Greenwood Philantropist Bequeaths Her Iconic Home As Elegant Event Venue By Mundy Price
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onstruction of Abney Hall, located in southern Greenwood County at 812 Callison Hwy., began in the late 1950s and was completed in the fall of 1961. This iconic, Southern estate was the home of Mrs. Josephine Abney. Mrs. Abney exuded grace and, as her obituary stated after her passing at the age of 101 in 2020, she was a consummate hostess, opening her beautiful home for parties and fundraisers to help support the vast number of philanthropic causes about which she was passionate. Prior to her passing, Mrs. Abney had plans in the works for the approximately 450-acre estate, and the concept of the house becoming an event venue was a way for Abney Hall to become an income-producing property and to continue in Mrs. Abney’s tradition of entertaining and hosting people within the walls and on the grounds of one of the grandest
homes in the Lakelands. Property manager and events coordinator for Abney Hall, Kevin Coursey said, “She loved this place and wanted to see it continue on long after she passed. After Mrs. Abney’s passing in July of 2020 the family began the process of honoring her wishes, and the following year preparations were begun to offer Abney Hall in this manner, with the start of several projects such as grading (for tenting and ceremony areas), forest clean-up for aesthetics adjacent to the house overlooking a beautiful pond, parking enhancement, and remodel of the bath house restrooms,” Coursey said. “There wasn’t a tremendous amount that had to be done since Mrs. Abney had kept the grounds and house in immaculate posture for the past 60 years.” Abney Hall offers a variety of options as an event venue from corporate meetings and dinners to elegant
Photos by Abby Funderburk Williams
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gatherings around the pool for a variety of social occasions. For brides, Abney Hall Events offers the home and grounds as a backdrop for elegant bridal portraits. The property offers a host of beautiful settings, including several interior and exterior staircases, that make for wonderful portraits in which a bride can be showcased in her gown. Abney Hall offers a four-hour session for the bride and her photographer to roam the property for just the right light and portraits. When a bride and groom come to tour Abney Hall and talk about hosting their wedding ceremony and/ or reception there, Coursey says he and his staff will sit in the library for a brief time to visit and find out what they have in mind for their special day. They determine what time of year the couple hopes to schedule their wedding for, how many guests they’d like to have, if the ceremony be on Abney Hall grounds or at a church, if there’ll be a band or DJ, and if they need any help with caterers, a florist, makeup artists, hair stylists. etc. Events can also include use of the additional amenities Abney Hall has to offer, such as to the pool, tennis courts, shuffle board, fishing, hunting, clay shooting, nature walks. Coursey said, “Abney Hall Events does have a list of preferred photographers, videographers, caterers, DJs and bands for suggestive purposes, and we can also offer a host of florists, and others to help make the planning process smooth and easy. Abney Hall does have a master gardener that plans, plants and tends to all the flowering plants, who is a floral designer too.” “We always talk with our brides and let them know that, while we offer the down stairs to the bride and her entourage to spend the day to enjoy breakfast, makeup, hair styling and even a little lunch. Abney Hall is primarily an outdoor venue for weddings and receptions,” Coursey said. Utilizing the outdoor space for weddings and receptions requires considerations for
