Mullins........ (Columbia, Charleston, Florence: insurance, hotel, home)

[ckhthankgod]

my mother is from here originally and she left in the early 60's for Syracuse, NY, where I'm from. I would visit when I was younger, but the last time I was there was in 1992. It was a nice community of about 6-7,000 and I still have family there. I was wondering how things are down there now? I guess according to the news from the TV stations that I see online, that gangs are supposedly an issue in the Pee Dee region. Is that true? Plenty of the people in Syracuse's Black community have roots in this area too.

Also, I'm a Black male married to a White female and wanted to possibly bring my wife and children down there one day. Would there be any problems if I did so or would it depend on the individuals or not at all?

[PalmettoGuy]

I'm not from Mullins, but since you haven't received a reply yet, I'll do my best to answer your questions. I grew up in Dillon (about 17 mi away), and my mom's family lives in Mullins.

It is still a small community. I have seen some of the same news reports about gangs, and I've heard family members talk about rumored gang activity in the region. There probably are fledgling gangs around, but nothing on the scale you would find in a large city. Problem is, any gang activity is too much. I would not characterize it as a generally dangerous area, though. I had a great uncle who was robbed and murdered last year on his rural property in Marion County. The attacker was a crack addict who had once worked for him. My impression is that was more of an isolated incident, but it's still scary to think things like that happen there (but then again that can happen anywhere, unfortunately).

As for interracial marriage, it depends on the individuals. I wish I could say no one would have a problem with it, but there will be some who look down on you. I can't say they are the majority, and I don't know how many problems it would actually cause you, other than people talking behind your backs. I think the younger generations are more accepting of it.

[dallas76]

Hey, I'm from Mullins. I live in Dallas, TX now. I was just there about 4 months ago. And you will have no problems. You may get a few looks from both blacks and white, but nothing overt. They have remodeled the Piggly Wiggly and Family Dollar.

My parents tell me that there has been a spike in gang ativity, but nothing that will affect you. Other than that Mullins is the same now as it was in 1992 when I was a sophomore in high school. GO AUCTIONEERS!!!!!!!

[ckhthankgod]

Cool, hopefully i can make it back down there again. It is a nice area that is close to places like South of the Border and Myrtle Beach. My great-great grandmother is still living there too(God bless her heart) and I believe she is about 100 years old. So, the roots are think there and there are some last names that are common in Mullins and in Syracuse. I've also run into people originally from places like Dillon, Latta and Lake City here in Syracuse as well. I also have family in Trio too.

[fisher33]

my husband is from mullins and we visit there all the time to see family. i agree w/ the other posters in that mullins hasn't changed.

that is so neat that people from mullins and other nearby places move to ny! kind of surprising!

if you want to know my honest opinion, i don't think mullins has a lot going for it. i think it's a nice town to spend the weekend and get some good fried chicken from fred's (yes fred's is still there!!) and eat at all the other wonderful restaurants, but after that, i'm bored. it's a "man's town" and there's not much growth. there are a lot of older people there too. and i think most of the young people are leaving - almost everyone my husband went to school with have left to find jobs elsewhere. i think a lot of other young people do as well.

i've also heard about gangs, but they're not anything to be concerned about. i don't think my husband's family ever gives that a thought. there used to be some in marion, but i think they're pretty much gone too.

as far as you and your wife, i hate to say it but i think people would look. only b/c in mullins, it's not quite like the 21st century yet. it's sad, but true. i think it's because of what i said earlier; mostly older people live there or people who have had family that haved lived there forever... so i think they would just look but would definitely not say anything. but i don't think it would be a big issue.

like i said, i think it's a charming place, but i wouldn't want to live there. or anywhere in the peedee. there are MUCH nicer places to live in sc all within a reasonable driving distance to mullins.

that's so neat that your grandma has lived to 100!! best wishes to her and you should definitely go visit her!!

[ckhthankgod]

Yeah, some last names in my mom's family are Legette, Brunson, Bryant, Gause, Smith, Reaves, Leonard and Grainger. So, I'm sure there are others there that I'm related too down there. Actually, I meet a grad student here that is related to the Gerald's.

[fisher33]

My husband says he recognizes those names! Cool!!

[ckhthankgod]

Yeah.....Legette and Brunson are common in Syracuse too. Another one is Ford, that is common in both.

[TxsJohnny]

Why put you and your wife through such strife? I definitely would only consider Mullins for a short visit. I grew up in Mullins, joined the military and moved away and only recently relocated from Dallas, Texas due to my mother having a stroke May 2007. Let me say, it was the one of, if not THE worst decisions I have ever made in my life! I came back to help my siblings with my mother and other than being closer to my family it has been pure HELL! Don't get me wrong, I love Mullins and it is a nice, small, quaint town that, like so many other small towns across America, is dying. I still have family friends here I grew up with but most have left for good reason. Families may fair better in Mullins but be warned.

There are NO movie theaters, no semblance of any cultural activities (i.e. no symphony, opera, etc.) Public transit is a joke. Lots of Christian churches, no synagogues, or Catholic worship facilities. Restaurants are a joke unless you want a good old fashioned artery clogging meal. Shopping is non-existent. Two "scary" motels, one large chain hotel near the new Super WallyWorld (that was 24 hrs when it open but not so now!). Public school system in need of funds, new books, and teachers. Private school charges over $300 a month (for all 12 months) for each child, no group discounts here. Also, if you are a military Veteran, like me, you will have to drive to Columbia or Charleston for your healthcare because the Florence and Myrtle Beach VA clinics cannot accommodate any new Veterans!

Someone tell me how you could ask $150,000.00 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with no garage or other amenities? And no it is not on Horseshoe or in Pecan Point either. Where do they think they are? Myrtle Beach? It is one whole hour away, yes closer than most, but last time I checked there is no ocean front view with that home! Unemployment is rampant, the homeless shelter charges the homeless (what's up with that?), jobs are non-existent, and there seems to be a lot of hatred of whites here...to the point that it is so noticeable that it is scary...especially in the fast food places here. VERY conservative town with no apologies. The "old boy network" is still alive and well here. Some old family monied still reign (rule?) with the new tobacco monied families. Example, one of the largest "family" banks that my father and mother contributed to its growth and my mother worked for, took my mother to court because she could not continue her payments to them because she lives in a nursing home on a limited income now due to her stroke! My siblings and I have trying to help keep up her payments but can hardly pay our own way because of the economy and pay structure here. It took me from May to October last year just to find a full-time job in Mullins and now that has even gone by the wayside.

Lots of the plants are closing down and other businesses are laying off as well. I have been looking for work since the first of October, to no avail. To find work you have to drive to the beach or to Florence and neither is a commute I would like. Unless you are independently wealthy and could afford to travel away often, I would re-consider a move to Mullins. Grocery stores close at 9 pm and do not open until 8 am! Banks and some businesses still operate under the antiquated "blue law" - which means they are closed on Sundays and lock the doors at 1 pm every Wednesday.

Leaving all of my friends and a LIFE behind in Dallas was a big mistake. And with my familial obligations it appears I will be here for a while.

[Maverick]

I was born and raised in a small community in Dillon County, approximately 5 miles from Mullins. After we were married, my wife and I moved to Mullins. At that time, I was able to find a very good and fairly lucrative job in a textile firm, and worked myself up to a management position. My wife worked, for over 19 years, in a life insurance company in Mullins. Our son graduated high school in Mullins, but we moved away after our daughter's 8th grade. The textile firm bottomed out, the insurance company sold out (and subsequently relocated to Columbia, a couple of years later it was closed). We left behind a lot of good neighbors and really good friends. (in Mullins, as in most small towns, everyone "knows" everyone!) We moved just 40 miles away, to Florence - such a short distance away, but worlds apart in most ways. I have many fond memories of Mullins and its people, but I have absolutely no desire to move back there. As far as a career, there is absolutely nothing there for young people starting out, and forget about shopping after 6 PM! The "family run bank" that TxsJohnny speaks of is pretty much exactly how he described it, and it is growing by leaps and bounds, opening branches everywhere! Being totally honest with you, and assuming things have not changed in the past few years, don't look for an over-friendly reception for you and your wife. It's sad, but that's the way it is there - while most of the people are friendly enough, I do not think you would find an extra-friendly reception because of your bi-racial marriage. I really hate to sound disparaging about a town I called home for so many years, but I am telling you how it was when I lived there - and I seriously doubt it has changed very much.