Vignettes: Tributes paid along funeral route

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Jerry Brown, 60, a Kingstree farmer, brought his 10-year-old granddaughter, Leanne McFadden, to watch the procession from the Statehouse to the hospital.

"I studied him in third grade," Leanne said.

"He'll never be replaced," said Brown.

Benjamin Baugette, a Santee Cooper worker from Manning, brought his 12-year-old granddaughter, as well as his daughter, to pay their respects. He said he met Thurmond twice and his parents admired him. Alma Werts, 66, from Saluda, said she came because Thurmond helped get her sister disability benefits 15 years ago.

E.F. Martin, 83, of Columbia, served in the Army Reserves in Thurmond's unit after World War II.

"I thought he was a mighty fine gentleman," Martin said. "As a commanding officer he was a little gruff sometimes but he got the job done."

Carolyn Frederick, a retiree from Sumter, said she came because her husband spoke so highly of Thurmond for helping get funding for Allen University, where he worked.

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At Billy's Truck Stop, near Trenton, more than a dozen cars and trucks filled with family and friends waited a for a glimpse of Thurmond's hearse.

"Strom Thurmond was a great man," said James Page, 42, a concrete finisher from Eureka. "He was a man who believed in helping everybody."

Nearby, 27-year-old Michael Hall and his family waited in a truck.

"We were at the house watching the funeral on television and figured we would come by and take some pictures," said Hall of Johnson, who said he went to school with Paul Thurmond.

Outside Eureka, a large plywood sheet was painted in dark blue with the words, "God Bless Strom."

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As clouds continued to darken the sky Tuesday afternoon, Edgefield residents hunted for dry spots beneath trees and storefront awnings to watch the upcoming procession.

Shortly after 3 p.m., dozens of uniformed police and Highway Patrol officers were scattered throughout the town square, as were security agents wearing ear pieces.

In the grassy park marking the center of the square, the J. Strom Thurmond statue stood with a black sash tied around its base. Wreaths of magnolia leaves and white ribbons were set up in front of it. One wreath bore a Confederate Flag.

Bennie and Sandra Crouch of Ward sat in lawn chairs on one street corner as they waited for Thurmond's casket to arrive. Bennie said he called Thurmond's office several years ago with a problem and was surprised when Thurmond himself returned the call.

"When you get to that kind of recognition, you tend to forget where you came from," said Sandra. "He never did."

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Among the thousands gathered at Willowbrook Cemetery was Nancy Turner of Johnson, 64, who said she has known the Thurmonds all her life.

"I thought it was wonderful," she said of the service.

Joanne Tolbert, 55, of Plum Branch, brought her two grandsons. She had never met Thurmond but had seen him in Edgefield.

"It's history," she said.

Brenda Bryant and her husband, Ricky, came from Lexington.

"I hope we'll have some politicians in years to come who have as much honor as he did."