Notice:  Please check the Obituary section midway on the left panel regularly as it changes frequently!

***NEWS YOU CAN USE***

 Upcoming Marion High School Class of 1979 Reunion

The Class of 1979 of Marion High School will be celebrating its 30th year Class Reunion September 4-6, 2009 in Marion,SC. Members are asked to contact Lisa Seabrook at lisaseabrook@hotmail.com or Gloria Wade-Outlaw at 904-735-4621. More information will be forthcoming as plans become more finalized.

 Eliot Congregational Church - Partners in Preservation Competition

Order your DVD's now for the Marionites 2008 Reunion through the Marionites Committee at $15.00 each plus $1.00 postage.  Contact the committee to place your order.

May 6, 2009

Some Helpful Medical Information:   Due to some ongoing back pain I've experienced and continue to experience for the past eight months, I wanted to share some vital information for those suffering from chronic pain of any sort, I've found a really nice website at:  www.dailystrength.org.  In addition to WebMd, which many of you probably already use (an excellent tool) this site can be added to your list of great medical resource tools .

This website features different forums etc. on back and neck pain and all sorts of health issues that are addressed.  If you've contemplated surgery, pain implants and such or have had surgery and can be helpful to others who are concerned about what happens after surgery or many other questions or need information along those lines, you might consider listening to what a host of others have to say on the subject who can speak from their personal experience.  I attended a "pain management" seminar last night which was very helpful as well.  Chronic pain is, and apparently has been for a number of years, one of the number one subjects as millions suffer every year from such pain from arthritis, car accidents or just going through the aging process.  For those of you who do not have back pain yet (baby your back) while you still can. 

I've started a blog on my "new website" that I've just created which will replace the old Verizon website.  This new site is called:   www.marionitesc.webs.com.  (It has been populated but not completed) but you are welcome to check it out.  I am currently scaling it back so that it will remain a "free" site.  I'm already at the limit so I will be deleting material and moving things around even further on a regular to try to keep things interesting. With this "free site" I can add information and delete at will without incurring added fees.  This site is still in addition to (marionites.com site) and does not replace that site of course. 

I'm going to start a Chronic Pain Blog for those who want to join.  There will be several blogs started at some point but to begin, this will be my subject of choice.  Hope you find this new website a nice addition.  It's certainly easier to input information than the last one.  I have also isolated the Johnakin High information to it's own site named Johnakin High. It also is under construction.  I would love to further grow the Johnakin site as an archive.  If anyone has additional information, stories or photos they would like to see added to Johnakin High site, please contact me at betty0999@hotmail.com with that subject: Johnakin High. 

Marion High School  Class of 1983  Class Reunion information can be viewed at the following site:  http://www.classreport.org/usa/sc/marion/mhs/1983/

Other links of interest:

http://www.theswampfox.com/history

http://www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/community/the_marion_star_and_mullins_enterprise.html

Go to "Community news"  for  Marion Star/Mullins Enterprise or Florence County Edition if you prefer to keep up with what's going on in and around Marion and surrounding cities.

President Barack Obama's letter to his daughters:   "What I Want for You and Every Child in America."  A very beautiful and "poignant" letter.   Click on the link below:

 http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html

Also check out the big picture of the Inauguration from Boston : 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html

**FREE** Inauguration Stickers at:

http://www.colorofchange.org/sticker

Marionte Inauguration Highlights from the Nation's Capital submitted by the Hales (Silas and Bertha Turner Hale) . 

MARIONITES 2008 ALUMNI REUNION FORMAL PHOTOS**

**Please contact Parnell Thompson, photographer to order any of these formal photos if you did not do so at the reunion. These are only a sampling of contact sheets.   He may be contacted directly at 540-230-3711.

Order your DVD's now for the Marionites 2008 Reunion through the Marionites Committee at $15.00 each plus $1.00 postage.  Contact the committee to order.

New 1983 Class Reunion information can be viewed at the following site:  http://www.classreport.org/usa/sc/marion/mhs/1983/

The Rosena (Brown) Nelson Success Story

A native of Marion County, Rosena Brown Nelson, made a decision at an early age that she did not want to relocate and reside in another state.  Even though she was an honor graduate from Johnakin High School, at 16 years of age, because of the passing of her dad when she was nine, she opted to deny herself of a higher edcuation and began to work to assist her mom, who was unemployed and seven siblings at home so that they could continue their education.  With God's grace and mercy and taking advantage of every training opportunity made available, she was able to promote within Sara Lee Hosiery where she was employed for over 35 years to Instructor, Supervisor, Training Coordinator and Human Resources.

While working at Sara Lee, Rosena was introduced to the Network Markekting Industry in 1994.  She was skeptical much as most people are today.  What she did know then was that industries had begun to relocate overseas.  She also knew that having been divorced since 1977 and having had to raise a son that she needed the extra income.  She also understood as the years rolled around that she would not be able to financially retire if she didn't do someting to supplement her income.  She had no idea that network marketing could or would be the answer to her financial prayers.

In January 2001, Rosena joined a network marketing company named Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, worked it part-time and began to build a team that has expanded into many states and into Canada.  She left Sara Lee in April 2006 by way of early retirement when her monthly income in her part-time network marketing venture surpassed her monthly income from Sara Lee. She now works her business full-time.  She is an Executive Sales Manager, a Lexus car recipient through Fortune's Platinum Car Program and she has been featured in two nationally published magazines (Success From Home - August 2007, Your Business At Home - October 2008).  She qualified for Fortune's Take Me Out to the Ball Game" promotion that allowed her to spend a weekend in Lexington, KY with the founder and owner of Fortune, Paul Oberson and the corporate staff which included diamond seats at a Cincinnati Reds baseball game in Ohio in July of 2008. 

Rosena is telling her nework marketing story to encourage ones who have spent years in the industry in Marion County and the Pee Dee Region and are victims of downsizing and facility closings and have lost all hope or are settling for less.  If you are willing to grow your self-belief, if you are willing to stop listening to negative persons that are more broke than you, if you can discipline yourself to work for yourself, if you are willing to set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve them, then you can dream again and realize not only your dreams but help family and friends realize their dreams as well.

"Too often we allow others to determine our destiny.  Be careful about what you say "no" to.  Do your own research (call Consumer Affairs) and make a knowledgeable decision about opportunities that God has provided for us," she says.

Rosena can be contacted at 843-464-4506 or 843-245-6369 or rbnelson@fhtm.us.

Thomas Back in the News - Travels to China

Ron Thomas (Topp) a former resident of Marion, has been selected to travel to China as part of a delegation of senior level human resources executives. 

This delegation of professionals specializing in human resource management will participate in bilateral exchanges with their professional counterparts in China, under the auspices of People to People Ambassador Programs.  The group will represent the Society of Human Resources Management. 

Thomas is the president and CEO of his own consulting firm, which provides HR strategy consulting to companies in the US and Europe.  He was formerly vice president of Organizational Development at Martha Stewart Living in New York City.

His topic during the China trip will be Talent Management Strategy.  At an upcoming conference dealing with the layoffs on Wall Street, he will present the topic, "Managing Talent in a Turbulent Economy".  He will be one of the guest speakers at a Global HR Symposium to be in Europe in February.

Thomas is a former resident of Marion, South Carolina and graduate of Johnakin High School.  He is also a graduate of Benedict College and New York University and is the son of the late Daniel (Big Chief) and Georgia Thomas of Marion, South Carolina.

 MARIONITES ADOPT-A-FAMILY - 2008

The Marionite Reunion Committee presented toys, clothing, fruits and other items to a family we adopted at Christmas 2008.  This is the second year the Marionites adopted a family.

Pictured:

William Graves, Joseph Harrison, Lashaura Willis (mother), Shyrae Cooper, baby Shariah Woodberry, Quizella Lowe, Maceo Cooper & Willie Johnson.

The Marionite Reunion Committee presented toys, clothing, fruits and other items to a lovely family the Committee adopted at Christmas 2007.

Jamyia Shannon & Juwan Buey children of Miss Margaret Shannon received some added Christmas cheers this year from Marionite Committee members Joseph Harrison, Annie Mae Rowell and Willie Mae Rayford.  Photo by: Willie Lee Johnson

MARIONITES SCHOLARSHIPS

The Marionite Committee presented scholarships to two (2) Students during the Spring of 2007. 

 $500.00 scholarship was presented to Columbia College for Miss Patsy Finklea, the daughter of Andre and (the late) Nora Finklea.

Another $500.00 scholarship was presented to Francis Marion University for Miss Prestina Brock, the daughter of Miss Cynthia Brock.

The Marionite Reunion Committee offers scholarships to promising students who may not have full scholarships or sizable grants and has limited access to other financial aide and resources necessary to attend college or technical school.   

Scholarship Committee members are Willie Mae Legette-Rayford, Vivian Wade-Rogers And Harold Crawford Sr.  Photographer: Willie Lee Johnson

Keep the Towe Legacy Going! At the family's request, please note the following information for those who may be interested in contributing to a scholarship in Mrs. Towe's name at Allen University. Rosa G. Brown Towe Scholarship Endowment/Allen University c/o First Citizens Bank, 214 N. Main Street, P. O. Box 1100, Marion, SC 29571. Thank you.

	Place Order  for DVD's $15.00 + Postage now !!
		Fall  Burgundy Folded Sweatshirt w/cap (without year) order yours today!
	Contact Quizella Haynes Lowe at 843-423-9222 or quizellahayneslowe@marionites.com or email us at mail@marionites.com

Chairman's Corner
Joseph H. Harrison

	Marionites 2008 Memorabilia can be ordered now!!
	Models: From left to right - Carol Williams Gary, Mary McRae (Deceased Nov. 16, 2008, Oscar Grice and Quizella Haynes Lowe
	Marionites 2008 Reunion Souvenir Booklet