Runners honor fallen officers

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MANNING - A group of avid fitness enthusiasts from Florence and Darlington counties included Manning in its route across eastern South Carolina last week to honor 394 law enforcement officers from across the state who have died in the line of duty.

"They chose to come through Manning to honor Holmes," said Tonia Mallett-Smith, whose husband, Holmes N. Smith Jr., an investigator with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office and a 19-year veteran of law enforcement, died on Nov. 5, 2014, in an accident on U.S. 521 north of Alcolu. "They also stopped at the accident site."

The group of runners and their support personnel arrived in Manning shortly after 8 a.m. for a brief ceremony at the Clarendon County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the Mill Street side of the Clarendon County Courthouse.

Mallett-Smith thanked the citizens who were present when the group arrived at the memorial.

"Thank you to the most hospitable folks around," Mallett-Smith said. "Your support is greatly appreciated."

She thanked Manning Police Chief Keith Grice, Clarendon County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Gene Morris, along with more than a dozen current officers as well as retired officers who were present for the visit. She also thanked Manning Mayor Julia Nelson and Terry Gainey, president of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, for their support.

Curtis Boyd, owner of Fitness Worldwide Gym in Darlington, organized the run and ran the leg into Manning on June 11. Boyd and the other runners each planned to run a half-marathon or 13.1 miles each day to honor the fallen officers. After running 394 miles, one mile for each of the 394 fallen officers, the group ended their journey on June 15 at the state's memorial for fallen officers.

"We do this to support law enforcement," Boyd told those at the ceremony. "We appreciate their sacrifices."

Former Darlington Police Chief Daniel Watson ran in support of his fallen comrades.

"This is something that I really wanted to be a part of," Watson said standing in front of the Clarendon County monument.

Phyllis Yarborough, one of the group's support personnel, said she participated in the event because she's close friends with Allison Carraway, whose husband, Sgt. Terrence Carraway with the Florence Police Department, was killed on Oct. 3, 2018, when a gunman opened fire on law enforcement officers.

"They are good people," Yarborough added. "We've been friends for a while."

Following the death of her husband, Mallett-Smith became an active member of the South Carolina branch of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). She serves as treasurer of the state chapter of the organization. Founded in 1990, members of Carolina COPS assist the families of fallen officers immediately after the death and in days, weeks and years following the event. The motto of the group is "Rebuilding shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty death."

June 15 marked Smith's 50th birthday. To celebrate the event, Mallett-Smith asked her husband's fellow officers, friends and family to donate $50 to Carolina COPS. To make a donation or to learn more about Carolina COPS, log on to www.CarolinaCOPS.org.

Mallett-Smith said this is part of giving back.

"They have helped me since Holmes' death," she said. "It's time for me to help others."

Mallett-Smith also travels annually to participate in the national Police Week that is held in Washington. She also founded The Inv. Holmes N. Smith Foundation Inc. to support efforts of law enforcement both locally and statewide.