Kindness goes all the way to the top

Dear Editor:
On Monday, May 5, 2009, after dropping the kids at school, I was driving to my bank in Summerton when my brand new car was sideswiped. I was not hurt but my car now had fresh skid marks down the side from bumper to bumper, the tire had been hit and looked dented.

I didn’t have my cell phone with me and therefore I had to borrow one from the youthful, but very polite, man who hit me.

I knew I needed to call a tow truck, but I didn’t know any tow truck companies. I had just had my car serviced on the previous Friday, so I still remembered the Stokes-Craven Ford telephone number, 433-5400. Such an easy number to remember, thank goodness.

I called Stokes Craven Ford and spoke with Marilyn Fisher in the Service Department and asked her what to do. She told me not to worry about a thing and she would take care of it.

She promptly called Allan at Richburg Refinishing, an auto bodywork professional.

Allan called the Paxville Road Towing to arrange for a tow truck.

Russell Wallace arrived and gave me a ride to Stokes-Craven Ford and dispatched my car to Richburg Refinishing for repair.

When I arrived at Stokes-Craven Ford, Mike Mazell, general manager and Steve Richardson, my salesman, asked me if I was okay and then loaned me a car and told me to go take care of what I needed to and not to worry, everything would be alright.

Joe Jacobi, finance manager, even came out and spoke with me to make sure I wasn’t injured in the accident.

I made one phone call. Never did I expect the staff of Stokes-Craven Ford to go to the extent they did to help me out of a bad situation.

The fact that they all cared impressed me the most. The kindness didn’t stop with Marilyn in service; it started there and went all the way to the top too the general manager.

I would like to thank the staff of Richburg Refinishing, Paxville Road Towing and everyone at Stokes-Craven Ford for their kindness and I guarantee, when I buy another car or anyone in my family buys another car, Stokes-Craven Ford will now and forever be “My Ford Dealer.”

Sincerely,
Leslie Alexander
Alcolu, S.C.

‘Warm, Southern hospitality’ at CMH

Dear Editor:
I recently had a knee replacement with Lakeside Orthopaedic Center at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. I could not have been in better hands than with Dr. David Woodbury.

Let me begin by saying how impressed I was that he stood by my bedside and prayed aloud with my parents, a good friend and me. Clarendon County is fortunate to have such a gifted surgeon.

My two-day stay on the third floor of Clarendon Memorial was remarkable. I was highly impressed with both shifts of nurses and certified nurse’s assistants. Each employee that I came in contact with showed me professionalism, love and patience. I would like to personally thank Kim, Danette, Katherine, Rosa, Flora, Susan, Parker, Beth, Tia and the entire Physical Therapy Team for their vast knowledge and healing hands.

The small town of Manning has a hidden secret, that being Clarendon Memorial Hospital. I feel fortunate to live in Manning for another reason now. We are known for being matchless for beauty and hospitality.

From my recent experience, we also are blessed to have a hospital system that shows its patients warm, southern hospitality with their own unique style of professionalism.

Sincerely,
Margaret Player
Manning, S.C.

Ghost Light Tour a hit

Dear Editor:
The GET WELDON GOING! Committee would like to express their appreciation to all who participated in the Ghost Light Tour on May 2. Each and every one of you made the event a great success. Thank you!

A special thank you to Robert J. Baker for the piano concert and chorus accompaniment, Jewell Brown for organizing and conducting the Back Porch Players chorus, Anna Jean Lang Holmes for organizing the art show and sale and Steve Huffine of Ascent Construction for his patience and his help in cleaning and organizing Weldon for the Ghost Light Tour.

We are grateful to the many fine artists who exhibited their work at the tour: Bob Amesbury, Phyllis Behrens, Susan K. Campbell, Laurette Caron, Sue Czerwinski, Caleb Ellis, Jane Gibson, Anna Jean Lang Holmes, Erica Holmes, Rantz Killman, Judy Latham, Chris Patterson, Bob Quelette, Betsy Sloan, Carol Swartz, Tiffany Thomas, Carl Thompson, Sandi Tucker, Jessie Welch and Martha Wright.

We were delightfully entertained by the Back Porch Players Chorus: Herbert S. Brown, Jewell Brown, Erie Brown, Len Brown, Rev. Kirk Carlisle, Amy Chappell, Patty Clemmons, Terry Conant, Frank Drose, Kim DuRant, Jerry Ham, Maudie Harrington, Nadine McCathern, Mike Moody, Violet Moody, John Naboltz, Bobbie Reaves, Lee Reaves Jr., William Timmons and Patty Welch.

Refreshments were provided by: Bobbi Adams, Beverly Adler, Sara Ann Aycock, Jewell Brown, Laurette Caron, Cathy Gilbert, Dawn Griffith, Kim Johnson, Marie Land, Diane McCord, Janet Meleney, Kay Prothro, Rebecca Rhodes, Margaret Roberts, Joyce Swingle, Sandi Tucker and the Manning IGA.

During the tour, the following served as tour guides, servers and promoters: Bobbi Adams, Beverly Adler, Sara Ann Aycock, Jeffrey and Stephanie Black, John and Lisa DuRant, Vivian Epps, Donna Gordon, Kim Johnson, Marie Land, Janet Meleney, Kay Prothro, Rebecca Rhodes, Margaret Roberts, George and Carole Summers, Joyce Swingle and Sandi Tucker.

Beautiful flower arrangements were provided by Marie Land and Sara Ann Aycock.

Our deepest gratitude to all who made this event possible.

Sincerely,
The Get Weldon Going Committee
Manning, S.C.