Plumbers in Hollywood, SC

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCBD) – A couple from Hollywood, South Carolina will celebrate 75 years of marriage this year. The special couple, both aged 96, still love, laugh, and sing their way through a lifelong marriage.

The price of gas was .23 a gallon 75 years ago. Jackie Robinson took to the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball – but Robinson was not the only one making moves.

Leroy Morrison was working on a home run of his own and focused on a different diamond.

“We went to a wedding one day. A friend had a wedding across the street. I see a girl, and she was dressed so pretty. I said I’m going to carry one of those girls home tonight, two sisters. I said one of y’all gotta go home with me,” he recalled.

“I said this is the girl, I’m gonna marry,” said Mr. Morrison. A feat that took nine months, and the ball was clearly in Ms. Wilhelmina’s court.

“I tell her she’s the one. She looked at me and she said, I don’t love you,” he remembered.

“I used to didn’t like him because he wore suspenders hanging behind him, untidy on him. I just didn’t like him, he wasn’t sharp enough for me. I was sharp. I had a wide-rim hat. I was sharp. I knew I was sharp,” said Mrs. Morrison.

Love triumphed over fashion woes, and on June 12, 1947, Leroy Morrison and Wilhelmina Roach became husband and wife.

“Marriage license was $5.00,” said Mr. Morrison. “My wedding dress cost me $16. I got off of King Street,” added Mrs. Morrison.

Both are now 96 years old with ten children and a long lineage that follows.

The Morrisons say the secret to a happy marriage for them: is faith, forgiveness, compromise, patience, and protecting peace.

“The secret is it’s just like a rubber band. You take the rubber band, the more you stretch it, the more it gives. Don’t stretch it too much, and it stays together,” said Mr. Morrison.

“I always tell people take it, whatever stress comes on, you have to take it to make it, and that’s the only way you can make it,” said Mrs. Morrison. “I didn’t have all good days, but I took the bad days and the good days the same, give and take. He is forgiving, and I was forgiving with him also, that’s what kept us together.”

They also say good meals helped as well. “She’s a good cook. She cooked the meals and baked the pies,” said Mr. Morrison.

Mr. Morrison, a retired shoe repairman and barber, and Mrs. Morrison a stay-at-home mom remain inseparable. “Never spent one night away. If he goes outside, and I don’t see him for five or ten minutes, I’m looking for him,” Mrs. Morrison said.

The Morrisons are considered community champions because they dedicated their lives to helping others, and often hosted neighborhood events to feed their Hollywood community.

Both now have health challenges and have 24-hour care from family members, but they continue to give back in whatever way they can.

Their message to young couples starting out: “I would tell them; every day is not going to be Sunday. Every day is not going to be good. Some days will be bad, but I think most of my days are good days, and go to church treat everybody right, all those people who treat you wrong, love them anyhow,” said Mr. Morrison.

After 75 years of marriage, Mrs. Morrison still sings her song of love for her groom mixed with a kiss, but with notes that render a cautionary tale.

“I love you, Roy. You better not let me catch you walking down lover’s lane with anyone else but me, because I love you. I love you. I love you, Roy,” she sang.

The family held a big celebration to mark the three-quarters of a century milestone in August.

Together, they have ten children, twenty-four grandchildren, sixty-five great-grands, twelve great great grands, and five bonus adopted children.

Happy 75th Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Morrison!

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCIV) — A number of people in Hollywood celebrated Independence Day by taking some time to cool down at the West Aquatic Center. The pool at the West Aquatic Center has been nicknamed “The Genesis Pool,” in honor of Genesis Holmes, who drowned in 2014. His mother, Jennifer Holmes, spent her holiday spreading awareness about water safety.

After years of hard work, she was able to collaborate with Charleston County Parks to open the first public pool in rural Charleston County.

The pool at the West Aquatic Center has been nicknamed “The Genesis Pool,” in honor of Genesis Holmes, who drowned in 2014. His mother, Jennifer Holmes, spent her holiday spreading awareness about water safety. (WCIV)

“You have to know your limitations when you head out for the Fourth of July just to celebrate with family. Genesis Holmes wanted to celebrate with his friends on May 5th, but he did not know how to swim and Genesis did not return home,” said Holmes.

Her son didn’t make it home, but through the Genesis Pool and Genesis Fund, so many others will. Including her nephew, who now works at the aquatic center.

“When I learned how to swim, it was hard for me because of what happened to my cousin. But I still had to go through it because I knew that if I didn’t get it done, the same thing could happen to me,” said Troy Hamilton.

Troy has also been a part of two swim teams, helping to break the curse of fearing water for this family.

Now, a new generation of swim advocates are being inspired by this pool.

Shanyra Mungin became a lifeguard this summer after spending time with her family at the pool. She says it is now her turn to help.

“It’s all about saving people. Saving kids’ lives. If I do see a kid about to drown, I get up and ask, 'Do you need help? Are you okay?'”

Though she didn’t grow up with swim lessons, she says this pool has become her safe haven.

Charleston County Parks and Recreation offers free swim lessons and water safety education through the Genesis Fund. To donate or join the program, visit ccpr.com.

Charleston’s got some pretty picturesque spots, but when it comes to finding a landmark that best represents our city– what comes to mind?

We all know the typical spots... the Angel Oak, our skyline of steeples, Charleston- single homes, etc.– but what’s the one place that locals + out-of-towners alike look at and immediately think of CHS?

We asked you what iconic images evoke the spirit of the Holy City… and then ranked them based on your votes. Read on to see the winners.

No trip to Charleston is complete without a stroll along the Battery + White Point Garden. The seawall + adjacent park have been around for centuries, and little has changed of the area’s landscape throughout that time.

What you said:“The Battery is on more pictures and postcards than any of the others due to its history. I’ve been looking at photos of the Battery for close to 40 years.” –@angiepike1 on Instagram

The moniker ‘Holy City’ sticks so well for a reason– that reason being the abundance of steeples in our skyline. Maybe most iconic of those steeples is the one belonging to St. Philip’s Church on Church Street.

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality– and in turn, have become somewhat of a symbol of our city. So does that, by extension, make the famous Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park the icon of icons? We say yes.

Rainbow Row may be one of the most famous landmarks in Charleston. And it certainly ranks among the most photographed locales. Read up on its colorful history here.

What you said:

“Not sure someone in D.C. would know our bridge, but everyone knows Rainbow Row.” – @shedoesntknowhowtowhisper on Instagram

Built in 2005, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge transformed the Lowcountry skyline– and now, you’d be hard-pressed to find an illustration of Charleston that doesn’t include it. Not to mention, at the time it was built, the bridge was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere (with a 1,546-ft. span, to be exact). With an overwhelming number of votes, the Ravenel easily sinched the top spot on our list of Charleston icons.

What you said:

“[The Ravenel Bridge] because you can see it from far away like the Hollywood sign.” –@marie.muth on Instagram

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While we love the symbols that define quintessential CHS, it’d be wrong not to pay homage to some of our lesser-known landmarks– those that give our city an extra dose of character. Here are a few of your more eccentric suggestions:

“Round Holiday Inn?” –Corey H. on Facebook

“On 162 as you enter Hollywood and cross the train tracks I’m pretty sure there is a sign that says ‘Welcome to Hollywood, S.C..” It doesn’t get more Hollywood than that, literally.” –@charlestonfreemasons on Instagram

“We all know it’s really the Coburg Cow. Oh, wait. That’s the equivalent of the ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign.” –@g_heaton on Instagram

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCIV) — A public pool is hosting its first competitive swim team for young swimmers and it's a dream come true for Jennifer Holmes. She turned her pain into power.

"I never imagined that we would actually have a swim team coming from tragedy, overcoming, and becoming a lifeguard," she said. "Now, this season, this summer will be the beginning of a new swim team for many walks of life."

Read more: Officials to break ground on $25M North Charleston Sports Complex on March 1

Holmes learned to swim after her son, Genesis, drowned in 2014. She built a pool in his honor and taught other children to swim. Holmes said she never knew the progress of the Genesis Pool would get so far and it's changed her life forever. Now, she is working on a swim team for kids in the Hollywood area. Many of them never would have learned to swim if it wasn't for Jennifer.

Allison Foster, with Charleston County Parks Health and Wellness, says kids will be refining their skills with breaststroke, freestyle. They will also be encouraged to grow confidence in their swimming. The emphasis is on the team.

"We encourage team building and supporting one another in a welcoming environment," Foster said.

A public pool is hosting its first competitive swim team for young swimmers and it's a dream come true for Jennifer Holmes. (WCIV)

Holmes gives the credit to her son Genesis, who she says has guided her every step of the way.

“To be standing here in front of the Genesis pool and to know that there's going to be a swim team, I know in my heart it's going to change lives and I know that God had a major part of this," she said.

Read more: Aventon Companies announces groundbreaking of its newest community in Charleston.

Holmes says she can hear her son's voice in her ear cheering her on.

"Right now, I know Genesis is saying, 'Mommy get it'."

Swim team conditioning starts in April and the Genesis Pool will be open for the season on May 6. Holmes says she'll be wearing the number 11 for Genesis because that was his number on his basketball team.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - A new subdivision in the works in Hollywood and is on track to the be the largest in the town.

The subdivision would be near downtown Hollywood, near Highway 162 and Highway 165 and it is set to be larger than Stono Ferry with nearly 400 new homes.

The land has been passed down for generations, and the town’s planning director, Roy Dehaven, says it’s time to grow the town where they can to bring more jobs and more residents to the area.

“Long-term, as its completely built out, it will give us the anchor to this town center district,” Dehaven said. “It’ll give us 350 residences close to the heart of downtown Hollywood.”

The developers say they plan to make the homes entry to medium-priced. Many of the homes will be one-story, which the developers hope could make them attractive to retirees.

Hollywood town officials say this area could serve as a hub for people working in Summerville and North Charleston, and they are already working with the state’s Department of Transportation on improving and widening the highways.

The developer working on the project, Joe Margarite, says they are planning to hire locally within the town for all construction work, and they say that means at least 600 jobs to get the project started.

“It’s going to bring a lot of money into this community,” Margarite said. “It’ll support all of these local businesses here that are struggling. Our Piggly Wiggly right here is struggling to stay open, and they need more customers. There will be construction jobs here for at least 6 years.”

The proposal will be discussed at the town’s planning commission meeting on Oct. 8 and then again at the end of the month.

They’re taking public comment now. Public hearing comments will be accepted in writing via email to the Clerk of Council at twhite@townofhollywood.org or by mail to P.O. Box 519, Hollywood, South Carolina, 29449.

If it is approved in October, the developers are hoping to start construction by the spring. And construction would take about six years.

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