Home RemodelingIn Camden, SC

Two of them are believed to have been between 14-16 years old and from Maryland.

CAMDEN, S.C. — The remains of 14 Revolutionary War Soldiers during the Battle of Camden were recently uncovered in shallow graves.

Now, the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust says they are uncovering more on identifications and are preparing for proper burials.

According to the Trust, the remains, some less than six inches below the surface in seven separate locations across the battlefield, were located during site research, carefully excavated, and removed over an eight-week period beginning in September.

Through preliminary field examination, the archeology team believes:

Since then, they've begun to uncover ages, identities, and origins.

"We know the ages of all the soldiers," said South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust CEO Doug Bostick. "They are young, sadly. Two of the soldiers are between 14 and 16 years old."

The two that were aged 14-16 years old, he says, are believed to have been from Maryland, based on artifacts retrieved.

"The loyalist from North Carolina has Native American ancestry that's determined by the incisors that he had in his teeth," Bostick said. "So, this particular group of Loyalists from North Carolina came out of the area where the Lumbee Tribe was pretty prevalent, so it might be he was a Lumbee Indian."

As for names, Bostick says they are closing in on one of three for the British 71st Regiment of Foot, Fraser's Highlanders. As for the others, it will take some time as they are taking DNA tests from those who have called saying they believe they are related.

"We're just starting the DNA process," Bostick said. "The identification of these remains will extend into the Fall, so this will go past the April re-interment. When these soldiers are re-interned in April, we'll mark them with a simple headstone that says "Unknown Continental Soldier," but later, when we identify some of them, we will come back and put a headstone with their name on them."

As they continue the search for information, plans for a proper ceremony have been come together.

"We've invited every embassy or consulate of everyone who fought in this battle," Bostick said. "So, we have the French involved, there were French officers serving with the Patriot Army. Certainly, we had the British there, of course, but we also had Germans there."

The ceremonies will kick off on Thursday, April 20, with a precession through Fort Jackson. They will pass by all the public schools from Columbia to Camden.

The next day, April 21, there will be a concert from U.S. Army's old band.

Then, on Saturday, April 22, there will be two ceremonies to honor the soldiers.

The AC Flora girls basketball team got big halves from its all-state performers Trinity Delaney and Terianna Gray in its playoff opener on Thursday.

Delaney scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half and Gray added 15 in the Falcons’ 50-25 win over North Myrtle Beach in the first round of the Class 4A girls playoffs. AC Flora (18-9) will travel to Bluffton on Saturday in the second round. The game will be played at May River High School because the lower state individual wrestling championships will be held at Bluffton.

The Falcons used pressure defense and a big first half from Gray, who scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half to give them a 29-16 halftime lead.

Delaney, who was in foul trouble in the first half, took over in the second half. The 25 points allowed by AC Flora were the third lowest given up this season.

Flora was one of several Midlands teams to win big on Thursday. Other highlights included:

Top-ranked Camden girls won their 23rd straight game with a 67-19 win over Dillon in the 3A playoffs. The Bulldogs host Battery Creek on Saturday.

▪ No. 3 Westwood girls rolled to their ninth straight win with a 59-28 win over West Florence. The Redhawks host Hartsville on Saturday.

▪ Gray Collegiate and Keenan boys rolled in their 2A openers. Gray defeated Greenville Tech, 90-14, while Keenan beat Blacksburg, 76-49. Gray hosts Abbeville on Saturday, while Keenan goes to Saluda.

▪ Eau Claire and Columbia were the Midlands teams to pull off road upsets. Eau Claire defeatedRegion 3-2A champion Strom Thurmond, 55-36. The Shamrocks will travel to Greer Middle College on Saturday. Columbia defeated Silver Bluff, 53-45, and will travel to Landrum on Saturday. It was the Capitals’ first-round playoff win since 2009-10 season.

▪ River Bluff boys were the lone area Class 5A team to win Thursday (Lexington won on Thursday). The Gators defeated Berkeley, 63-56, and will host St. James on Saturday.

Class 5A

TL Hanna 84, Chapin 36

TLH: Adarius Armstrong 22, Jaquarious Patterson 15, Anthony Edwards 12, Culler 8.

Byrnes 68, Blythewood 61

Byrnes: Kobe Staggs 30. Bwood: Will Olden 19

Fort Mill 57, Spring Valley 55

SV: Justin Skelton 16, Kendall Williams 12, CJ Rich 10. FM: AJ Washington 18, Braylen McCain 16, Gabe Tooper 13

Conway 66, White Knoll 30

River Bluff 63, Berkeley 56

B: Dubose 18, Youngblood 8, Cleveland 14, Hazelton 6, McNeil 8. RB: Caldwell 9, Cromer 9, Dawson Powell 14, Luke Chapman 18, Ahrick Wright 11, Pitts 2

Sumter 71, Dutch Fork 37

Class 2A Boys

Landrum 95, Mid-Carolina 58

Columbia 53, Silver Bluff 45

Saluda 62, Batesburg-Leesville 42

S: Watson 8, T. Mathis 6, Zion Wright 20, A. Mathis 8, JT Lott 20. BL: Bolen 2, Whitt 6, Swygert 7, Clark 2, Micheal Leaphart 15, Te’Maj Gilliam 10

Keenan 76, Blacksburg 49

K: Sumpter 6, Amarri King 15, Elam 8, Chrisean Oree 16, Broderick Anderson 12, Caughman 2, McCullough 3, McNiel 2, Golston 5, Price 3, Simmons 2, Anthony King 2.

Eau Claire 55, Strom Thurmond 36

EC: Sean Quick-Streeter 29

Greer Middle College 58, Newberry 39

Gray Collegiate 90, Greenville Tech 14

GC: Braylhan Thomas 19, Avantae Parker 15, Trai White 10.

Marion 83, North Central 59

Class A Boys

CA Johnson 54, Dixie 48

Class 4A

Easley 55, Airport 25

Westwood 59, West Florence 28

W: Woods 4, Miracle Branch 15, Makiah Thompson 11, Pope 2, Davis 3, Entzminger 6, Johnson 2, Omeire 2, Daniels 7, Brown 7

Wilson 48, Irmo 37

AC Flora 50, North Myrtle Beach 25

NMB: Faith Farmer 15, Vereen 1, Livingston 2, Hatchell 3, ACF: Tamira Delaney 7, Trinity Delaney 17, Terianna Gray 15, McCray 3, Wright-Thompson 3, Curnell 5.

Ridge View 54, Lucy Beckham 47

Class 3A Girls

Camden 67, Dillon 19

C: Joyce Edwards 28, Braylin Mungo 13, Harris 8, Jefferson 6, Champion 5, Carter 3, Jackson 2. D: Treasure Davis 12, Lester 4, Campbell 3, Murphy 2.

Lower Richland 70, Hanahan 16

H: Johnson 5, Tyson 3, Brabham 3, Hughes 3, Weatherford 2. LR: Chi’Nya Isaac 19, Tyra Floyd 12, Sumpter 12, Foster 5, Curry 6, Hiller 8, Weston 8

Battery Creek 48, Swansea 41

Philip Simmons 57, Dreher 30

This story was originally published February 16, 2023, 10:33 PM.

Patrick Davis was bored and restless.

The musician, raised in Camden, S.C., had spent years in Nashville as a songwriter and had done well for himself. In the city at the heart of music, he’d written or co-written songs for dozens of successful artists, including Pat Green, Jimmy Buffett, Jewel and Robert Randolph.

But something was missing.

He missed the days of playing smaller shows in places like Columbia’s Five Points. Davis might have made his name as a songwriter, but he longed for the days of performing live.

“When you get publishing deals and songs on the radio, and you make a little bit of money, it’s easy to fall into a trap of forgetting what it was you initially enjoyed doing,” Davis said. “The world will tell you what success is, and you’ve got to remember what success is for yourself... I was definitely missing some happiness in my life that had always come about from playing live.”

When Davis found himself at this crossroads in Nashville nearly seven years ago, he decided to change his situation. Some people might have strapped on an acoustic guitar and hit the coffeehouse circuit, but Davis went about as far in the other direction as one can go.

He created a massive ensemble called the Midnight Choir, chock full of horns, guitars and vocalists. Depending on the performance, the Midnight Choir can be 10 to 13 members, often including Davis’ dad on lead guitar.

The band tackles everything from soft folk to country to Southern rock, with Davis at the center telling stories and playing his incisive, melodic songs, many of which helped fund the choir he’s created.

“My career as a songwriter has gone well enough to where I could take on this kind of endeavor,” he said. “(It’s) not an inexpensive situation, so you have to really be able to be able to make all those people happy, not just musically but also where they can pay their bills.”

Making the band happy musically is a priority too, though. During a typical Midnight Choir show, Davis makes sure to shine the spotlight on each member of the large ensemble.

“Musically speaking... I want to make sure everybody feels like they are appreciated,” Davis said. ”(It’s) sometimes hard in a big outfit like that. Everyone wants the final product to be wonderful and a beautiful painting, but you still want people to stand out.”

The ensemble is constantly shifting and evolving, but it’s almost always made up of musicians from South Carolina and Nashville, both of the places that Davis has called home. He also has a keen eye for the kind of musician that will fit in well with the rest of the Midnight Choir.

Davis described it as “the best of both worlds,” pointing to multi-talented musicians with range in their performances like Grammy Award-wining Charleston jazz group Ranky Tanky’s Charlton Singleton on the trumpet and his father on guitar.

“(Singleton) is as talented as anybody in the world when it comes to taking solos, but he can also lay back and just write incredible parts for the horn section... and when I get my dad to play, he can sit back and let me tell a story and then if I say, ‘Hey Dad, crank it up,’ he can crank it up,” Davis said.

Davis and the Midnight Choir will bring their infectious big-band sound to the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College on Friday, Feb. 24, and it’s far more than just another stop on tour. Davis said he’s thrilled to be back in his old home state, some 30 minutes or so from where he grew up.

“It’s always great coming back home,” he said. “When you’re fortunate enough to do what us musicians do, which (is) travel all the time, we go to some cool places. But there’s nothing like coming home.”

Patrick Davis and his Midnight Choir

Feb. 24. $40. Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. 7300 College St., Irmo. harbisontheatre.org.

CAMDEN, S.C. (WIS) - After 51 years under the scope of a Camden hospital, the Karesh Long Term Care center has secured its own space. The long-anticipated move came after two decades of discussion and two years of construction for the stand-alone facility off Liberty Hill Road.

The $40 million project was made possible through state funds secured through the Kershaw County Health District. This, according to its Board Chairman Derial Ogburn.

Now titled Karesh at Beechwood, approximately 88 senior residents were relocated from their longstanding facility within the MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center on Wednesday.

Less than 24 hours in, residents told WIS the new facility was “unbelievable” and far better than its previous location.

90-year-old Thema Bodiford invited us to her new room where WIS Channel 10 was already playing.

“At first, I would say, thank the Lord that they got together, such a beautiful place as this. It’s like being in a hotel… I’ve had some visitors in my room, and they want to take the bathroom home with them,” said Bodiford who moved into the Keresh thirteen months ago.

Karesh at Beechwood is a 95,000 sq. ft. facility that holds 132 beds. The complex is split into three “neighborhoods” that are still being furnished.

“We did try very hard in the hospital to make it more of a home life. And it’s hard to get away from that institutional look. So today, the biggest difference - the care will remain the same, but we have more of the furnishings of an actual home,” said Loretta Wrigley, Director of Nursing.

Karesh Administrator Scott Neal said the expansion comes after a statewide demand for senior living care.

“We have a large waiting list now to get into Karesh. And we will be going through that list as we speak. So, there’s definitely a need here,” said Neal.

Karesh added at least 50 new nurses and certified assistants to the 100-plus staffers carried over from the previous facility.

This new home for 132 seniors includes free-standing departments for food service, laundry, and housekeeping.

“I just love it here. Everyone is so nice. At Karesh wing they were good, but the place is nothing like this one. Kershaw County’s got a lot to be proud of to have this facility in it,” concluded Bodiford.

Neal said they will start admitting those with immediate needs as soon as possible.

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AC Flora and Ridge View girls played two close games during the regular season.

But on Tuesday, it was a lopsided affair as AC Flora jumped out early and didn’t let up in defeating Ridge View, 57-24, in the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Falcons advance to the Class 4A Lower State championship on Friday and will play region rival Westwood at 5:30 p.m. at the Florence Center. It is just AC Flora’s second state semifinal appearance with the other coming in 2007.

“It is huge. It is just the second time it has been done in school history,” second-year AC Flora coach Jacob Thompson said. “Being here in year two, these girls bought in last year. We had them playing defense. The question was could we take it up a notch? And we have.”

The two teams split the regular season games with a total margin of victory of just a combined four points. But the Falcons’ pressure defense forced numerous turnovers and hot shooting in the first half helped them to a 33-14 halftime lead.

Junior all-state selection Terriana Gray led Flora with 21 points The Falcons hit six of its eight 3-pointers in the first half, including three by Jaclyn Wright Thompson.

Now, AC Flora gets a third matchup with Westwood. The Redhawks swept the Falcons in the regular season, including 52-43 on Jan. 27.

Westwood has won eight in a row against Flora with the Falcons’ last win coming 43-35 in 2014.

“It makes it easier and harder,” Thompson said of playing Westwood. “We know everything they do and they know everything we do. The best thing is we get to play them for a third time and that means we are playing them in the lower state. That’s what we want.”

The Redhawks outscored the Islanders, 21-2, in the third quarter and advanced to the Class 4A Lower State championship game.

It is Westwood’s fourth state semifinal appearance in the past six seasons. The Redhawks have lost in the three previous times.

Makiah Thompson led Westwood with 18 points. Jessica Woods had 15, and Raven Johnson 13.

The top-ranked Bulldogs rolled to their 25th straight victory and advanced to their second straight Class 3A Lower State championship.

Camden will face Midlands foe Lower Richland at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Florence.

Junior Joyce Edwards led the way with 31 points, 15 rebounds, eight steals, seven assists and six blocks.. Morgan Champion had 13 and Zyasia Carter had 11.

Sophomore Chi’Nya Isaac scored 23 points as the Diamond Hornets earned a spot in the 3A Lower State championship.

It is the first semifinal appearance for Lower Richland since 2017.

Tyra Floyd added 16 points for the Diamond Hornets.

The Raiders’ bid for a fourth straight state championship continued with a win over the Bulldogs.

Keenan will play Region 4-2A opponent Gray Collegiate in the Upper State final at noon on Friday at Bob Jones University in Greenville. The Raiders swept the season series this year.

The game was tied at 29-29 in the third quarter before the Raiders pulled away.

South Carolina signee MiLaysia Fulwiley led Keenan with 19 points but left the game with a calf injury in the third quarter. Keenan coach Reggie McLain said she will be examined more on Wednesday. to see her status for Friday’s game.

Guard Tanaja Kennedy added 18 points for Keenan.

Maliyah Mason scored 15 points and Kadence Walker-Lee had 13 as the War Eagles advanced to their first Upper State championship.

Gray led 26-11 at halftime in defeating the Griffins for the third time this season.

SCHSL

Tuesday

Class 4A Girls

Westwood 62, James Island 34

JI: Andrea Duncan 22, A. Graf 5, T. Graf 5, Wheatley 2. W: Makiah Thompson 18, Jessica Woods 15, Raven Johnson 13, Omeire 7, Branch 3, Pope 3, Davis 3.

AC Flora 57, Ridge View 24

RV: Bailey 2, Willingham 2, Drakeford 6, Harvey 6, Johnson 4, Ervin 2. ACF: Ta. Delaney 3, Tr. Delaney 9, Terriana Gray 21, Darby 2, McCray 8, Wright-Thompson 9, Curnell 3, Mendez 2.

Class 3A Girls

Camden 82, Loris 47

C: Joyce Edwards 31, Morgan Champion 13, Zyasia Carter 11, Mungo 9, Jeffcoat 6, Harris 6, Jackson 2, Jefferson 2, Dais 2. LHS: Mariasia Moody 11, Richburg 9, Brown 6, Smith 6, Bellamy 4, Perry 4.

Lower Richland 59, Crestwood 51

C: Saniya Williams 19, Javiah Martin 12, Vaughn 3, Tashiana Farmer 16, Harris 1. LR: Chi’Nya Isaac 23, Tyra Floyd 16, Sumter 7, Curry 4, Hiller 3, Weston 6

Class 2A Girls

Gray Collegiate 52, Fairfield Central 21

GC: Maliyah Mason 15, Kadence Walker-Lee 13, Mintz 8

Keenan 60, Silver Bluff 46

K: MiLaysia Fulwiley 19, Tanaja Kennedy 18, Griffin 8, Brown 6, Johnson 4, Price 3, Hicks 2. SB: Aaliyah Lawrence 20, Ahminah Taylor 16, Johnson 5, Bing 5.

Wednesday

Class 5A Boys

TL Hanna at Lexington

River Bluff at Conway

Class 2A Boys

Eau Claire at Gray Collegiate

Columbia at Keenan

Class 5A Girls

Lexington at Mauldin

Dorman at Spring Valley

Friday

Class 2A Girls

Keenan vs. Gray Collegiate at Bob Jones University, noon

Class 4A Girls

Westwood vs. AC Flora at Florence Center, 5:30 p.m.

Class 4A Boys

Irmo vs. Hartsville at Florence Center, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Class 3A Girls

Camden vs. Lower Richland at Florence Center, 5:30 p.m.

SCISA

Tuesday

Class 4A Boys

Hammond 34, Porter-Gaud 29

H: Jackson Ross 13, Amari Evans 15, Epps 4, Tyler 2. PG: Moore 7, Shuman 3, Clyde Mauldin 10, Jackson 2, Hassell 4, Fludd 3

Cardinal Newman 66, Wilson Hall 34

CN: Evan Carter 20, Jordan Frazer 16, White 7, Peeples 8, Hart 4, Smith Jr. 5, Gillens 2, Doctor 4. WH: Hugh Humphries 10, Matthews 6, Deschamps 5, Burton 9, B. Wilder 3, F. Wilder 1

First Baptist 89, Ben Lippen 58

FB: Cooper Kowalski 26, Jaiden Morrison 14, Dove Fishburne 8, Taye Robinson 22, Matty Foor 11, Powers 2, T. Washington 4, K. Washington 2. BL: Samari Van Horn 18, M. Stockman 8, Braysen Stockman 14, Helmadollar 6, Jones 8, Zetz 4

Class A Boys

W.W. King Academy 33, Our Lady of Rosary 19

Charleston Collegiate 43, Newberry Academy 33

Richard Winn 57, Ragin Prep 28

RW: Lawson Wade 18, Drew Spires 15, Miller Stuck 11, Caulder 5, Wilson 4, Chaisson 2, Bonds 2.

Thursday

Class 4A Boys

Cardinal Newman vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 5 p.m.

Hammond vs. Augusta Christian at Sumter Civic Center, 8 p.m.

Class 4A Girls

Heathwood Hall vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.

Class A Boys

WW King vs. Faith Christian at Hammond, 5 p.m.

Richard Winn vs. Charleston Collegiate at Hammond, 8 p.m.