Category Archives: Lifestyles
Eva Aiken: Anchor for a rich, dysfunctional white family
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
Last week, for the celebration of Black History Month, we introduced the book “Hush Now, Baby,” by Angela Williams. Williams is a marvelous writer with a master’s degree in English from Duke University. She taught English and was in charge of the Writing Center at the 
Citadel. I was on the campus several times when Williams was there.
The book tells the story of Williams’ black nanny, Eva, in her wealthy and dysfunctional Lowcountry South Carolina home. The book’s author had Eva Aiken as a surrogate mother from her birth to marriage. Eva was working as a nurse’s aide at the hospital where Angela was born in 1941. Buster and Clara Lee Williams hired Eva on the spot to run the Williams household. Throughout Buster Williams’ alcoholism, infidelity, and abuse, the family had Eva as the anchor. This was happening as the struggle for civil rights continued in South Carolina. The book delineates the progression of the transformation occurring as the nanny runs the household of a wealthy white family whose political views regularly welcomed Strom Thurmond as a dear friend into their home.
Williams writes about how Eva was the one she could depend on in any circumstance. Buster
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Living in two worlds
The story of a black nanny
in segregated South Carolina
—– Part 1—–
By Dr. Thomas Cloer, Jr.
Special to The Courier
To celebrate Black History Month, I would highly recommend “Hush Now, Baby,” by a 
wonderful South Carolina writer, Angela Williams. This book is a read I’ve been wanting to undertake for a while.
Angela Williams is an educator and writer close to my age in her 70s. She taught English at the Citadel for 20 years, and I was on Citadel’s campus several times when she was there. I had a colleague at the Citadel who invited me to be a speaker there on different occasions. My wife and I were treated royally as we lodged and took our meals in the Officers’ Quarters.
Angela is from a rich family in Berkeley County. The Williams family held vast amounts of
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Kimberly Hampton’s mother talks about daughter’s legacy
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Ann Hampton did not know what a Gold Star Mother was until she became one.
“Back in World War I, mothers started hanging gold stars in their windows when they lost a child in the military,” she said. “There were a lot of gold stars hanging then.”
In 1928, the official American Gold Star Mothers organization started.
“The mission was to support grieving families, provide services to wounded soldiers,” Hampton said.
The Gold Star Mothers have “a mutual bond,” she said.
“We don’t want anyone else to join,” Hampton said. “We don’t want to be a member, but unfortunately we are.
The mothers “stand tall,” she said.
“We honor our children,” Hampton said. “We honor their sacrifice.”
Hampton spoke last week at the Easley Friends of the Library’s annual meeting, held at the Capt. Kimberly
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Eastatoee Valley historical marker unveiled in Sunset
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
SUNSET — The Pickens County Historical Society unveiled the county’s newest historical
marker, one that celebrates the Eastatoee Valley and the people who have dwelt in the area for thousands of years.
“This marker is extraordinarily significant,” PCHS senior vice oresident Wayne Kelley said at the start of the unveiling Wednesday morning.
The marker is located on Cleo Chapman Highway at Shooting Tree Ridge Road.
PCHS Blue Wall vice president Dennis Chastain said the society has been working on the
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WHY WE CELEBRATE
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his 
example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and
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REMEMBERING DR. KING
Each January, Americans remember and reflect on the life of a man who stood up for his rights 
and the rights of millions of American citizens. Martin Luther King Jr. ultimately lost his life fighting for the rights of black Americans, and his courage is celebrated every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
King was a Baptist minister and a social rights activist who helped shape the American Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. King seemed destined for greatness at an early age and studied medicine and law at Morehouse College. However, he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and make a career out of his beliefs and religion. According to History.com, King entered Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree, won a prestigious fellowship
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Honoring our fallen heroes
Community honors local soldiers killed in Vietnam War
By Perry Gravely
For The Courier
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Local soldiers killed in the Vietnam War are still being honored throughout the community more than 50 years after their deaths.
According to the Pickens County War Memorial at the Courthouse, 33 soldiers from Pickens County were killed in Vietnam. Their friends and families continue to honor these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, including community memorial services held recently for two Pickens natives — Ephriam Rutledge “Rut” Liles II and Charles Johnson Jr.
Ephriam Rutledge ‘Rut’ Liles II
At a recent ceremony for the dedication of a memorial garden, members of the Pickens community stood at rapt 
attention while Boy Scouts from Troop 51 saluted the American flag as it was lowered to half-mast to the sound of a fiddle rendering taps from its strings in honor of Liles. A sizeable crowd had gathered to celebrate the life of a native son of Pickens whom friends and family called “Rut” and the dedication of a memorial garden at the Troop 51 Scout Hut where Rut was an Eagle Scout.
Rut, who was known for his wonderful smile, made a major impact until his life was cut short when his helicopter was shot down during a reconnaissance mission in the Phuoc Long Province of South Vietnam on July 4, 1969. Several of his old friends spoke at the dedication ceremony and described Rut as an “all-American boy,” a true American hero and the embodiment of a Boy Scout Law. These friends still gather each year to celebrate his birthday more than 50 years after his death.
Rut was born in Pickens on May 13, 1947, to Rut and Mary Liles. His sister, Mary Liles Gravely, still remembers the many football games played in their front yard on Glassy Mountain Street and Rut’s passion for the outdoors and sports. At Pickens High School, he played football among other sports and was an active member of Boy Scout Troop
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The evolution and many faces of Christmas
Many people prepare for the arrival of Christmas months in advance. The first traces of wrapping paper and decorations arrive in stores as early as September, transforming the holiday into a much more secular celebration than its modest Christian beginnings.
Despite Christmas being an important date in the lives of today’s Christians, the holiday failed to gain prominent status until relatively recently. Research indicates that as late as the 19th century, Christmas was not even a legal holiday requiring a day off from work. That’s why 19th century readers of the classic Christmas tale, “A Christmas Carol,” were not shocked at Bob Cratchit having to work on Christmas Day. The United States
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Tidbits to put you in the holiday spirit
The holiday season has arrived, and millions of people across the globe will be celebrating Christmas with their families and friends. The following are some interesting tidbits to share with your loved ones this holiday season.
• Each year, more than three billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States alone.
• In 350 AD, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birth of
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