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Modern-day candy stripers help with Tuomey patients
1 charged in Summerton man’s death Sunday night shooting leads to arrest BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 A 29-year-old Summerton man is dead, and a 35-year-old man is in police custody after a shooting at the victim’s home late Sunday night. Dominee L. Lawson was pronounced dead at about 12:55 a.m. Monday at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, said Clarendon County Coroner Hayes Samuels, having suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. His death, about an hour after deputies responded to reports of a shooting, ultimately led to the arrest of Raheme Kendo Jamison, 35, of 1000 Lincoln St., Summerton, in connection with the case, according to a report from Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies from the sheriff’s office, along with officers from Summerton Police Department, responded to a single-wide mobile home in the 1000 block of Louis Street at about 11:49 p.m. Sunday, where they found Lawson unresponsive, laying on the
floor of his kitchen. According to Maj. Kipp Coker of the sheriff’s office, the two acquaintances apparently began arguing, which escalated into a fight before, authorities think, Jamison pulled out a gun and shot Lawson. Emergency medical services responded and transported Lawson to the hospital. This is not the first time authorities have arrested Jamison. In 2009, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended to six years in prison and two years’ probation for various illegal drug manufacturing and distribution charges. That sentence came after a Summerton-area drug raid in the previous year entitled “Operation Rehab,” in which more than a dozen people were arrested during the Memorial Day weekend. At that time, law enforcement officials said the people arrested were “major players” in the area drug scene. Lawson’s body was sent to Medical University of South Carolina on Monday for an autopsy, Samuels said.
Repairs wrap up, but donations fall Money helps with home improvements for Korean War vet MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM
Brianna Burgess, a summer volunteer at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, pushes a patient out of the endoscopy department Thursday. Though not specifically interested in the medical field, she said she does like helping people. “I think it’s real swell,” Burgess said. “I haven’t met one person I’ve not joked with.”
High schoolers gain job skills volunteering at hospital BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250
S
ome high school students are getting a closer look at the medical profession this summer. But these 30 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 are doing more than the candy stripers of old, said Beth Fordham, manager of Tuomey Healthcare System’s Customer Volunteer Services and Customer Services. “It’s more of a learning experience,” she said. “In the candy striper day, they did grunt work like emptying bed pans and cleaning bathrooms. Now it’s more hands-on learning or observing.” There is no danger to the patients or students, Fordham stressed. As part of orientation, the students were trained in infection control and patient privacy laws. Students were selected based on their GPA, references and an essay about why they wanted to volunteer. “We made it a competitive process,” Fordham said. “Applications were sent to all high
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schools in the area as well as home school and Tuomey’s 2,000 employees. We had to turn a few down.” The teen volunteers started last week and will serve through the end of July. Brianna Burgess, a student at West Florence High School in Darlington whose mother works at the Sumter hospital, said she isn’t interested in medicine, but she is interested in helping others. “I’m a very social person,” she said. “I like to get out and do stuff. I want to be a positive role model.” She transported patients from the waiting area to the exam area in endoscopy Thursday morning and was set to go to the women’s center that afternoon. “I think it’s real swell,” Burgess said. “I haven’t met one person I’ve not joked with.” Ashley Hayes, a Crestwood High School student who wants to be a nurse, was working in oncology and had previously served in the emergency department. “I love the ER,” she said. “It’s exciting. The ER is fast paced, and something is always
SEE VOLUNTEERS, PAGE A6
DEATHS, B4 and B5 Dorothy Williams Snowden T. Russell Jr. James Brunson Jerry Wilson Larry Ray Anderson Carolyn B. Peoples
J. Ray Watts Lucille D. Cotton Temeka J. Pierson Dominee Lawson Roland Goines Shellie Bradford
Frank R. Mills Elisabeth M. Mobley David A. Bryant Roland Conyers
BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 Last week, United Ministries of Sumter County wrapped up its second week of Summer Restore. One of the people helped by the program formerly known as SAM, or Sumter Area Missions, was an 83-year-old Korean War veteran named Willie “Tommy” Wilson. The Catholic community helped replace his kitchen and den floors as well as making other kitchen improvements. “I am very pleased with the work that has been done, and I thank United Ministries,” he said. “The volunteers were very pleasant and caring.” Wilson worked for Santee Print for 40 years before retiring 20 years ago and has played the piano for Mulberry Baptist Church for 47 years. Readers like you help make jobs like this one possible through financial contribu-
tions. This week’s total was $550. The Sumter Item has partnered with United Ministries to bring you Summer of Caring, an initiative where your local newspaper collects money and then gives it to the nonprofit for three areas of use — Home Repair and Wheelchair Ministry, Crisis Relief Ministry and the Homeless Shelter, formerly known as Samaritan House. “The Crisis Relief was recently able to help a married couple in their 30s with four teenagers,” said Mark Champagne, United Ministries’ executive director. “The wife’s employer reduced her hours, and she is attending college. The husband’s work is sporadic, and (he is) seeking skill training. We were able to assist them with their water bill and counseling.” This past week, the Crisis Relief Ministry helped 27 clients for a total of $3,961.45, assisted seven families with inkind donations that equaled about $600 and gave 18 families food totaling $948. Meanwhile, 34 men and 26
SEE CARING, PAGE A6
WEATHER, A8
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TOASTY TUESDAY
3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 220
A storm around this afternoon and evening and getting warmer HIGH 93, LOW 73
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