Donations Sought For EHS Student's Funeral
Donations needed to pay for funerals of mother and son killed last week. Donations will be collected at tonight's Easley vs. Wren game and are also being taken at Marathon Church in Powdersville.
Efforts are underway to raise money to pay for the funerals for an Easley High School student and his mother.
Daniel Gabriel Smith and his mother Sandra Lee Michelle Smith Thomas were killed last week by Sandra's husband, William D. Thomas, who then turned the gun on himself.
Daniel, a 9th grader at Easley High School and a member of the school's wrestling and football teams, and his mother were laid to rest Monday afternoon.
Donations will be collected at tomorrow's Green Wave football game. A donation set-up will be at both entrances of the EHS stadium.
All proceeds will go toward the funeral costs and to purchase a headstone for Daniel and Sandra.
Organizers say that funds raised about what is needed for the funeral costs and stone will be donated to MARY'S House, which provides emergency shelter and services to women and their children seeking to escape domestic violence.
Donations will also be collected at Marathon Church in Powdersville, located at 315 Roe Rd. in Greenville. For more information, call 864-220-0632.
Linda Galloway
4:06 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Hello my name is Linda Galloway,I would like 2 say it was so nices of the people to donation and try 2 get the moeny 2 help out with the funeral cost.But as a Christian I was wondered why didn't they want 2 take up donations 4 the dad. I know alot of people think he is not worth worry about.But we as Christian's should not think that way,and he has other family and what do U think they think of these Christian's...I don't think this man could have been in his right mind no way...and I don't want anybody 2 think I am trying 2 be ugly.I am just thinking about the entire family at this sad time. And mabey this man had insurance at his work places.I am just saying as Christian we need 2 help everyone and not judges. God Bless!
Christine Porter
10:48 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Ms. Galloway,
Though I respect your Christian values set forth, as my anger stews yet again over the loss of my family, I will not rant over how vile your statement felt to me. I am a Christian woman myself. I choose to forgive Mr. Thomas for what he did because I have but one judge and that is God. YOU on the other hand, have not buried two loved ones from such a horrendous attack! Mr. Thomas had a choice! He had a choice to not end a life! He ended TWO! He pulled the trigger once for Sandy and twice for Daniel (he went back to shoot him again, though I am sure you didn't know this). Daniel called the police and they came. Daniel is the hero here! NOT the murderer. You speak from a sheltered place within the confines of your sheltered home, not shedding a tear for the loves and lives lost or the future taken with but a bullet. Husbands are meant to protect their wives, not take their lives! I would love to find insurance papers. As far as insurance and finances, I would love to simply tell you that Danny controlled all the finances in the family thus she could have NO power and well, his family threw her possessions in a garbage bag as if they were trash on the porch and didn't allow us the same respect we afforded them. So Ms Galloway, I will be sure to say a prayer of forgiveness for the anger I feel towards your foolish statement of defense of Danny. He had a choice, Sandy and Daniel DIDN'T, THAT is the difference!
Faedra Martin
9:02 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Hi Linda, yes I think as Christian we should never judge people. You are right, but my family and I were victims of domestic violence. No one should ever have to suffer and/or die due to domestic violence. I've experenced, first hand, someone mistreating my family, and I can tell you it was a very scary and confusing situation. Sometimes no one would believe you, but I had the courage to get out before it was too late. I know exactly how it feels and no one should take someone's life like that. Daniel was a very sweet young man. He had so many dreams! He was friend with my son and my son is missing him so much! Let's never forget who the victims are here, Daniel and his sweet mother. I will always, as long as I live, say NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Thank you and God bless!
terri
8:47 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Thank God I didn't allow my daughter to grow up with the man who is her bio-father, we would have suffered the same faith this mom and child did probably, there is men who are jealous and obcessive and don't want to share there woman with anyone not even there family. I suffered abuse for a while with her dad and was leaving him for good and he raped me. I found out a couple months later i was pregnant and then he tried to kill me and her while i was carrying her. so no this man who killed his wife and her child. she go to the chair!! God doesn't like his children to hurt and this man sounds like a devil to kill them both!! atleast he had the sense to kill himself also!!