also guarding against underage nicotine use.

So, what can be done to accelerate driving down adult smoking in America? A vital strategy, which is urgently needed, is a more balanced approach by U.S. public health agencies when it comes to communicating about tobacco and nicotine products.

The FDA has invested heavily in numerous multime dia campaigns directed at teenagers and parents that are meant to reduce under age e-cigarette use. These types of campaigns should

continue. What’s completely missing is a similar invest ment in communicating with adult smokers. The FDA must engage smokers in a consistent, public, and mean ingful way to help them ide ally quit smoking altogether or urge those who don’t quit to switch to innovative smoke-free products. FDA acknowledges that such products are a better choice than continued smoking. Let’s make sure adult smok ers know that.

The message that all Americans need to hear from health experts is a sim ple one: If you don’t use tobacco products now, don’t start. If you smoke, quitting is the best choice. If you don’t quit, change to a smoke-free alternative. This message is supported by science, as evidenced by FDA’s authorization of nico tine products that, for adult smokers who completely switch to them, can signifi cantly reduce their exposure to the harmful chemicals found in smoke or, for some products, reduce the risk of lung cancer and other smok ing-related diseases.

Today, smokers are sim ply not hearing this mes sage, and that needs to change, or close to 500,000 Americans could continue to die needlessly each year. Health experts have an obli gation to proactively share information about better choices with adult smokers while continuing to guard

against underage tobacco product use.

I hope my old colleagues at FDA, who are amazing public health scientists, will take the needed actions to accelerate the transition to a healthier America by moving smokers away from ciga rettes.

Dr. Matthew Holman is Philip Morris International’s vice president of U.S. engagement & regulatory strategy.

“All

312 Railroad Avenue Florence, SC 29506 843-667-9656 www.florencenewsjournal.com

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Rotary Beauty Trail opens

The Florence Rotary Club officially opened a Beauty Trail on Saturday. According to reports, it is the only Rotary Beauty Trail in the world.

The Beauty Trail is open at different times of the year and the theme always changes. On Easter, the Beauty Trail showcases spring flora and for fall and Christmas, the trail has col orful foliage, flowers, and Christmas decorations.

The trail covers about 10 miles of historic neighbor hood homes and gardens, in addition to the Florence

County Library, the Florence Little Theater, Francis Mar ion’s Performing Arts Center, and the Florence Museum.

Free maps for the trail can be obtained at three places: the Florence County Library, the Florence Visitors Center, and Taylor Garden and Gift Shop.

There is a QR code on the maps and on some of the Rotary Club signs that were put up this week. The QR codes contain a narra tion of the trail and describe the rich history of the city of Florence.

Holly Beaumier designed

the maps that direct visitors and community members down the trail. She is a Rotarian who works with the Florence Visitors Center.

The Rotary Club has over 32,000 clubs with over 1 mil lion members in 160 coun tries. The Rotary Club is the oldest service club in Amer ica and was founded in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Har ris.

The Florence Rotary Club was founded in 1920 and has over 100 members. There are two other Rotary Clubs in Florence.

STIFEL Value investing

After years of growth investing being the “hot” investment strategy, espe cially during the long bull mar ket, value investing is shining once again. While growth investing focuses on compa nies that are believed to be in the early stages of consider able earnings growth,value investing concentrates on stocks that are temporarily out of favor with investors on Wall Street and are believed to be undervalued by the market.

A more conservative approach than growth invest ing, value investors tend to approach investing with a long-term perspective.

Where a growth stock may take off rather quickly due to the latest market trend, value stocks follow fundamentals, not fads. By focusing on the

Buddy Brand Financial Advisor

big picture, value investors must put market volatility and daily news headlines in per spective.

Typical characteristics of value investing:

• Buying high-quality stocks that have been dis counted relative to the intrin sic value;

• Investigating the price of a stock in relation to the annual dividend that the stock is likely to pay;

• Buying stocks from a variety of sectors; and

• Doing the opposite of

what everyone else may be doing.

Value investing may or may not be right for every investor. By examining your personal tolerance for risk and determining a time hori zon for your investment strategies, you can determine which style best suits your needs. Regardless of which style you choose, it is impor tant to keep diversification a top priority in portfolio alloca tion.

Article provided by Frank J. “Buddy” Brand II, a Senior Vice President/Investments, licensed to provide broker age services only, with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incor porated, member SIPC and New York Stock Exchange, who can be contacted in the Florence office at (843) 6657599.

Women in Philanthropy awards $60,000 to local nonprofits

The Eastern Carolina Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy awarded more than $60,000 to local nonprofit organizations during a cere mony held on Giving Tues day, Nov. 29 at St. John’s Church.

Women in Philanthropy, a group of women dedi cated to improving the qual

ity of life in the Pee Dee, combine their financial and intellectual resources to award annual grants to non profit organizations.

Nearly 50 people from various organizations gath ered at St. John’s. A total of 50 applications were received and only 15 organ izations were accepted to be awarded a total of

$62,435.

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity move ment founded in 2012. Each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people from more than 85 countries make charitable donations, volunteer at local nonprof its, or perform simple acts of kindness within their communities.

Members of the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy pose with representatives from local nonprofits during a ceremony held Nov. 29 at St. John’s Church.

Paper angel craft workshop at Florence Library

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library will offer a free paper angel ornament workshop for adults on Tues day, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m.

Participants will be creat ing angel ornaments out of old books and paper.

Participation is free, but space is limited and registra tion is required. All materials will be provided.

Wrap and Yap Party

The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library will offer a free Wrap and Yap Party for adults on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m.

Participants can bring their holiday presents and the library will provide the materials to wrap them in a friendly, community environ ment. Cookies and hot bev erages will be provided. The program will last one hour.

Participation is free, but space is limited and registra tion is required. All wrapping materials will be provided.

For information or to reg ister for these programs, call (843) 413-7074. The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library is located at 509 S. Dargan Street in Florence.

Rec. Dept. holding winter supply drive

The City of Florence Recre ation Athletic & Sports Tourism Department is currently con ducting a Winter Supply Drive. Numerous drop off locations have been set up to accept the donation of new or gently used coats, scarves, and gloves and new socks, hats and toys. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 8.

Drop off boxes can be found at the following loca tions:

• Barnes Street Activity Center

• Dr. Iola Jones Park Com munity Center

• Maple Park Community Center

• Northwest Community Center

All drop off locations are open Monday through Friday. For information, call (843) 6653253.

The donations will be handed out to individuals and families who are in need on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Barnes Street Activity Center.

FAHS presents Lights 4 Paws

The Jayne H. Boswell animal shel ter is a partnership with the Florence Area Humane Soci ety and the City of Florence. The shel ter is located at 1434 McCurdy Road and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. Contact them by phone at (843) 629-5456.

Adoption fees are $65 for cats and $85 for dogs. The fee includes first vaccines and spay/neuter. The shelter is always in need of volunteers, foster families, and donations.

Pets of the Week

www.florencehumanesociety.org

Masterworks Choir to perform at Central UMC

The Masterworks Choirs have two concerts planned for the holidays, Dec. 10-11 at Central United Methodist Church. The programs are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

The annual Christmas concerts by the Master works Choirs are a must-

see. Saturday’s performance will highlight the Master works Children’s Choir singing such familiar carols as “The First Noel,” “Pat-aPan,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” The Sunday performance will feature two Baroque works – the exuber

ant “Magnificat” by Johann Sebastian Bach and the beautiful, intimate “Midnight Mass for Christmas” by French composer MarcAntoine Charpentier. The concerts will feature orchestra and local soloists Dana Spencer, Emily Lake,

Tara McCormick, Shaw Thompson, Paul Zwiers, Nick Townsend, Kevin McCormick, and Jim Fincher.

The concerts are free and open to the public. Central United Methodist Church is located at 265 W. Cheves St.

Applications accepted for Darby Scholarship

Are you or do you know a Florence County high school senior who is passionate about the arts and plans to pursue a career in an arts dis cipline or arts education? If so, applications for the Betty Ann Darby Scholarship Award are now being accepted.

Since 1997, the Florence Regional Arts Alliance has

awarded 52 Florence County students with the Betty Ann Darby Scholarship. A former member of the South Car olina Music Educator’s Hall of Fame, Darby served the Flo rence One School District for 39 years as a much beloved and highly revered music administrator and music teacher.

Call for information about our 6 week classes. Open studiO Oil drawing Children’s art Classes Lynda English Studio-Gallery 403 second loop road 843.673.9144 www.Lyndaenglishstudio.net

Betty Ann Darby Scholar ships are merit scholarships awarded predominantly on the basis of demonstrated talent, passion for the arts and intention to pursue a career in an arts discipline or in arts education. They are made possible by the gener ous support of Honda to the Florence Regional Arts

Alliance.

843-615-2020 CELL 843-667-1100 OFFICE 843-669-6965 FAX 800-577-4156 BUSINESS Kimberly1110@sc.rr.com BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina An Independent Licensee of the BlueCross and BlueShield Association

To be considered for the scholarship, seniors’ primary residence must be in Flo rence County or graduating from a Florence County pub lic or private high school.

For more information, visit www.florenceartsalliance.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2023.

If you are not receiving The News Journal each week please call our office at 843-667-9656 with your name and address so we can inform your carrier. THE NEWS JOURNAL

and brighter than ever. The light show is held nightly from 6 to 9 p.m. at 3251 Mears Drive, near For est Lake. Admission is by donation. Congratulations REALTOR OF THE MONTH Providing the Medicare Supplement Benefits You Need... Lower Costs, More Benefits JERRY SHEALY AGENCY 657 S. Coit St., Florence, SC 29503 • 843-667-8551 Serving the Group Insurance Needs of the Pee Dee!

Thesis, left,says “Write me on your heart!” She is an 18week-old kitten. Wisp, above, is a two-year-old spayed ter rier mix. She would love to be your new best friend.

Award-winning dancer, actor Henson visits Florence

Award winning and nomi nated choreographer, dancer, actor, director, and producer Darrin Dewitt Hen son was in Florence last week to serve as emcee the eighth annual United Negro College Fund’ Mayors’ Masked Ball at the Florence Center.

During his visit, Henson met with students and fac ulty at both Southside Mid dle School and Wilson High

School.

Henson is currently star ring in the BET drama series, “The Family Busi ness.” In 2021, Hen son received a best actor award for his portrayal of the role of Orlando Duncan. Henson is

perhaps best known for his portrayal of Lem Van Adams from 2000 until 2004 in the Showtime TV series Soul Food, the longest-running drama with a predominantly African-American cast in tel evision history. Henson was twice nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, in 2004 and 2005, for his por trayal as the struggling

young husband and father in this series.

He has choreographed music videos and concerts for such popular music artists as New Kids on the Block, Jordan Knight, Brit ney Spears, Prince, Hi-Five, NSYNC and The Spice Girls. He is the winner of the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography for “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC.

Henson has also

appeared in numerous plays and films, including starring in Stomp the Yard, The Express, Black Coffee, Tekken, and Netflix’s Black Bear. Henson is also pro ducer and star of the Double Cross series on the All BLK Network in its fourth season.

The eighth annual Pee Dee Area UNCF Mayors’ Masked Ball is a premier fundraising affair focused on raising public awareness and

large corporate and individ ual donations to support deserving students through UNCF. Hosted by a diverse group of corporate sponsors and local businesses, it involves dignitaries, civic leaders, volunteers, public officials, alumni and others who support UNCF’s mis sion of investing in better futures for us all by getting students to and through col lege.

Handy tips for keeping a living Christmas tree alive

Many of you fine readers have your Christmas tree up and decorated by the first week of December. Hats off to you and your moxy. I have always admired the ease of a pre-lit artificial tree like the one in my sister-in-law’s house the week after Hal loween. However, for those who go the au naturel route, I would suggest investing in a live Christmas tree that you plant in the yard after the holi days.

In the years before I moved to the Pee Dee, I had amassed a mini arboretum of Italian cypress and Japanese cedars on my property from purchasing a live containergrown tree each December

Ketron

Clemson Extension

to put in the house for the holidays and then plant out side afterward. It’s a very eco-friendly option and I don’t have to hear my husband gripe about how much he paid for a cut tree that simply died a few weeks later. I would purchase a tree from a local nursery, keep it in its container, water it regularly, and then go out in the back yard after the holiday and plant it.

The trick to success is selecting a healthy tree that will live in your climate after ward. Right off the bat, some of your “traditional” Christ mas trees are out of the question. Any typical firs or spruces won’t survive out side the Piedmont region, so Clemson does not suggest those for this area. Some viable options include eastern red cedar (Juniperus virgini ana), southern red cedar (Juniperus silicicola), “Car olina Sapphire” cypress (Cupressus arizonica), “Clemson Greenspire” cypress (Cupressus arizon ica), Virginia pine (Pinus vir giniana), Leyland cypress (Cupressus x leylandii), Mur

ray cypress (Cupressus x ley landii ‘Murray’), deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara), and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica).

If you plan to keep the tree up for more than two weeks, consider incorporat ing a living tree as more of a porch or patio decoration than an indoor adornment. I will say many of the trees suggested do not have the best sturdy branching to hold heavy ornaments so you may have to weight test some of the family heirloom pieces.

Once you are ready to plant the tree, bring it outside and let it acclimate to its out door temperatures by placing it in an outdoor covered area

for a few days, but don’t let it get away from you. You want to plant it shortly after the holidays and not wait until spring.

Obey the essential rules of good tree establishment, including picking a site that is well draining, full sun, and far enough away from struc tures, fences, and other trees that it will grow to its full mature size without crowd ing. Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball but twice as wide. If the root ball is wrapped in synthetic burlap, remove the burlap altogether to prevent root girdling. Remove natural burlap and any wire basket from the top of the root ball

so that water can reach the root system without obstruc tion. Untreated burlap can be left along the sides of the root ball, as it will eventually decompose in South Car olina’s moist climate but you are welcome to remove it fully as well. Fill the hole with loos ened soil and water deeply to encourage good soil settling. Mulch 2 to 3 inches on top of the root ball and don’t fertilize until spring. All these instruc tions and more tips are at https://hgic.clemson.edu/fact sheet/planting-trees-correctly/. Carmen Ketron is an urban horticulture extension agent and master gardener coordinator for the Clemson Extension Service.

LEGALS 100

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: KENNETH CALVIN BAKER Date of Death: 11/8/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101086

Personal Representative: LEROY TODD Address:

3309 ALLIGATOR ROAD FLORENCE, SC 29501 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: GERALD DARBY VAUSE

Date of Death: 11/12/2022

Case Number: 2022ES2101075

Personal Representative: GLENN ANTHONY VAUSE

Address: 434 W. DEER RD TIMMONSVILLE, SC 29161 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

To all persons claiming an interest in: 1996-115HPEVINRUDE-E115GLG03971310 RAY HAMMOND will apply to SCDNR for title on water craft/outboard motor. If you have any claim to the watercraft/outboard motor, contact SCDNR at (803) 734-3699. Upon thirty days after the date of the last advertisement if no claim of interest is made and the watercraft/outboard motor has not been reported stolen, SCDNR shall issue clear title.

Case No: 20220923950609 12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

Notice is hereby given that Club House Grill #1 LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Rev enue for a license and/or permit that will allow the sale and on premises consumption of beer, wine and liquor at 160 Club Cir. Lake City, SC 29560. To object to the issuance of this license and/or

permit, you must sub mit Form ABL-20, post marked no later than December 23, 2022. Mail protests to SCDOR, ABL Section, PO Box 125, Colum bia, SC 29214-0907 or email to ABL@dor.sc. gov. 12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: BETTE JO BOSWELL MEADS Date of Death: 9/18/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101094

Personal Representative: GEORGIA BOSWELL Address: 870 WAYNESBORO HIGHWAY SYLVANIA, GA 30467 Attorney, if applicable: S WESLEY SNOW Address: 900 WEST EVANS STREET FLORENCE, SC 29501 (127, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and

address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: MARIANNE RITA SEUSS BRYANT Date of Death: 11/9/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101085

Personal Representative: ALISSA DAHLGREN Address: 1603 FAIR OAKS LANE FLORENCE, SC 29506 12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NO. 2022-CP-21-02419

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF FLORENCE Mary Ann Miles, Plaintiff, vs. Barbara Ruth Compton Kennedy; Helen Compton Taylor; Robert D. Miles (Deceased); Pamela Miles Tsaldaris; Victoria Miles Mazzaro; Tracy Miles Turner; John L. McKnight (Deceased); Dorothy Fuller McKnight; John A. McK night; Robert F. McKnight; Linda McKnight Vanover; Connie McKnight Ritterholz; Charles Comp ton (Deceased); Charles Eddie Compton, Jr.; Dawn Compton Ballard; Randy Compton; Jason Compton; Alice Compton (Deceased); Melissa Faulconer; Thomas Faulconer; Amanda Comp ton Ramsey; and John Doe and Mary Roe; Fictitious names which represent any Infants, Incompetents, Per sons in the Military within the meaning of Public Law 108-109, commonly referred to as the Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003, as amended, and Persons Imprisoned, and those under any other Legal Disability; and Richard Roe and Sara Doe, Fictitious names used to represent any unknown Heirs at Law, Devisees, Widows, Widowers, Execu tors, Administrators, Per sonal Representatives, Successors and Assigns, Firms or Corporations of the deceased Defendant; also all other unknown per sons claiming any right, title, estate or lien upon the real estate which is the sub ject of this action, Defen dants.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED: and required to respond to the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is hereby served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Com plaint on the undersigned at

her office at: Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A., 200 East Broad Street, Suite 250 (29601), P.O. Box 1509, Greenville, S.C. 29602, within thirty (30) days (thirty-five (35) days if service was by certified mail) after service thereof; exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to respond to the Complaint within the times aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action shall apply to the Court for a judgement by default against you for the relief demanded in the Com plaint.

Respectfully submitted, TURNER PADGET GRAHAM & LANEY, P.A. s/Jessica S. Ferguson Jessica S. Ferguson S.C. Bar No.: 104253 P.O. Box 1509 Greenville, S.C. 29602 Telephone: (864) 552-4626 Facsimile: (864) 282 5989 Email: JFerguson@TurnerPadget.com November 9, 2022 Greenville, South Carolina

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI AND ATTORNEY Mary Ann Miles, Plaintiff, vs. Barbara Ruth Compton Kennedy; et al. Defendants.

IT IS ORDERED that pur suant to Rule 17, SCRCP, Kelley Yarborough Woody, Esq., be, and hereby is, appointed Guardian ad Litem Nisi on behalf of all unknown minors; all unknown persons under legal disability; and all other unknown Defendants, all of whom may have or may claim to have some interest in or claim to the real prop erty at issue in this case; that Kelley Yarborough Woody, Esq. is empowered an directed to appear on behalf of and represent said Defendants unless the said Defendants or some one on their behalf, shall, within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof, as directed procure the appointment of a Guardian or Guardian ad Litem for the said Defendants.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Kelley Yarborough Woody, Esq., be, and hereby is, appointed as Attorney for Defendant, resident or nonresident, who may be in military service, all of whom may have or may claim to have some interest in or claim to the real property at issue in this case; that Kel ley Yarborough Woody, Esq. is empowered an directed to appear on behalf of and represent said Defendants unless the said Defendants or some one on their behalf, shall, within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof, as directed procure the appointment of legal counsel for the said

Defendants.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED.

Presiding Judge Twelfth Judicial Circuit Florence, South Carolina (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: KENNETH CALVIN BAKER Date of Death: 11/8/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101086 Personal Representative: LEROY TODD Address: 3309 ALLIGATOR ROAD FLORENCE, SC 29501 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: SHELBY JAMES LEE SR Date of Death: 1/27/2022 Case Number:

2022ES2100862

Personal Representative: PATSY J LEE Address: 1108 N. FIRETOWER RD FLORENCE, SC 29506 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: JOHN WESLEY STUCKEY SR Date of Death: 6/17/2022

Case Number: 2022ES2101089

Personal Representative: ELLA MAE STUCKEY Address: 453 EAST PINE STREET FLORENCE, SC 29506 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: DENNIS MURRAY THOMPSON

Date of Death: 10/30/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101079

Personal Representative: JULIA THOMPSON LONG Address: 5350 RUSH ROAD CON WAY, SC 29526 (12/7, 12/14, 12/21/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.

Estate: MARY MCDONALD RAY Date of Death: 10/11/2022 Case Number: 2022ES2101076

Personal Representative: DAVIA R LYNCH Address: 134 W. CLARKE RD FLORENCE, SC 29501 (11/30, 12/7, 12/14/2022)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES

All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on FORM #371PC with the Probate Court of FLORENCE County, JESSE S. CARTRETTE, JR., the address of which is 181 N IRBY ST, STE 1300 FLORENCE SC 29501, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Notice to Credi tors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written state ments on the prescribed form (FORM #371PC) indi cating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim. Estate:

Carmen

HENSON