Tributes to those who have passed
More tributes will be added in alphabetical order
JERRY ALEXANDER
Jerry Lamar Alexander (local historian, author, artist, and newspaper and magazine owner) was the owner and Publisher of The Pickens Sentinel when The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, was hired as The Sentinel‘s Editor in July of 1999. Jerry sold The Sentinel effective January 1, 2002 but still kept in touch and was always supportive of her writing, which was encouraging, and she highly respected him and his advice. After Karen was hired as Editor of The Sentinel, she and Jerry found out they were distant cousins, descended from the same Elisha Alexander and Nancy Grogan Alexander (Jerry’s third great grandparents and Karen’s fifth great grandparents).
GEORGE BENNETT
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first came to know Nancy Bennett prior to meeting her husband, George Bennett. They made a perfect couple. George passed on December 13, 2025, and Nancy passed six days later, on December 19.
NANCY BENNETT
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, came to know Nancy Bennett well when Karen was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel (1999-2004) and Nancy served on Clemson City Council. Nancy passed on December 19, 2025, six days following the December 13 passing of her husband. George’s funeral service, scheduled for December 19, was rescheduled, as a funeral service for both George on Nancy, on February 7, 2026.
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first came to know Dennis Chastain when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel, and she reconnected with him and with his wife, Jane, in recent years and served with them on the Pickens County America 250 committee.
Click here to read Publisher Karen Brewer’s Reflections column: In Memory of Dennis Chastain.
ROY COLLINS
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, came to know Roy Collins in 1999, when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel and he was the Chair of the Pickens County Water Authority, whose meetings she covered for the newspaper. He told her about the 1930’s-era town he had built, Collins Ole Towne, and she wrote stories about Collins Ole Towne several times through the years, beginning in 1999. He was also elected to Pickens County Council during the time she was Editor of The Sentinel, and she reported on all of their meetings. He and Pat became good friends through the years.
Click here to read Publisher Karen Brewer’s Reflections column: Remembering Roy Collins.
LINDSEY GRAHAM
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first met Lindsey Graham before she became a newspaper Editor, and he grew up with some of her older cousins. The Central native, who served our country as a member of the United States House of Representatives and then as a United States Senator, passed away unexpectedly on July 11, 2026.
Click here for The Pickens County Chronicle‘s tribute page to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, with links to several stories published in The Pickens County Chronicle‘s news pages following his passing.
RUDY HAYES
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher & Editor, Karen Brewer, first interviewed Rudy Hayes and wrote about his life in August of 2001, when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel. She wrote later stories about him, as well, including for The Sentinel as well as for her Christian publication. Rudy and his wife, Nell, became good friends through the years.
Click here to read Publisher Karen Brewer’s Reflections column: In Memory of Rudy Hayes.
JACK HESTER
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first came to know Bryan Hester, Minister of Music at Pickens First Baptist, when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel, and then his parents, Jack and Shirley Hester, when Jack became interim Pastor at her maternal grandparents’ church. She interviewed Jack and wrote a story about his life for her Christian publication, and he and Shirley became good friends through the years.
Click here to read: Jack Hester: “From Baseball to the Bible, from the Mill Hill to Calvary’s Hill.”
DON HUNT
Don Hunt was the General Manager of The Pickens Sentinel who hired The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, as Editor of The Sentinel in July of 1999. He passed away only three years later, in November of 2002. She highly respected him and his experience as a newspaperman, and he was always encouraging to her in her reporting.
DOT JACKSON
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first met journalist Dot Jackson (then known as Dot Robertson) when Karen was a journalism student at Clemson University and her journalism professor invited Dot to speak to the class. Karen reconnected with Dot when Karen was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel, and their friendship continued through the years. Dot passed on December 11, 2016.
JULIUS SCIPIO
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, came to know Rev. Julius Scipio when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel and covered school events at which he spoke. In June of 2004, she was invited to Rev. Julius and Linda Scipio’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration, held at Secona Baptist Church in Pickens, and then she interviewed them in their home and wrote a story, for her Christian publication, about the lives of this wonderful couple. Dr. Julius Scipio passed on December 15, 2009, and Linda Scipio passed on February 8, 2015.
ANNE SHERIFF
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, came to know Anne Sheriff when Karen was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel (1999-2004) and through the years afterward. In recent years, they served together on the Pickens County America 250 committee.
JEAN TULLI
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, came to know Jean Tulli when Jean, founder of Helping Hands of Clemson and a recipient of a Jefferson Award, had been invited by Karen’s journalism professor at Clemson University to speak to the class. Afterward, Karen and other journalism students started a newsletter for Helping Hands, to help the organization in its mission of helping abused children. Karen reconnected with Jean while Karen was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel and also wrote about Helping Hands for her Christian publication, including when Helping Hands moved into their new building. Jean passed away on March 21, 2024.
Click here to read The Pickens County Chronicle‘s story, Helping Hands of Clemson marks 40 years of caring for children and teens (published in August of 2024).
SAM WYCHE
The Pickens County Chronicle‘s Publisher, Karen Brewer, first interviewed Sam Wyche and wrote a story about his life in April of 2001, when she was the Editor of The Pickens Sentinel. She wrote stories about him afterward, also, including for The Sentinel and for her Christian publication. Sam and his wife, Jane, became good friends through the years.
Click here to read her story Coach Sam Wyche shares his faith.
Click here to read Publisher Karen Brewer’s Reflections column: Remembering Sam Wyche.