Mobile Home Sales in Mt. Pisgah, SC

Mary Hickman is a visionary with a passion for children and education.

Understanding the power that education has to transform lives, the mother of eight started more than two decades ago bringing to fruition a vision that God gave her.

She started a scholarship program at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church to benefit students from the Allentown community, off U.S. 701 North of Conway. The fund’s purpose is to provide financial support for full-time students pursuing higher education degrees.

“I loved school, but I didn’t get beyond a seventh-grade education,” Hickman said. “We lived out in the country and transportation to school was not available back then. I wanted to go, but I didn’t have the opportunity.”

Hickman became interested in starting a scholarship program after seeing how difficult it was to put her own children through college. She also saw firsthand the struggles some of the other students from the church experienced in trying to put themselves through college.

Six of Hickman’s eight children eventually graduated from college with four of them earning degrees from the University of South Carolina and two others from S.C. State University.

“I had three in college at one time and didn’t get much help,” Hickman said. “At the time it dawned on me we should do something to help the children who wanted to go to college. I was president of the Missionary Auxiliary at the time and we thought if the pastor agreed we’d start a program. He agreed and it’s been successful ever since.”

The program currently offers $500 annual scholarships for students from Mt. Pisgah and $250 for the grandchildren of members.

“Seeing the children succeed and make a better life for themselves is what makes it all worthwhile,” she said. “Some of them are doctors, some are pharmacists and some are doing other things. It’s doing a lot of good things.”

Had she been able to further her education, Hickman says she probably would have pursued nursing.

“I don’t have a degree, but I’ve nursed a lot of sick people including many in the family,” she said.

Through the years, approximately 65 students have received scholarships totaling more than $50,000.

The program will celebrate 20 years of giving Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. in Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 4874 U.S. 701 North, Conway.

“My mom is 86 years young,” said Tommy Hickman, who is chairing the 20th anniversary program. “God gave her the vision to start the scholarship program some 20 years ago. She met with her pastor, the Rev. Jerry Faulk, and then formed a committee. We have had a fundraising program at Mt. Pisgah every February for the past 19 years.”

The keynote speaker will be former University of South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.

Lattimore, who is one of the most decorated players in USC history, played three seasons with the Gamecocks and set the school’s all-time record with 41 career touchdowns scored. He led Carolina to the Southeastern Conference championship game in 2010.

Lattimore decided to forego his senior season with the Gamecocks and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in April of 2013. After two seasons, Lattimore retired from the 49ers, returned to school and earned his degree.

He currently serves as the head varsity football coach at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School.

Lattimore is also active with numerous philanthropic events, including his own business, the Xtra-Inch LLC, where he operates sports camps and trains athletes throughout the state of South Carolina. His main focus of philanthropic service is growing the image of the Marcus Lattimore Foundation, whose mission is to provide assistance to high school athletes who may not have sufficient insurance to obtain quality rehabilitation from sports-related injuries.

The foundation is committed to youth development programs and initiatives that emphasize Christian values, character, life-skills development, education, recreation and health and wellness.

The program is open to the public, but people who want to attend should contact Mildred Welch at (843) 248-4064 or email ms.akaccu@gmail.com.

Sponsors are being sought for the program. There are several levels of sponsorships available.

Contact Tommy Hickman at (336) 829-9014.

Checks should be made payable to Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, c/o Mildred Welch, P.O. Box 3311, Conway, S.C. 29528.

Ready to get out and hike the trails near Greenville, SC? Today, contributor Kristina Hernandez shares some of the best places to hike near Greenville, SC.

For even more hikes, see our complete guide to hikes near Greenville, SC, which has hikes for every age, ability and every type of trail including trails with waterfalls, historic hikes, and more.

Some of my earliest memories as a kid were hiking with my family. It became a fun activity as my brothers and I got older and we got to pick out where we would go and which trails we would explore. I was banned from being the guide when I led us around in circles in the woods and eventually ended up on some unknown road (before GPS). Thankfully it’s pretty hard to get lost nowadays and hiking is still a favorite activity of mine. Because Greenville is so awesome, there are tons of great parks in the area to enjoy the outdoors, burn off some energy, pack a picnic and make a day of it.

When hiking, be sure to be considerate of other hikers, don’t leave trash on the trail, always keep animals leashed, don’t climb around waterfalls or allow kids to play near them as the rocks are and can be slippery and hazardous, and wear proper shoes (like not flip-flops or heels – I’ve seen people wear these when “hiking”), and be aware of your surroundings and wildlife like snakes and birds. For important tips on recreating responsibly, please see this story on the seven Leave No Trace principles.

One thing to note is that since the pandemic hit in March 2020, getting outdoors has now become a thing. National Parks, forests, and state parks are all reporting record-high numbers, which means many of our favorite trails are packed, which is pretty much the opposite of what we have been urged to do by medical professionals (although most agree that being outdoors is a good choice in these trying times). Because we live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and with literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails nearby, it’s truly not that hard to find less traveled trails. We made this Instagram short story on the All Trails app to show you how to search for less-trafficked trails. You can also join local hiking pages or just do your own research online or ask friends who are avid hikers. Happy Trails!

Kidding Around Greenville readers give some of their favorite hiking spots in the area below. One reader is on a mission to see all the beautiful waterfalls within an hour of Greenville. She uses the AllTrails Hiking & Mountain Trails app to find them, and other trails in the Upstate. We also have a list of waterfalls near Greenville to assist our readers.

A great local park with beautiful trails to explore, Paris Mountain is the go-to park for many Greenville families. There are also picnic tables, a lake for swimming and playgrounds, which make this a perfect park for a day of fun. You’ll have to pay admission unless you’ve got a South Carolina Park Passport, which provides access to all state parks for free and costs $99.

2401 State Park Road, Greenville

Another favorite of Kidding Around readers is Lake Conestee Nature Preserve. There are a lot of trails, all of them easy. There are boardwalks over the marshes, which are a lot of fun to watch for turtles, fish, and snakes at. The park also has playgrounds, baseball fields and picnic shelters. See KAG’s detailed Lake Conestee Nature Park Guide. There is no admission fee for this park.

840 Mauldin Road, Greenville

Table Rock State Park is a natural beauty, sitting next to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and boasts miles and miles of hiking trails, from easy to strenuous. Hikers can enjoy gorgeous waterfalls, mountain streams and stunning views. Trails aren’t stroller-friendly; however, young children can definitely walk the Carrick Creek Trail (~2 miles) and will love the many waterfalls along the way. I used an Ergo to carry my baby and it worked out great. Pack a picnic and enjoy it next to the lake while the kids play on the playgrounds. If you want a challenge, try the Table Rock Trail, a difficult 7+ mile trek up to the top of the mountain. This park charges admission unless you’ve got an SC State Park Pass (I have one and I use it all the time!).

158 Ellison Lane, Pickens

With 240 acres to explore, there is no shortage of hiking at Pleasant Ridge Park. There is a trail that loops around the park that is open to hikers and mountain bikers (strollers may not be the best of options here) that is 5.4 miles long. The park also has picnic tables, a playground and a fishing lake. 4232 SC-11, Marietta

Jones Gap is home to the stunning Rainbow Falls at the end of a tough hike uphill. There are several other trails there at this state park in the Upstate but it’s a very popular place with a small parking lot. There’s an entrance fee and you have to reserve a parking spot on weekends through the State Park website.

303 Jones Gap Road, Marietta

Raven Cliff Falls is located in Caesars Head State Park and is a fairly easy ~ 4 mile round trip trail. You can see the waterfall from an overlook. You can also do the challenging nearly-9 mile Dismal Trail-Naturaland-Gum Gap trail for a butt-kicking adventure over the suspension bridge at the top of the waterfall. Bring cash for the State Park entrance fee.

8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland

I love history and learning about South Carolina history has been a true joy since moving here. To that end, the Kings Mountain Battlefield Trail at the park is a 1.5 mile paved trail that tells the story of the decisive Revolutionary War battle that took place there on October 7, 1780. The trail winds through the woods where there are plaques and monuments that tell the story.

2625 Park Road, Blacksburg, SC

A little over an hour from Greenville lies Pisgah Forest, a vast expanse of woods with miles and miles of trails. We’ve written on Moore Cove Falls but there is also Frying Pan Tower (~ 1.5 miles), Mount Pisgah ( ~2.6 miles), Looking Glass Rock (~6 miles), Catawba Falls [closed till spring of 2024] (~2 miles), and Twin Falls (~7 miles) plus tons of others to explore and have adventures at.

A note about Dupont Forest

If you ask in any local hiking groups about where to go for the best waterfalls and trails, you’ll get a ton of recommendations for Dupont Forest guaranteed. Why? Because it’s pretty, the trails are easy, and there are a lot of waterfalls. Here’s the thing: it’s also being loved to death because of the insane traffic those trails get. The parking lots are packed. Trails are crowded. Everyone wants photos in front of the waterfalls. People park along the road and are causing erosion and all kinds of environmental damage. So while we are telling you about Dupont Forest here, there are so many (like lots and lots) other spectacular trails to enjoy that aren’t as crowded and are just as beautiful, if not more so than Dupont.

Do you have a favorite place to hike to add to our list?

The former school welcomes a food pantry, medical clinic, and gymnasium to bring residents of the rural community together.

KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — The sights and sounds of what used to be an elementary school have quickly evolved as the former Mt. Pisgah Elementary School has now opened as a community center.

The school was consolidated with Bethune Elementary and Baron-DeKalb to form what is now North Central Elementary, leaving the building vacant. But, after a lot of hard work, the community has brought new life to the building.

"I grew up in the community, and I went to school here for 12 years," said Mt. Pisgah Community and Resource Center Board President Faye Libby. "I left and came back in 2014, and I swore I would never come back here to live because there is absolutely nothing to do. But now I'm thinking, 'Oh boy, we've got a lot to do in our rural country area.'"

"Next Tuesday, the 7th of February, we will open the first food distribution of United Way and so the people up in the area can come and get the foods and then, in a week or two, the Carolina Medical Center is gonna be open," Libby said.

The Medical Center will be free to the public and looks to be open on Tuesdays only, but it's an effort to provide medical resources outside of Camden into this community.

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"Now, we're open Sunday afternoons from 2-4:30 p.m. where we open the facility, but we have been averaging about 55-60 people on Sunday afternoon. The gym floor is full of people shooting hoops," Libby said.

"It feels good because for basic needs, the towns around are about 10-12 miles away," says lifelong Mt. Pisgah resident Joe Ogburn.

"It's been very good," resident Mary Davis said. "I've gotten to meet several of the volunteers that you don't get to meet because you are spread out and you don't know them."

The center is hosting a yard sale on February 11th from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. with all money raised going back into the center.

For hours when the center is open, they are telling people to check their Facebook Page, as they continue to welcome different entities.

The Greenville News

It is a distinctive shape looming on the western horizon. Mount Pisgah at 5,721 feet is even visible at spots well inside South Carolina, more than 80 miles away.

The classic cone-shaped summit with the distinctive WLOS television tower is visible from 360 degrees and has panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and of downtown Asheville on a clear day.

Summertime, with its hazy days, is probably not the best time to enjoy the view, although it is the best time to relish the sharply lower temperatures this altitude brings. It was in the lower 90s in Greenville, S.C., on the day we went up. At the start of the trail, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, it was 72 degrees with fluffy clouds drifting in from the west.

The trail starts just off the parkway at 4,980 feet and climbs to the top in 1½ miles gaining a total of 750 feet. Most of that gain comes in the last half of the hike, making it a lung-buster, albeit a short one.

Be prepared for a relatively crowded trail on the weekend. The trail is intensely popular with the hiking crowd and is rated as moderate, but not nearly gentle enough for strollers. You will meet families with kids in backpacks and in snuggly packs, some decked out it tutus. Some of the parents too.

Once you reach the top of the ridge between Little Pisgah Mountain and Mount Pisgah itself, you start the most difficult section of the trail. Here is where many hikers turn back.

The top is somewhat marred by the WLOS tower and observation deck, but the view is spectacular. You can see the parking area, the Campground & Pisgah Inn to the east; to the west is the Shining Rock Wilderness Area with Cold Mountain at the northern end; the Great Smoky Mountains are farther to the west; and to the north, Asheville, Craggy Mountains and Mount Mitchell.

How to get there:

Take U.S. 276 north all the way through Brevard, N.C., and turn left just outside of town and follow 276 to the parkway. Turn left on the Blue Ridge Parkway and follow it all the way to the Pisgah Inn. Just past the inn, turn left for the Mount Pisgah Trail. Go all the way to the back parking lot to pick up the trail.

The Habersham Central Raiders put one in the win column on Friday in their home opener against White County. The teams see-sawed on the scoreboard until the third quarter when Habersham took the lead and kept it. The Raiders defeated the Warriors 42-28.

With the win, the Raiders improve to 1-1 after dropping their road opener to Stephens County. The Warriors drop to 1-1 following their season-opening win against North Hall.

Habersham Central returns to action at home on Sept. 9 with a non-region match-up against Central Gwinnett. The Warriors return home next week to take on Chestatee.

Elsewhere in Northeast Georgia, Rabun clinched its second straight victory, defeating Stephens County on Friday 14-7. Gainesville beat Mountain View 30-7.

Here’s a look at your Friday Night Scoreboard (Northeast Georgia area games are in bold):

ACE Charter 29, Georgia Military 15 Adairsville 51, Cherokee Bluff 50, OT Anniston, Ala. 24, Villa Rica 19 Appling County 42, Aiken, S.C. 7 Aquinas 41, Westside-Augusta 7 Armuchee 17, Gordon Lee 14 Athens Academy 23, Mobile Christian, Ala. 7 Athens Christian 42, Lakeview Academy 8 Augusta Christian 26, Bulloch 18 Bainbridge 24, Coffee 21 Bethesda Academy 40, John Paul II, S.C. 24 Brantley County 42, Groves 8 Brooks County 39, Wayne County 25 Brunswick 16, Camden County 10 Buford 56, Charlotte Mallard Creek, N.C. 7 Burke County 28, Effingham County 7 CAK, Tenn. 32, George Walton 7 Cairo 28, Monroe 3 Calhoun 31, Gardendale, Ala. 30 Calvary Christian 47, Pinecrest 7 Carrollton 28, South Paulding 21 Cartersville 45, Jonesboro 0 Carver-Columbus 40, Spencer 0 Cedartown 47, Callaway 7 Central Fellowship 34, Southwest Georgia Academy 6 Central Gwinnett 20, Apalachee 13 Central-Carrollton 35, Bowdon 20 Chamblee 59, Towers 0 Christian Brothers College, Mo. 41, Milton 27 Christian Heritage 21, Temple 6 Christopher Columbus Catholic, Fla. 41, Benedictine Military 15 Claxton 24, Macon County 20 Clinch County 24, Macon County 20 Colquitt County 29, Stockbridge 0 Dade County 50, North Sand Mountain, Ala. 13 Darlington 45, Sonoraville 22 Decatur 30, Wesleyan 28 Denmark 17, Cambridge 15 Dougherty 32, Randolph-Clay 14 Dutchtown 33, Tift County 7 Early County 27, Seminole County 0 East Coweta 38, Newnan 10 East Forsyth 48, Seckinger 0 Edmund Burke 34, Glascock County 14 Elbert County 48, Madison County 34 Etowah 31, Cherokee 30, 2OT Fellowship Christian School 23, Trinity Christian-Sharpsburg 19 Fitzgerald 57, Turner County 6 Flowery Branch 9, St. Pius X 0 Gainesville 30, Mountain View 7 Gatewood 50, Trinity Christian-Dublin 29 Gilmer 49, Fannin County 35 Grayson 44, Eagle’s Landing 14 Greater Atlanta Christian 23, Lovett 19 Grovetown 17, Greenbrier 7 Habersham 42, White County 28 Hampton 56, McIntosh 48 Haralson County 15, Bremen 14 Harlem 26, Hancock Central 0 Hayesville NC 21, GA Force 14 Hebron Christian Academy 48, Providence Christian 9 Heritage School 54, Creekside Christian Academy 0 Heritage-Catoosa 24, East Hamilton, TN 9 Hillgrove 10, Creekview 6 Hiram 49, Woodstock 9 Holy Innocents’ 42, Riverwood 0 Houston County 57, Perry 56 Howard 46, Central-Macon 19 Hughes 47, McEachern 21 Jackson County 22, Duluth 7 Jefferson 56, Wren, S.C. 28 Jenkins 24, Bluffton, S.C. 21 Johnson County 27, Jenkins County 14 Kell 21, Allatoona 9 Kennesaw Mountain 45, Campbell 14 LaGrange 56, Northside-Columbus 28 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 13, Murray County 7 Lamar County 21, Upson-Lee 20 Lambert 49, Dawson County 6 Laney 26, Hephzibah 17 Lassiter 16, Wheeler 10 Lee County 37, Hapeville 0 Lincoln County 27, McCormick, S.C. 6 Loganville 33, Discovery 7 Lumpkin County 28, Union County 6 Madison County 34, Elbert County 28 Marietta 24, West Forsyth 17 Marist 33, Pike Road, Ala. 22 Mary Persons 41, Spalding 21 McCallie, Tenn. 17, Woodward Academy 13 Mill Creek 49, Norcross 17 Monroe Area 58, Cedar Shoals 13 Mt. Pisgah Christian 42, Mt. Paran Christian 7 Mt. Zion-Carrollton 43, Greenville 0 Munroe Day, Fla. 28, Terrell County 0 Murphy, N.C. 15, Commerce 14 Newton 48, Alcovy 6 North Atlanta 50, Drew 6 North Cobb Christian 20, Ridgeland 7 North Forsyth 35, Forsyth Central 7 North Gwinnett 21, Archer 19 North Paulding 49, East Paulding 24 Northside-Warner Robins 35, Peach County 7 Oconee County 33, Clarke Central 9 Osborne 42, Chattahoochee 13 Parkview 20, Shiloh 8 Paulding County 21, Sprayberry 20 Peachtree 48, Westminster Christian 0 Peachtree Ridge 23, Lanier 3 Pebblebrook 38, South Cobb 15 Pepperell 15, Model 14 Pickens County 42, Franklin County 17 Pierce County 56, Jeff Davis 17 Rabun County 14, Stephens County 7 Rabun Gap-Nachoochee 35, Sequoyah 28, OT Richmond Academy 49, Savannah 0 River Ridge 43, Pope 14 Rockdale County 35, Salem 0 Rockmart 30, Cass 21 Rome 49, Lithonia 0 Roswell 35, Centennial 14 Russell County, Ala. 28, Harris County 17 Rutland 35, Hawkinsville 29 Sandy Creek 46, Greenwood, S.C. 21 Savannah Christian Prep 62, Islands 0 Savannah Country Day 28, Pinewood Christian 6 Screven County 7, Bacon County 6 Social Circle 25, East Jackson 0 South Forsyth 24, Harrison 21 South Gwinnett 58, Meadowcreek 25 Southeast Whitfield 34, Gordon Central 21 Southland 21, Marion County 14 St. Andrew’s 30, Valwood 7 St. Francis 21, Landmark Christian 13 Starr’s Mill 19, Northgate 0 Stratford 39, Westfield 17 Swainsboro 42, Washington County 0 Tattnall Square 27, Pacelli Catholic 23 Telfair County 35, Lanier County 20 Thomas County Central 31, Thomasville 0 Thomas Jefferson 24, Briarwood 8 Thomson 20, Jefferson County 0 Toombs County 21, Wheeler County 0 Towns County 16, Lake Oconee 0 Trion 45, LaFayette 7 Unity Christian 66, Hearts 26 Valdosta 34, Cook 7 Veterans 49, Griffin 31 Vidalia 48, Beach 0 Walker 28, Our Lady of Mercy 12 Walton 34, Brookwood 20 Ware County 20, Richmond Hill 7 West Hall 23, Johnson-Gainesville 7 West Laurens 14, Dodge County 12 Westlake 47, Crisp County 7 Westside-Macon 55, Southwest Macon 19 Whitefield Academy 35, Strong Rock Christian 0 Winder-Barrow 48, MLK Jr. 0 Woodland Cartersville 34, Coosa 0 Worth County 16, Mitchell County 14 ___

Riverside Military at Kings Ridge Christian Canceled

___

Carver-Atlanta 44, Riverdale 22 Douglas County 49, Mays 41 First Presbyterian Day 34, Chambers Academy, Ala. 3 South Atlanta 33, Chapel Hill 9 Statesboro 56, Southeast Bulloch 14 Westwood 8, Westminster-Augusta 7

Trent Crawford of WRWH Radio and the Associate Press contributed to this report. Some high school football scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/