Garden Club Walking Tour a success…

Dear Editor:
The Manning Council of Garden Clubs would like to thank the many individuals and organizations that supported our 2006 Holiday Home Tour held in Manning on historic South Brooks Street. We, as garden club members, were proud to have been able to showcase our talent in five lovely and historic homes hosted by: The Bank of Clarendon’s Bozard House, Gibbons and Usry CPAs, Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Davis, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Gregory and Mrs. David L. Goldsmith. We also thank the Bank of Clarendon and Louis Griffith for opening the Bank and sharing their spectacular lobby Christmas decorations with us.

We appreciate Maryalice Hoyt, Rachel Miles and Jerry Cottone who performed lovely musical selections throughout the tour. We thank Cathy Cramer for coordinating the entertainment in the Prothro Pavilion with Courtney Evans Holladay, Cameron King, The First Baptist Church Childrens Choir, First Baptist Praise Team, New Covenant Presbyterian Chorus, Tammy Glasier and the Washington’s.

On behalf of our Garden Club Council I want to thank The Manning Times, The Sumter Item and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce for their help in promoting the tour. We appreciate the support of Lamar Kennedy, The Manning IGA, Jeffery Black and Studio 1916. We thank Janet Meleney, Johnette Brewer and the many volunteers of the Clarendon County Archives for their fabulous display of antique toys and Christmas decorations. We also thank Autumn Banning for the lovely antique nativity exhibit.

We appreciate The City of Manning, Chief Garrett and the Police Department for their cooperation in closing the roadway on South Brooks making it more conducive to a walking tour. We also thank Gregg Gregory and his crew for the lovely luminaries that lined both sides of the street.

The Manning Council of Garden Clubs consists of The Azalea Garden Club, Magnolia Garden Club, Manning Garden Clubs, Camellia Garden Club, Evening Primrose Garden Club and Virginia’s Pride Garden Club. All of these clubs participated in the planning and joined in the efforts to make it such a successful tour. There was a great holiday tour committee and we wish to especially acknowledge the talents and hard work of Judy Latham, Sue Jordan, Anita Ard, Dawn Griffith, Julie Wood, Jean Prothro, Shirley Thompson, Christine Brewer, Gene Benefield, Deborah Ridgeway, Sandy Orr, Sharon Cramer, Rosella Daniels, Mary Stone, Sara Ann Aycock and our council president Ann Plowden.

I also want to thank the men and boys who served as escorts at the entrances to the homes and especially Raggedy Ann and Andy (aka Edna and Larry Ellis). We thank Linda Taylor for sharing her talents and Lee Stogner and Shawn McCord for their assistance.

The great success of this walking tour was made possible by the hundreds of participants who came from all over South Carolina to see our beautifully decorated and historic South Brooks Street. Each of our Garden Clubs will receive an equal share of the proceeds that will be given back to the community through beautification, horticulture, educational and conservation programs.

Sincerely,
Marie M. Land
2006 Christmas Tour Chairman

Thanks for the honor …

Dear Editor:
Thank you for sponsoring me (Dorothy P. Choice) as Citizen of the Year for 2006 and the presentation of the merit plaque. I shall always be grateful to you and for all the things you do to enhance the harmony, economic growth and good news in Clarendon County.

Sincerely,
Dorothy P. Choice
Summerton, S.C.