The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 4

4A The Index-Journal. Greenwood. S.C. LakelaxdsINaiiox Wednesday. July 23.

1997 DEATHS AND FUNERALS Cunanan sightings flood FBI Jennie Hames CLINTON Jennie Mae West Hames, 67, of 404 Francis wife of S.B. Hames, died July 21, 1997, at Laurens County Hospital. Born in Hartsville, she was a daughter of the late jessie and Eva Mae Kirkley West She was a former 'employee of Anderson Hosiery and was retired from -the Clinton Mills Cloth Room. She was a member of Gutaie Blocker, 643 C.m St, Greenwood Una Whatley. 1SC3 Morgan Road, Hodgea Virginia Bowman, 803 Brewer St, Greenwood George Ricotta, 124 Peak Court, Ninety Six Billy Flaher, 4508 Highway 211.

Bradley Peggy Turner, 223 UcKellar DrH Greenwood cc These sightings are coming in all over the country, so we're just sending agents out to try to verify them. Mary Jean Fryar, FBI spokeswoman I vjuvary oapusi uiurcn. surviving, addition to her husband of the home, Willie Sanders, Rt 1, Abbeville are two sons, Boyd Hames and Jack Jerome Hames, both of Laurens; a daughter, Phyllis Reynolds of i Jennie Hamaa, 404 Francis StTtunton Hill; a brother. Hartwell West of Waterloo; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. services will oe at 1 1 ajn.

I nursday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Bryson. Burial will MIAMI BEACH. Fla. (AP) With the nationwide dragnet for Andrew Cunanan coming up empty, there is growing unease that the man suspected of killing Gianni Versace and four others could be anywhere.

The fear was illustrated Tuesday when Cunanan was reportedly seen in New Hampshire at noon and in North Carolina nine hours later. Neither sighting like dozens of others before them was verified. And in San Diego, authorities promised jittery residents extra protection at Saturday's gay pride parade. Some fear the 27-year-old Cunanan will return to his hometown to mingle among an expected 250,000 "I think that of any place in the U.S. he's most likely to show up, it's here," said Brett Deffebach, who lives in Cunanan 's old neighborhood in Hillcrest.

"He's so unpredictable, who knows what could happen." Indeed, the man voted "Most Likely Not to be Forgotten" by his high school classmates 10 years ago has not only captured the national spotlight but held it since Versace's July 15 slaying. FBI agents were sent to Lebanon, N.H., where a man fitting Cunanan's description bought an undisclosed item at the Triple Play sports memorabilia store. A clerk told police the at a Milan, Italy, cathedral to pay their respects to Versace. Princess Diana, designer Giorgio Armani and model Naomi Campbell were there, and Sting and F-lton John sang a mournful rendition of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd." Versace's life was insured for $21 million by Lloyd's of London, an insurance market spokesman said. The money was to be paid out regardless of how Versace died and was intended to help his company weather any short-term problems.

The FBI has acknowledged there were missed opportunities to catch Cunanan, who left a well-documented trail 'before being accused of shooting Versace at his South Beach mansion. But the agency blamed media coverage for scuttling one promising lead. Investigators suspect Cunanan had already killed David Madson and Jeffrey Trail in Minnesota and developer Lee Miglin in Illinois by early May when agents traced cellular phone calls from Miglin's stolen Lexus; to the Philadelphia area. But those clues were leaked to the media, and authorities say Cunanan dumped the car and struck again, killing cemetery caretaker William Reese in New Jersey on May 9 and stealing his red pickup truck. be in Rosemont Cemetery.

a The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 ytu. uray runerai nome oi mnion. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Laurens tCounty, P.O. Box 178, Clinton, S.C. 29325.

The family is at the home. sGussie Blocker man's pockets were stuffed with cash and he left in a dark gray Mercedes with Florida plates. "These sightings are coming in all over the country, so we're just sending agents out to try to verify them," FBI spokeswoman Mary Jean Fryar said. "He could be anywhere." In Greensboro, N.C., an anonymous caller told police his wife saw Cunanan at a Wal-Mart late Tuesday. The man wore glasses, a baseball cap and a T-shirt with an AIDS message.

He and another person drove off in a reddish-orange sports car with a Florida license plate. As police scrambled to check the sightings, 2,000 mourners gathered GREENWOOD Gussie Lee BuUer Blocker, idow of Eddie Blocker, of 648 Gilliam St. died jfcJuly 22, 1997 at Self Memorial Hospital. Born in Cokesbury, she was a daughter of the late John Butler and Carrie "Nen" Butler. She was a bmember of Morris Chapel Baptist Church and the Women's Aide Society No.

55. Surviving are a son, Darin O'Dell Blocker of gjGreenwood; two brothers, John Butler and David SjButler, both of Greenwood; a sister, Carrie Rebecca gjof Bronx, N.Y.; a foster sister, Mary Morgan of Greenwood; and two grandchildren, jjj- The family is at the home. Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Wrlome. gWillie Sanders ABBEVILLE Willie D. "WD Hubert" San- of Rt 1, husband of Elanell Lidell Sanders, July 22, 1997, at his home.

He was a son of the late Henry and Mary sanaers. le was a retired trackman trom seaboard Kaiiroaa oastline and a member of Jacob Chapel AJM.E. burch where he served on the Stewart board. Lina Whatley HODGES Lina White Whatley, 90, of 1603 Morgan Road, widow of Shirley B. "Cap" Whadey.

died July 22, 1997 at her home. Bom in Laurens County, she was a daughter of the late Scott Allen and Mattie Wrenn She was the oldest living member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church. Surviving are a son, Marion Whatley of. Hodges; five daughters, Mrs. Talmadge (Becky) Luker, with whom she made her home, Mrs.

Willie (Genell) Wright Hodges, Mrs. Doris Brady of Morehead City, N.C., Mrs. John (Ann) Cox Sr. of Greenwood and Mrs. Pepper (Georgia) Martin of Abbeville; two step daughters, Mrs.

J.W. (Catherine) Morrison and Mrs. Louise Wood, both of Ft. Walton Beach, two sisters, Mrs. Jack (Sarah) Davis of Due West and Mrs.

Lucille Davis of Saluda; two brothers, Allen White of Cokesbury and Clarence White of Hartwell, and a number of grandchildren; greatgrandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 1 a.m. Thursday at Blyth Funeral Home with the Rev. Theron R. Jones and the Rev.

Bob Woodyard officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Randy Williamson, Carroll Davis, Johnny Davis, Hugh Riley, Frank Smith, Jimmy Canfield and Bob White. Honorary escort will be members of the Bethany Sunday School Class of Walnut Grove Baptist Church. The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 at the funeral home.

The family is at the home of Mr, and Mrs. Talmadge Luker, 1603 Morgan Road. Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, co Greenwood Medical Center, Greenwood, S.C. 29646 or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, National Executive Office, 501 St.

Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105. Billy Fisher BRADLEY William Symmes "Billy" Fisher, 69, of 4508 Highway 221, husband of Ella Richey Fisher, died July 23, 1997 at his home. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

at Blyth Funeral Home. Services will be announced. George H. Ricotta NINETY SIX George H. Ricotta, 70, of 124 Peak Court, Pier 96, husband of Lorraine Lewan-dowski Ricotta, died today at his home.

Funeral services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home. Virginia Bowman GREENWOOD Virginia Bowman, 81, of 803 Brewer widow of Floyd Bowman, died July 22, 1997, at Self Memorial Hospital. Born in Belton, she was a daughter of the late Richard and Annie Lee Adams Cullen. She was a member of St. Paul Holiness Church and was formerly employed with Greenwood Nursing home and Dr.

Wiley Price. Surviving are a daughter, Barbara Carter-Logan of the home; four sisters, Carrie Lee Beeks and Katie King, both of Taylors, Maggie Smith of Chicago, 111., and Mary Lou Cromer of Hodges; and two grandchildren reared in the home, Yolanda Usry and Illya Booker. The family is at the home. Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins oiuvivuig, ui auumun iu ins wiio ui uit uuuib, ut wwo sons, James Sanders and Samuiel Sanders, both bf Abbeville; five daughters, Patricia Sanders and Jljnda Jackson, both of Abbeville, Mary Anderson of Ml Carmel, Debra Foster and Elizabeth Foster, both I of Calhoun Falls; 17 grandchildren; four great-' grandchildren. Services will be announced by Richie Funeral Pilot Club nome.

i Peggy Turner GREENWOOD Peggy Ann Mathis Turner, of 223 McKellar wife of Bobby James Turner, died July 22, 1997 at Providence Hospital. Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of i the late P.C and Anica Chiles Mathis. She was a Hubbard, installer; Martha Waltman, president; Lori Ross, recording secretary; Bridgette Craver, director; and Reeby Bell, director. Not pictures are Shirley Logan, treasurer; Eleanor Teal, parliamentarian; and Myrtle Stewart, chaplin. President Martha Waltman will represent the club at the Pilot International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Pilot Club of Greenwood installed officers for 1997-98. From left, are Saundra Dominick, president elect; Ann Hare, first vice president; Kathy Butler, corresponding secretary; Tina Blizzard, director and out-going president; Emma Lou tomer aietary aioe supervisor at ureenwoou me-uiuu-' ist Home, She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church where she was a member of the Gospel Chorus, Senior Chior, Missionary Society and the Five Point Community Center. She was a member of the Electra Chatper No. 310 Order of the Eastern Star and the Women Home Aide Society No. 85.

Surviving, in addition to her husband of the home, are two dauehters. Mabel Williams and Rosa Parks rw gLarrolI, both of Greenwood; a stepdaughter, Melissa Drennon jiof Greenwood; four brothers, Mathis of Greenville, Bennie k'Mathis, Howard Mathis and Charles Mathis, all of six sisters, Sarah Klugh, Mathis, Marie Mathis, Nannie Fisher, Dorothy Mathis Virginia Watson, all of Greenwood; a granddaughter Ureared in the home, Cryatal Parks; five other grandchildren; i PEGGY TURNER aiiu iwu sicp-giauuuiiiuitu. Services will be announced by Robinson and Son IJf Mortuary. runerai Home. ine iainuy is ai uuc uumc, North Carolina swamped with heavy rains CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) Remnants of Hurricane Danny dumped 6 inches of rain on south-central North Carolina, sending creeks surging out of their banks and forcing evacuation of dozens of homes.

Rescue workers used boats to rescue 22 people from flooded homes in a small residential area along Sugar Creek overnight, said Capt. Tim Rogers of the city's fire department. "Everyone in these homes was in peril at one point. The water started to come up real fast, but fortunately we were ahead of the game." The slow-moving Danny first hit land late Thursday in Louisiana and caused widespread flooding as it crossed into southern Mississippi and Alabama. Rainfall totals topped 30 inches in some areas as much rainfall in a few days as the area normally gets in months.

Damage in Alabama's Mobile and Baldwin counties alone were expected to hit $60 million and $80 million, not counting crop losses. As the storm slowly moved eastward, flash flooding warnings were posted today in Georgia and the Carolinas. More than 4,500 homes and businesses in the Charlotte area had no electricity before daybreak. Nonessential city employees were told to stay home today, the city's year-round schools were closed for the day, and two schools were being used as shelters. Ansley Stephens and her two roommates decided to leave their home before 5 a.m., although she said they did not feel they were in danger.

"When you live in a flood plain, you have to have a sense of humor," Ms. Stephens said. There were no reports of injuries, but rescue teams were trying to free motorists from several vehicles reported flooded up to the Gingrich savs he won't seek retribution against dissidents McDougal says open court only option LITTLE ROCK (AP) Whitewater figure Susan McDougal, jailed for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury in Little Rock, said Tuesday she would cooperate if she could testify in open court. "Yes, I will testify if my actions, my words, and the way I say the things, if the public could see that and judge for themselves," she said in a telephone interview with CNN's "But don't put me in a grand jury with a bunch of OIC lawyers who are not interested in the truth in the first place," she said, referring to the Office of Independent Counsel. Mrs.

McDougal also said she was not guilty of the charges in the Whitewater investigation and would not ask President Clinton, her former business partner, to pardon her. Mrs. McDougal and her former husband, James McDougal, were partners with the Clintons in the Whitewater real estate development. Along with former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, the McDougals were convicted in May 1996 of business violations in the Whitewater investigation.

Mrs. McDougal was jailed in September for contempt after refusing to answer questions of Whitewater prosecutors investigating the Clintons' previous business activities in Arkansas. Mrs. McDougal reiterated her distrust of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and ihcr concern that he would twist her words to suit his purposes and later charge her with perjury. spite lingering questions over whether top lieutenants WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he won't seek retribution against any of his lieutenants who may have had a role in an aborted coup against him.

But emotions were running high among many Republicans for a fuller accounting of what transpired and why. "We can't pretend that something hasn't hap- Majority. Leader Dick Armey, GOP Whip Tom DeLay of Texas and GOP Conference Chairman John Boehner may have been implicated. Armey, against whom the most wrath appears to be directed, sent letters to colleagues Tuesday reiterating his denial that he had plotted against Gingrich, but conceding several "big mistakes." These included attending two meetings among leaders where "based on reports of an uprising, we engaged in 'what if scenarios," said the Texas Republican. A group of renegades who sought to topple Gingrich have said they believed they were encouraged by Gingrich's lieutenants.

"For me, I just want my good name back," wrote Armey. "At this point, I couldn't care less whether I'll be speaker, majority leader or dogcatcher, but I'll be damned if I'll let my name and honor be destroyed." Some Republicans are seeking a full apology oral least an explanation from Armey, who has con-sistendy minimized his role, and the others. Ipened," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. Appearing to speak for many of his colleagues, Ney cited "varying degrees of lack of confidence" among the rank-and-jfile toward three senior Republicans.

I Republicans were meeting in their weekly closed- door caucus today, but the failed plot against Gin-; grich was not expected to be dealt with at length. In-' I stead, another session was being planned most likely on Thursday for that purpose. New minimum wage fight looming on distant horizon That would give Republicans another day to get their act together. Little was decided at a series of meetings that went late into the night on Tuesday, participants said. Gingrich signaled on Tuesday that he wants no further immediate changes in the GOP leadership, de- I GOP working to unify tax bills 35 In Loving Memory of iiriiiimtPTwi Am a r.

nr William R. "Billy" Harrison jl'door meetings, Republicans agreed to a unified posi- 5345-72395 on a Dimon tax cut proposal, seiung uie stage for detailed negotiations with the White House. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said tues-day after the conclusion of meetings between House and Senate Republicans that he believed they would havp. a hill to nresent to the nresident todav. ly since the latest increase, to $5.15 an hour, won't go into effect until Sept.

1. "It's premature to be considering another increase when we haven't even instituted the rest of the first increase," said Rep. Jack Quinn, who led the GOP effort to raise the minimum wage last year. Even some Democrats wonder whether they should refight tle minimum wage battle so soon, or move on to other issues, such as job safety and flexible hours, that affect all workers rather than just the lowest-paid. "We have 20 years of seeing how Democratic support eroded simply by talking about the poor," Democratic consultant Glenn Totten said.

"They won the battle. Now let's consider the larger economic war." WASHINGTON (AP) Congressional Democrats liked last year's successful fight to raise the minimum wage so much, they want do it again. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and House Minority Whip David E.

Bonior, have guaranteed a rematch by introducing legislation raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour by 2002. The timetable mirrors the five-year tax-cut plan under negotiation. "At a time when Congress and the administration are making major decisions on all aspects of taxes and spending over the next five years, it makes sense to deal with the minimum wage in those years as well," Kennedy said. However, the. moderate Republicans who were key to success a year ago aren't eager to enter the fray this time around, especial familiar with the talks emphasized the House with its proposal on education tax incentives for college students and others, including a $1,500 tuition credit that was in the Senate tax bill, sources said.

The White House today reacted coolly to the developments. "They clearly did not write the final version of lax legislation last night," spokesman Mike McCurry said. Clinton's budget advisers were headed to Capitol Hill for more talks with Republicans. Unresolved issues include two key revenue raisers: the extension and modification of airline ticket taxes and whether to increase tobacco taxes. As a preliminary matter, House Republicans also reached "an agreement in principle" to back a tobacco tax increase if needed so the GOP can meet a target of $85 billion net tax cut over five years, a senior staff member in the talks said.

No further details were immediately available, and other sources emphasized the understanding was tentative; agreement on the House and Senate bills represented a starting point for detailed discussions with the White House to finalize a tax cut bill. Republicans agreed to move closer toward a con-rftroversial House bill provision that denies much of the proposed $500 per child tax credit to low-income working families who don't owe income taxes after other tax breaks. The White House strongly opposes such language as unfair. But the GOP also agreed to move toward the White It has been two years since your life on earth ended and you were called to heaven. During your life on earth, you gave so much love and was loved so much that your memory will live on in the hearts of your loved ones forever, We miss you and love you so much.

Nancy, Fletcher, Florence, and Family..