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DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Unity or chaos? Some Sanders supporters not quite ready to back Hillary A4 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016
75 CENTS
PHILIP L. EDWARDS — 1926 - 2016
Sumter loses philanthropist, community leader Philip Lafayette Edwards, 89, a Sumter philanthropist who generously gave millions to various causes in the Sumter community and throughout the state, passed away on Tuesday morning. Edwards' family is well known in South Carolina. University of South Carolina's football stadium, WilliamsBrice Stadium, is named after his aunt, Martha Williams-Brice. Upon her death in 1969, Edwards and his brother, Thomas W. Edwards, served as executors of their aunt's es-
tate and negotiated the details of the estate's bequest to enlarge the football stadium at USC. That multi-million-dollar project was completed in the early 1970s. The stadium was EDWARDS renamed the Williams-Brice Stadium in the family's honor in September 1972. The will also designated money toward the college's nursing school,
renamed the Williams-Brice School of Nursing. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, said he will always remember Edwards as a humble, yet confident leader and supporter of the university. "He gave of his time and financial resources and asked for nothing in return," Pastides said. "He cared only that a high-quality education would be available to the people of Sumter and the state. He will be sincerely missed." Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen said
Edwards did many positive things throughout the community and state that most people didn't know about. "He was a true philanthropist and gentleman in the humility that he showed while contributing in many ways," McElveen said. Stan DuBose, one of Edwards’ close friends, described him as a very positive and caring person. "He was one of the finest men I've ever known," DuBose said. "He was
SEE EDWARDS, PAGE A5
YWCA opens children’s therapy area
County council recognizes youth program participants
Yard sale and annual fish fry mark occasion BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com
BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
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riday will be a busy day at the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands. The nonprofit organization at 246 Church St. has three events that day, all aimed at helping the YWCA achieve its mission. Executive Director Yolanda Wilson said that mission is to bring about social change to improve the lives of people living in the community. "As such," she said, "we strive every day to achieve race and gender equity, economic independence for women, respect for diverse cultures and a place where children and youth can strive to be the best that they can be." The YWCA relies on grants and contributions to support its programs, and two of Friday's three events are fundraisers. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a yard sale on the grounds, and the YWCA's annual fish fry will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fish sandwiches will be available for $4; fish dinners with red rice, slaw and cake are $8. Call (803) 773-7158 to place an order. Delivery is available for some orders. Proceeds from these fundraisers will go toward the elimination of domestic abuse in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties. Wilson said the YWCA staff and volunteers are especially excited about the opening of the recently com-
During Sumter County Council's meeting on Tuesday, county Human Resources Director Keysa Rogers provided a report about the 2016 county Summer Youth Work Program participants. Of the 120 high school students who applied for the program, 50 were selected through an interview process, she said. During the summer program, the students worked 5½ hours a day and met with mentors who provided information about educational options after high school, how to prepare for a job interview and how to set long-term financial goals, Rogers said. Council chairwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney said providing money for the program was an investment that council was happy to make. “You are indeed the future,” she said to the students. It is easy to tell students what they need to do, but it's great that they put all of their efforts into practice, said councilman Eugene Baten. Later, county council approved a resolution supporting a governmental leasepurchase agreement between Sumter County doing business as Crystal Lakes Golf Course and TCF Equipment Finance of Waterloo, Iowa, regarding equipment at Sumter County Airport. County Attorney Johnathan Bryan
IVY MOORE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Darryl Peyton and Tom Wellman of Lowe’s of Sumter’s Lowe’s Heroes add a panel to the roof of a gazebo for the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands’ children’s playground. Shaded by a very big oak tree, the playground will cover about half of the YWCA’s back yard. A crew of Lowe’s Heroes, volunteers who give up a vacation day or holiday to perform community service, was also constructing a gazebo, picnic tables, a storage building, playground equipment and more. The play therapy center will open at 1 p.m. Friday in the rear of the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands. pleted Children's Playground. Wilson said Lowe's of Sumter partnered with the YWCA to open the park:
The shaded playground was constructed by Lowe's Heroes, volunteers from the Sumter Lowe's home im-
provement store, who give up a day of vacation or a
SEE COUNTY, PAGE A5
SEE YWCA, PAGE A5
Local delegates finding Democratic convention positive BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com The Democratic National Convention is taking place in Philadelphia through Thursday. Barbara Bowman, a Hillary Clinton delegate from Sumter, said Tuesday she is having an exciting time at the convention. “The who's who of politics is here,” she said. “I am reminded of how much I do love politics and the whole process.”
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She said delegates are kept very busy. “It's work; you have to be in certain places at certain times,” Bowman said. “It's on and on and on.” The most exciting event for Bowman so far, she said, was the speech by first lady Michelle Obama. “It was the highlight of my day and my night,” she said. Bowman, who is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention for the third time, said she was impressed by the way everything inside the hall
See page A4 for more coverage of the Democratic Party convention in Philadelphia.
remained positive although there were protests outside. “We had a major protest, and it delayed us getting to the stadium,” Bowman said. “It was an organized protest with 2,000 folks.” She said the positive energy stems from everybody having a common goal. “Everybody wants to see Secretary
DEATHS, B5 Billy Ray Vachon Levi Conyers Jr. Philip L. Edwards Cynthia Boykin Harsen Richardson
Carl F. Jackson Rosa Lee McDuffie Joe Nelson James C. Osborne Joseph V. Brown
Clinton get in office,” she said. The positive energy inside the hall is not reflected in national media's coverage of the event, she said. “There is so much stuff people don't get an opportunity to see, and they will see what they want to see,” she said. Other delegates to the DNC include Dennis Kern, William Boyd and Marryanne Kee of Sumter, Joan Clark of Alcolu, Manning Mayor Julia Nelson and Manning City Councilman Clayton Pack.
WEATHER, A8
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HOTTER STILL
3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 121, NO. 238
Just sunny and hot today with slight chance of rain; tonight, clear and warm. HIGH 98, LOW 77
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