Above from
left; Janet Vandiver, president of the Mental Health Association in Abbeville
County for the past three years, welcomes the new leaders of the association,
Barbara Bollman, Dick Haldeman, and Mary Lou Edens, the administrative
team, and John Fleming, housing chairman.
Erskine Students Receive Ruth Kelly Scholarships
At Mental Health Association Banquet
Two Erskine seniors planning to go into the mental health profession, Emily Hill of Greenville and Gina Power of Cross Hill, received Ruth Kelly Scholarships Nov. 6 at the annual banquet of the Mental Health Association in Abbeville County (MHAAC). MHAAC board member Pam Showalter, wife of Erskine psychology professor Dr. John Showalter, presented the awards. The Ruth Kelly Scholarships are given in memory of a leader in Abbeville mental health work.
The Mental Health Association in Abbeville County celebrated its 40th birthday at the banquet in Moffatt Dining Hall on the Erskine campus, co-sponsored by MHAAC and the Abbeville Pilot Club.
Dr. Donald Weatherman, vice president and dean of Erskine College, welcomed about 90 people to the banquet and praised the close relationship between the college and mental health association over the past 40 years.
Highlighting the celebration was a recounting of the association history's by Dr. Margaret Cubine, professor emeritus of Bible and religion at Erskine, a longtime leader in the MHAAC. The association was instrumental in the establishment of the Abbeville County Mental Health Clinic.
On display were a number of scrapbooks compiled by Martha Bauer of Due West, illustrating the work of the association through the years.
The association thanked Janet Vandiver of Abbeville for her three years as president, during which the MHAAC has constructed apartments for four mental health clients who were special guests at the banquet. One of these was featured in a video presentation of the Greenwood-Abbeville United Way, which helps provide funding for the local association.
Dr. George Wilson, a former member of the MHAAC who is now on the State Mental Health Commission, told the banquet audience how the South Carolina Mental Health Department is coping with severe budget cuts. Mental health representatives from state, region, and local agencies and associations also spoke at the meeting.
A “Leadership Team” of Dick Haldeman of Due West and Barbara Bollman and Mary Lou Edens of Abbeville was elected to succeed Mrs. Vandiver. Haldeman is a retired Erskine staff member and Bollman is an Erskine graduate. Kim Banks was elected treasurer and John Fleming housing chairman.
Dr. Lowry Ware, professor emeritus of history at Erskine, was elected to the board of directors. He previously has served as MHAAC president and director. Others from Due West and Donalds on the board include Reba Stille, who serves as college nurse at Erskine, as well as Pam Showalter, Cora Lee, Brenda Byers, and Haldeman.
