GREENWOOD PHILANTROPIST BEQUEATHS HER ICONIC HOME AS ELEGANT EVENT VENUE

By Mundy Price

Construction 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 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

tents to provide cover for the music, dance floor, and guests, just in case of a rain shower.

While the bride is enjoying the day with her bridesmaids, the groom can enjoy his day at the secluded guest house across the pond for fishing, watching the game on television or just hanging out after a day of golf or other pre-wedding activities. Coursey said that grooms and groomsmen have enjoyed this feature of the venue to have their own area to enjoy themselves prior to the ceremony and reception.

Abney Hall Events currently does not offer overnight stays, but there are plans in the works to offer such accommodations in the near future. Those plans include newly constructed cabins, which can double as hunting lodges.

Parking is offered adjacent to the grounds’ tennis court, behind the pool area. Coursey said, “This keeps the front of the house clear and clean from looking like a parking lot and also offers the guests the ability to enter the “party area’’ on the same grade level.” For any guests with disabilities or physical limitations, the back driveway allows for someone to be dropped off right at the pool area with no stairs or hindrances to access.

The pool bath house has a ladies’ and men’s restroom available with one stall each, so venue staff suggest couples reserve a portable restroom trailer with two or four restrooms to avoid any lines or wait for facilities.

For couples interested in a holiday wedding, Coursey said Abney Hall looks beautiful at Christmas with trees in most all of the rooms and the beautiful grand staircase decorated as you enter through the front door on the main level. “With a fireplace in each room,” Coursey said, “the twinkle of Christmas is everywhere.”

Couples wishing to host their reception at Abney Hall but have their ceremony in a church or other location can consider using one of the venue’s several sources for transportation to and from Abney Hall as needed. Coursey’s own daughter, Hillary Coursey Childress, was married in 2021 at First Baptist Church in Greenwood with a reception hosted at Abney Hall. Course said, “For my daughter’s wedding reception in May of last year, we used a trolly to transport the bridal party to Abney Hall from the church, and then we had a 1960s Packard for the get away car that was rented out of Aiken. We have a host of connections for just the right venders to make that day special with the perfect touches.”

Coursey said Abney Hall’s calendar for 2022 is booking rapidly and with additional brides also looking at dates for 2023.

Abney Hall is unique in location and for the grandeur of the house that was built some 60 years ago. The architecture and grounds make guests feel as though the estate could be 100+ years old. The house is built of handmade Virginia brick with a slate roof and is decorated with special pieces from Europe, Denmark, and various locations throughout the globe. The evening sun setting in the west through the massive pines and various hardwoods create the perfect lighting for timeless pictures. While the front of the house has a true southern, colonial appeal, the back of the house overlooking the pool area will make you think you are on set for the Great Gatsby.

Property manager Kevin Coursey has vast experience in event planning to help take the pressure off hosts and hostesses. “I have always enjoyed the planning and implementation of events for many different organizations over the years. For the past 9 years I have worked at Greenwood Country Club as the Food and Beverage Director/Club House Manager. One of my responsibilities was to book, plan and produce wedding receptions, parties, dinners, and various gatherings. Mrs. Abney was kind enough to allow me to use Abney Hall for a charity event that I was in charge of which needed a beautiful setting for a party. Abney Hall has always functioned well for any gathering, and it was always a delight for guests to come to such a grand home and be able to experience the setting and ambiance of a past era that has been so well preserved.”

For Abney Hall Events booking information, see the venue’s ad on page 2.

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Flowers

ARE THE ART OF THE PARTY

By Deanne Marks

GREEN HYDRANGEAS & WHITE RANUNCULUS One of the most cherished flowers, hydrangeas blossom in well-tended gardens and grace floral arrangements around the world. They symbolize sincere emotions, gratitude, and deep understanding. In particular, Green Hydrangea flowers symbolize renewal and rebirth. The white ranunculus are a staple in high-end flower shops and wedding bouquets. The tissue-thin petals of the ranunuculus create a delicate addition to the bolder green hydrangea. Together, the two are a stark statement to your bouquet.

PEONIES A peony represents wealth and honor. It also embodies romance and love, and is regarded as the omen of good fortune and happy marriage. Peony plants can live to be 100 years and still produce flowers. They are an excellent addition to a bi-color ensemble of green and white.

WHAT IS INSPIRING YOU? Find inspiration in layering patterns. From bold geometrics to feminine florals, have fun piecing together unexpected patterns from the linens and flowers, to place settings. Let your floral linens steal the show.

SILVER PITCHERS Gold, sliver or even patina vases and pitchers filled with pink peonies, green hydrangeas and accented with shades of bold pink filler flowers create the ultimate vintage look. Save money on vases and ask relatives to let you "borrow" a family heirloom. Place a card on the table with credit to the contributor. VINTAGE The vintage bouquet of variegated dark and light pink garden roses and draped with wisteria in a tarnished antique urn. The wisp of green ruscus gives this bouquet balance. This bouquet can accent an intimate candle light ceremony or a formal dinner with ease.