Fourth annual Shop with a Hero held in Pickens
PICKENS — Fostering Love, a local nonprofit, hosted its fourth annual Shop With a
Hero event on Dec. 1, bringing together first responders from across Pickens County to help provide children with a positive and memorable Christmas experience.
Children are recommended for the program by family liaisons with the Pickens County School District. Each selected child is paired with a first responder — including law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs — for a shopping trip at Walmart, where
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PHS grad Lucas earn All-Region recognition
FLORENCE — Francis Marion University senior middleblocker Caroline Lucas and junior outside hitter Madilyn Gartner have been named to the Division II Conference
Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Volleyball All-Southeast Region Team for 2025, with both earning first-team accolades. Lucas was also tabbed as a first-team selection for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Southeast Region squad, while Gartner was an honorable mention pick. Both teams were announced on Wednesday
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Lions outlast Liberty in overtime
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Four quarters of action wasn’t enough to decide the outcome on Friday night, when Pickens County’s two remaining unbeaten basketball teams (the Daniel and Liberty boys’ basketball teams) took the court at Liberty High School.
The Red Devils had tied the action at 49-49 on a Kendrick Jackson layup with 22 seconds left, and Daniel was unable to make either of last second attempts leading to a
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Mitchum stars in win over Liberty
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Coming off a close loss to West-Oak, the Pickens High School girls’ basketball team returned to action on Wednesday night against county foe Liberty looking to get back in the win column.
The Blue Flame took care of business in a big way, controlling the boards and relying on star eighth grader Addison Mitchum as they pulled out a 70-38 win over the Red Devils.
“We have put a lot of emphasis into our rebounding,” Pickens head coach Samuel Smith
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Daniel girls blast Devils
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — The Daniel High School girls basketball team travelled to Liberty on Friday night looking to pick up its third win of the week as they took on the Liberty Red Devils.
The Lions had little trouble dismantling the Devils, swarming them on defense early to build a big lead and holding it the rest of the way in a 72-18 win.
“They came in and knew they had to take care of business,” Daniel head coach Cosandar Griffin said. “I was proud of the way they brought it on the basketball court.”
Defensively, the Lions were a menace from the start, forcing turnovers at will as the Devils attempted to advance the ball into the front
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Red Devils take down county foe Pickens
PICKENS — Leading by as many as 19 points in the second quarter of their matchup with Pickens last Wednesday, the Liberty High School boys’ basketball team looked to
be on its way to a big victory.
However, the Blue Flame settled in behind a standout effort from Shepherd Smith to regroup and cut the lead to 46-39 going into the final quarter. Needing a strong finish to keep their early season winning streak alive, the Devils locked in defensively to hold Pickens to just seven points in the fourth quarter as they pulled out a 60-46 win.
“I told them it’s a frustrating win,” Liberty head coach Brenden Marcell said. “We were on the cusp of really breaking that thing open when we got the lead up
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A divided heart lives in denial and deception
I’m reminded again of the quote from Scott Fitzgerald, “You do not write because you want to say something; you write because you have something to say.”
I can relate to those who are called to express the burdens within their hearts and thankful for the opportunity to share mine. These freedoms may not always be with us as the world is becoming aggressively opposed to God and His disciples. I write for many secular publications around the country and I’m often warned about toning it down
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Love gives, lust takes
Romans 5:8 “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
Advice we occasionally hear given to young people is, “Don’t confuse love with lust.” Lust is usually associated with sexual desires. Our physical bodies cause us to do many things we later regret and the powerful sexual desire of humans at times affects our ability to reason rationally.
The word love is often confused. Eros love is a love between a husband and wife and not to be confused with agape love. Agape love is actually the highest form of love. God’s love for
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Courier Obituaries 12-10-25
DEBORAH LOUISE MAIER
EASLEY — Deborah Louise Maier, 75, of Easley, passed away peacefully in her sleep on
Sunday morning Nov. 30, 2025.
Debby was born in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 1950 to Peter John McGurk Jr. and Regina Elizabeth McGurk.
Debby worked as a secretary for many years at the United Mine Workers Union in Maryland before moving to Florida in 1989. Shortly after moving to Florida she was hired at Publix in Sunrise, Fla., where she worked in various positions, her latest being a direct store delivery receiving specialist. Debby retired from Publix after more than 20 years of service. It was at Publix that she met her future husband, Robert Maier. They were eventually married on July 11, 1995, in Sapphire, N.C., and remained happily married for more than 30 years.
Debby was a member of Easley First United Methodist Church, and she was also involved in Pickens County Meals on Wheels, where she and her husband would deliver hot meals to people in need.
She loved working in the garden planting flowers and tending to her plants. She loved the outdoors, and she and her husband would often vacation in the mountains of western North Carolina, where they would enjoy hiking, swimming and traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They would also take yearly vacations to the beaches in Beaufort, N.C., and the Outer Banks. Debby enjoyed going fishing with her husband, and she also loved watching college and professional football. As a native of Washington, D.C., she was a very avid fan of the Washington Redskins football team.
Debby was an avid reader and enjoyed reading mystery novels. She loved cooking and most of all spending time with her family and grandchildren. Debby was a very outgoing and friendly person, whose smile could light up a room. But most of all she loved living life and hanging out with her husband, Robert.
Deborah is survived by her loving husband, Robert Maier; her son, Donald Moody (Kara); her stepchildren, Mark William Maier (Alicia) and Laura Anne Boone (Seth); her grandchildren, Gavin Moody, Colin Moody, Kaylan Moody, Skyler Moody, Rylee Moody, Caitlyn Grace Maier, Charles Robert Maier and Amelia Boone; her brother, Peter John McGurk III; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and her youngest brother, Danny McGurk.
A visitation was held on Dec. 8 at Robinson Funeral Home in downtown Easley, followed by cremation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pickens County Meals on Wheels or Epworth Children’s Home.
Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.
JAMES JERRY OWENS
EASLEY — James Jerry Owens, 86, loving husband of 23 years to Peggy Elaine Owens, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on Oct. 13, 1939, in Liberty, Jerry was the cherished son of the late Clarence Owens and Irene Patterson Owens. A proud patriot, he honorably served his country in






































