Monthly Archives: December 2025
Out with the old, in with the ‘What?’
John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
In the fall of 1991, I was teaching industrial arts. One cold early winter morning the school principal 
walked into my shop and told me the state had approved the plan for the construction of our new school.
The challenge was that traditional industrial shops were no longer approved. Technology labs would take their place. At the time I
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Avoiding Medicare fraud
Medicare is a pot of gold for scammers. There is a lot of money to be made by those who successfully 
commit fraud against seniors. You, however, can stop them in their tracks by not falling for the scams.
Here are just a few of the scams:
Genetic testing is a hot topic for those who want to be screened for a
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Courier Obituaries 12-31-25
DORIS STEPHENS WILSON
EASLEY — Mrs. Doris Elaine Stephens Wilson, 80, wife of the late Jimmy Ellis “Bones” Wilson Sr., 
went to be with her Lord and Savior, Thursday, Dec., 25, 2025.
Born in Liberty, a daughter of the late Herman Elliott Stephens and the late Geneva James Stephens, Mrs. Wilson was a graduate of Liberty High School and Waldrop’s Beauty Academy on Augusta. She was a member of Brushy Creek Baptist Church for more than 50 years, where she faithfully served in the preschool department and other areas. Doris was a cosmetologist for many years and later retired from East End Elementary School with 25 years of service.
Doris was a simple and Godly lady who loved to serve, teaching others and children about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She always recognized the good in everyone, never judging, but lifting up others. She was a prayer warrior every day of her life, praising God for his blessings and praying for those in need.
She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren. Her home was always open, not only to family, but to everyone. You were always greeted with a smile and love as you entered the door. Doris loved cooking and baking. Christmas was her favorite time of year, baking cookies and taking them to everyone she knew. She will not only be missed by her family, but by all who loved and knew her.
Surviving are her son, Jimmy E. Wilson Jr. (Sarah) of Easley; her grandchildren, Jimmy E. “Trey” Wilson III (Erin), David Noel Wilson and Bridget Casidy Lowdermilk, all of Easley; her great-grandchildren, Kylen Wilson, Levi Wilson, Adaira Lowdermilk, Graham Lowdermilk and Noelyn Lowdermilk; her sister-in-law, Patsy Wilson of Easley; her brother-in-law, Jerry C. “Jake” Gray of Easley; and her special niece and nephews, Jerry C. Gray (Barbara) of Easley, Jeff Gray (JeriLynn) of Liberty, Tracie Gerisch (Eric) of Powdersville and Rev. Dr. Tim Wilson (Becky) of Fayetteville, N.C.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Wilson was predeceased by her sister, Gloria Carol Stephens; her brother-in-law, Stanley “Beetle” Wilson; and her sister-in-law, Donna H. Gray.
Funeral services were held Dec. 29 at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Tim Wilson officiating. Burial followed at Robinson Memorial Gardens.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the family of Brushy Creek Baptist Church and the many friends of Easley, for the visits, calls and love that they have provided for Doris.
WANDA JUANITA DAVIS BURGESS
EASLEY — A Fruitful Life Remembered and Celebrated.
It is with deep sadness, knowing she will not be with us here but with the comforting joy of knowing we will be together in Heaven, that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Wanda Juanita Davis Burgess, who departed this life for an eternity with our Lord on Dec. 23, 2025, at the age of 87. She was born on March 24, 1938, in the rural Sunset community of Pickens.
Mom touched the lives of many with her genuine kindness and warmth. She was the wife for 65 years of the late Rev. Jack L Burgess, his confidant and helper working alongside him in ministry as she influenced and enriched the lives of countless church members and Sunday school students. Mom enjoyed talking about her faith and sharing stories of Jesus with everyone she met. She leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience.
Though she was a homemaker most of her life, she was also a former staff member of Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises in Corpus Christi
New Year, New You.
Staying the course with resolutions
The holiday season is steeped in tradition. Many of those traditions are rooted in celebrants’ faith, but one of the last customs people embrace each year is largely secular.
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is older than many people may realize. According to History.com, the ancient Babylonians are believed to be the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, beginning roughly 4,000 years ago during a 12-day festival known as Akitu. That festival was religious in nature, but many people now make resolutions aimed at self-improvement unrelated to their faith. As people ponder their resolutions for the year ahead, a few strategies may help them stay the course over the next 12 months.
One effective approach is to give serious thought to a prospective resolution. Statistics regarding New Year’s resolutions vary, but a 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 13 percent of adults polled said they kept none of their resolutions. Numerous variables can affect whether a person follows through, but giving a resolution little thought ahead of time can make success unlikely. Any potential change should be considered carefully before committing. For example, those who aspire to lose weight should identify how they plan to do so by finding a local gym, determining ways to eat a more nutritious diet and, perhaps most importantly, figuring out how to make time to stay the course. A little legwork in advance can pay off in the long run.
Setting periodic goals can also help. Small goals along the way to a larger objective can serve as motivation to keep going. Someone who wants to watch less television and read more might resolve to read 100 pages per week, gradually increasing that total over time. Smaller benchmarks provide a way to measure incremental progress, which can ultimately make achieving a larger goal more likely.
It is also important to be realistic. Goals that are attainable are more likely to be achieved than those that sound good but are too difficult to maintain. For instance, aspiring to exercise for an hour each day may be unrealistic for someone whose work and family obligations leave little time for physical activity. In such cases, expectations should be adjusted in favor of a more achievable goal. Taking on too much can lead to discouragement when obstacles inevitably arise, increasing the likelihood that a resolution will be abandoned altogether.
Finally, people should not go it alone. Many rely on the buddy system to stay motivated with fitness-related resolutions, but that approach can be applied to virtually any goal. Having someone to provide accountability, and offering the same support in return, increases the chances of staying on track.
New Year’s resolutions are an ancient tradition, even if many are abandoned rather quickly. Still, anyone can buck that trend and stay the course by employing a few simple yet effective strategies.
Embark on a path to self-improvement
There is always room to develop, grow and become a better person. With a new year on the horizon, setting self-improvement goals now can help anyone navigate a path toward a better version of 
themselves.
Here are some New Year’s resolutions that can help people grow and nurture their well-being.
One goal is to focus on improving time management. Feeling rushed or lacking control over how time is
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LCS represents at FOT
The 40th annual Festival of Trees hosted by Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation has a lot of heart, especially this year, as fundraising through the leadership of St. Francis Foundation president Erik Whaley and the dedication of major gifts officer Susannah Pazdan Hogg, the William Carpenter Heart Fund will provide for a new cardiovascular iniative with vital equipment and diverse resources including new programs for heart patients across the Upstate. This year a heart-stopping, record-number 101 Christmas trees were on display at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville, with the nine-foot Liberty Community Scholarships tree shining brightly among them. Pictured with the LCS tree are the 2025 LCS Festival of Trees Committee. LCS secretary Tracy Morgan was honored at a Dec. 15 breakfast for her faithful work to benefit area youth. Tabitha Irby, general manager of 19 Great Clips stores, and her daughter, AJ Irby, enjoyed the display celebrating LCS recipients.
GSG strengthens ties with Clemson leaders
CLEMSON — Under the leadership of President Kazi Jewel Rana, Clemson University’s Graduate Student Government (GSG), which represents nearly 6,000 graduate students, has expanded its role 
beyond campus governance by strengthening collaboration between graduate students, university leadership and the city of Clemson.
One of the key efforts of Rana’s presidency has been bringing city leadership directly into graduate student discussions. Clemson Mayor Robert Halfacre and assistant city administrator Nathan Woods were invited to address the Graduate Senate, creating a forum for direct dialogue between graduate students and city officials. The discussions initiated conversations with the city of Clemson on improving access to affordable housing for Clemson students, particularly graduate students
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Nuclear siren testing scheduled for Jan. 7 around Oconee Nuclear Station
UPSTATE — Duke Energy and county officials will test the outdoor warning sirens around Oconee Nuclear Station between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.
To ensure they are functioning properly, sirens will sound for five to 30 seconds. Anyone who hears a siren during scheduled testing
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Now open in Pickens
Salvage Antiques and Uniques is now open, specializing in new and refined resale, antiques, home décor, furniture and more. The shop is located at 404 Johnson St. in Pickens and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Pictured are Sam Medoro, Evelyn Henderson, Kim Smagala, Rick Henderson, Mike and Lori Gould, and Donna Smagala.
Community Calendar 12-31-25
• Food pantry hours announced at PPC
The Food Pantry at Pickens Presbyterian Church is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. To receive food, individuals must present a valid ID showing residency in Pickens County. Pickens Presbyterian Church is located at 311 W. Main St. in Pickens.
• Dacusville Lions to host monthly bingo
The Dacusville Lions Club will be hosting Bingo night on the second Thursday of each month at the Lions Building in Dacusville, located at 1384 Thomas Mill Road. The next Bingo session will be Thursday, Jan. 8. There are set to be 10 games beginning at 7 p.m., and proceeds will go toward funding community event and other community needs. The games should conclude around 9 p.m. Bingo night
