Part of Hoffmeyer Road might be renamed for slain officer
By Bobby Bryant, Editor
A section of Hoffmeyer Road that runs through Darlington County would be renamed for slain police officer Terrence Carraway if two state lawmakers succeed. House Speaker Jay Lucas of Hartsville and state Rep. Robert Williams of Darlington have filed a resolution asking the state Department of Transportation to name the section of Hoffmeyer from the Florence/Darlington county line to the Timmonsville Highway/S.C. 340 the Terrence Carraway Memorial Highway. The resolution has already gotten one stamp of approval, from the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions. As of last week, it was waiting for action by the full House, and presumably the Senate. If endorsed by the Legislature, it goes to the DOT for consideration. If all goes well, the new signs could be up by the end of the year, said Allison Carraway, Terrence Carraway’s widow. This is the third time state lawmakers have tried to rename a section of road or highway for Carraway since he was killed in 2018, Allison Carraway said. “This time, I think, is the charm,” she said. The City of Darlington tried to rename a street after Carraway, but that effort failed because residents didn’t want to have to change their street addresses. Since this plan would only change part of Hoffmeyer to a “memorial” highway, Allison Carraway said it was her understanding that no one in the area would need to change their address. Hoffmeyer Road already carries emotional weight for the Carraway family, she said, since Terrence Carraway took that road when responding to the crime scene where he was fatally shot. “It represents his last ride,” she said. “It is a little eerie … but we want people to know what happened,” and the memorial signs would accomplish that. Carraway lived in Darlington, where he was well-known. He was a veteran officer with the Florence Police Department and was one of two officers killed in a 2018 ambush in Florence County. The resolution by Lucas and Williams says: “Whereas, Sgt. Terrence Carraway was shot and killed after an ambush in Florence’s Vintage Place neighborhood on Oct. 3, 2018, while responding to assist three Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputies, all of whom had been shot and wounded while serving a sexual-assault warrant; and “Whereas, born in Florence, he was the son of the late Delores ‘Sabra’ Carraway Onwuka and was educated in the public schools of Darlington County, where he was an all-around athlete and a 1984 graduate of Mayo High School. He loved football and was eternally devoted to the Oakland Raiders; and “Whereas, Sgt. Carraway was a 30-year veteran police officer with the Florence Police Department, highly decorated and having earned many honors, including Police Officer of the Year, Hometown Hero and the Medal of Valor; and “Whereas, he served with distinction as a Security Journeyman in the Air Force Reserve and retired after 23 years with the 315th Security Forces Squadron at the Charleston Air Force Base. In 2002, he was honored as the first African-American airman from Charleston Air Force Reserve Command to be named NCO of the Year World Wide, and he was selected as one of 12 Outstanding Airmen of 2002; and “Whereas, a faithful member of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Darlington, Sgt. Carraway served as a member of the ushers ministry, male choir, C.L. Bowens Choir, and other ministries of the church and keenly supported youth ministry; and “Whereas, together with his beloved wife of 29 years, Allison Greene Carraway, he reared two fine sons, Terrence Rashad Carraway and Tislam Larenzo Blathers; and “Whereas, there is no greater or braver sacrifice for a man to make than to lay down his life. Therefore, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly believe it would be fitting and proper to name a highway in his honor. Now, therefore, “Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring: “That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the portion of Hoffmeyer Road in Darlington County west of the Darlington/Florence county line to a point west of its intersection with S.C. 340 (the) Terrence Carraway Memorial Highway and erect appropriate markers or signs along this portion of highway containing these words. “Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.”