IN SPORTS: American Pharoah will run for Triple Crown today at Belmont B1 REVIEW
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015
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Logan-Owens named new Tuomey head
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A look at comedian Melissa McCarthy’s new film ‘Spy’ A4
Mabry remembers Centenarian looks back on stint as nurse in WWII BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com PHOTO PROVIDED
Eugenia “Gene” Mabry is seen in her uniform as a nurse with the American Red Cross during World War II.
Even though she’s almost 101 years old, Eugenia “Gene” Mabry remembers landing on the beaches of Normandy during World War II as though it were yesterday. She did not land on D-Day
(June 6, 1944) but 11 days after the invasion. She was not armed with weapons to destroy the enemy but rather medical supplies and a skill that helped her save dozens of lives. Mabry was a nurse with the American Red Cross who followed the troops during the largest seaborne invasion in history. Mabry was on a tiny ship that left the British coast in the middle of the night on June 17, 1944, full of medical
SEE MABRY, PAGE A7
GRADUATION
Crestwood, Lakewood send off Class of 2015
PHOTO PROVIDED
Michelle Logan-Owens
Pinewood native takes reins as president, CEO FROM STAFF REPORTS Tuomey Healthcare System’s board of directors announced Friday it has chosen Michelle Logan-Owens to serve as acting president and chief executive officer, effective Monday. Logan-Owens has worked in a variety of positions at Tuomey for more than 20 years, most recently serving as vice president. “We are confident that Michelle has the experience and talent to move Tuomey forward,” said Board Chairman John Brabham. “As a leader at Tuomey, she has proven that she not only has the skills to lead our team, she also has the heart for our hospital and this community.” Logan-Owens, who earned a doctorate in health care administration from Medical University of South Carolina last year, also received a master’s degree from MUSC and an undergraduate degree from University of South Carolina. She is a native of Pinewood and a 1990 graduate of Furman High School. Logan-Owens began her career at Tuomey as a clinical technician on the surgical inpatient unit and later launched her nursing career as a registered nurse on the oncology unit. “I will work diligently to ensure we are successful in all of our endeavors,” Logan-Owens said. “I truly believe that our best days are ahead of us.” Logan-Owens is a member of The Forum, American College of Healthcare Executives, South Carolina Organization of Nurse Executives, Sigma Theta Tau (a nursing honor society) and Alpha Eta and Upsilon Phi Delta, both of which are health care administration honor societies. She, her husband, Sly, and their two daughters are members of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, and she has also served on the S.C. Board for Families of Highway Fatalities.
Crestwood High School candidates for graduation, above, take a selfie before entering Sumter County Civic Center on Friday afternoon. Check out more photos from the Crestwood and Lakewood High School graduation exercises on page A3 or online at www.theitem.com. Lakewood High School seniors Sierra McClain, left, and Ariel Mundy, right, play their last concert with the band during the school’s graduation ceremony on Friday night. KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
71st D-Day anniversary prompts families to share memories BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Today marks the 71st anniversary of the landing of more than 100,000 western ally troops from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Canada on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, near the end of World War
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II. Most refer to the day as “DDay.” World War II began in 1939 when the U.K. and France deJEAN clared war on ALLEN Nazi Germany after the country ignored an ultimatum to stop invasive operations in
Poland. The invasion of Normandy was one of the most successful attacks against Germany durJERRY ing the war and ALLEN caused the country to lose its hold on most of France. You’ve likely read about
DEATHS, A7 Henry Lee Ragin Charles Bennett Jr. Patricia H. Windham Frances Altman Joe Jackson Jr.
Authur Porter Sr. Emma Jane P. Wilson Shirley Ann R. Tenette James Green Jr.
people involved in the war, but what was it like for the relatives they left behind? We asked a few Sumterites to “BUNNY” tell us what it ALLEN was like. We don’t think any of the following military members were directly in-
volved on D-Day, but their family members told stories of what they experienced at home. John Duffy of Sumter said three of his uncles,
JAMES M. DUBOSE
SEE D-DAY, PAGE A7
WEATHER, A8
INSIDE
SPRING STORMS
2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 197
Some sun today, but a 40 percent chance of storms; tonight, spotty storms HIGH 90, LOW 66
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