Estate Planning Attorney inCross Anchor, SC

CROSS ANCHOR — Four years ago, the Eubanks family lived in a 4,300-square foot antebellum-style home in Florence, with a TV in every room.

Sandra Kay Eubanks, 47, said she and her husband, Stephen, stood in front of the home one day, admiring its beauty, with its stately columns and three stories. It was, in many ways, the picture of success, a dream home.

“This is it,” the couple said.

Wait, what?

“This is it?” Sandra Kay asked. The couple had weathered the miscarriage of twins and other family tragedies in recent years. In that moment, looking at their large, comfortable home, Sandra Kay and Stephen realized there was something more out there, waiting for them.

“We started to rethink where we were going,” Sandra Kay said. “We decided we needed to get back to the basics.”

They spent a year looking for land on which to build a new, simplified life. A weekend road trip brought them to a small town in Tennessee, where they met a Mennonite couple who took them in for a weekend and showed them ways to live more simply.

The Eubanks discovered 58 acres in Cross Anchor and the “purging time” began, Sandra Kay said. The family, with six children, all teenagers, packed their belongings into a storage trailer and moved to Spartanburg County. The eight of them built a deck and added a military tent used by soldiers in Afghanistan.

“If it was good enough for our soldiers, it was good enough for us,” Sandra Kay said. “We were off the grid for the first year.”

There was no running water, although an electric well at the nearby home of Stephen's parents, Jim and Linda, supplied water. The Eubanks' oldest sons, Nicholas and Xander, hauled water in 5-gallon jugs every day back to the dwelling affectionately known as the homestead.

There are now milk cows, miniature donkeys, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, a peacock and his hen, guinea fowl, bees, emus and five horses on the land, plus a 1-acre organic garden guarded by a gigantic Great Pyrenees named Napoleon.

The Eubanks children, Nicholas, Xander, Anastasia, Melissa, Antony and Jenessa, had been homeschooled, and by the time they moved to Cross Anchor, they had started taking up artisan trades. Xander is a blacksmith, and has a small forge on the property. Anastasia is the “milk maid” and bakes, does farrier work and trains the horses. Melissa is the spinner, “from sheep to shawl,” shearing wool from sheep and a goat, carding the wool and crocheting it into finished pieces. Antony found a talent with glass blowing. Jenessa makes candles and is a potter.

On July 4, 2012, Simple Times Farm was officially born, offering a holiday event that drew about 50 people. The Eubanks children displayed their various trades.

Since then, Sandra Kay has worked to establish the farm's brand as a colonial/early American experience. The family dresses in colonial-style clothing for tours and events at Simple Times. They sell the various produce from their garden, including squash, broccoli, zucchini, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, brussels sprouts and herbs, at the Woodruff Farmers' Market. They also make appearances at the Union and Greenwood county fairs.

“Teaching kids about this era is something she loves to do,” Anastasia said of her mother. “We all love it, sharing knowledge.”

Through a grant from Laurens County, disabled residents come work in the garden, and Sandra Kay, an interpreter for the deaf, teaches them nutrition and exercise. The farm is a “WWOOFer,” or part of the World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farmers, and interns come there to learn about sustainable living. Simple Times also has Good Agricultural Practices certification, and Sandra Kay wants to partner with school districts to grow food to be served in school cafeterias in the future.

“The kids will be able to see where their lunch is being grown,” Sandra Kay said.

On Thursday, Melissa performed spinning demonstrations on the front porch of a small cabin in the activities area, as a cat lounged nearby. She opened a trunk to display wool she dyed using a variety of materials like bark, insects, onion skins and other plants.

Hiccup, a turkey, puffed out his chest and spread his tail feathers to signal to the other turkeys in the yard that he's the top tom.

As Anastasia headed to feed one of the milk cows, Annabelle, she found a chicken sitting atop an egg in the feed bucket. Annabelle gobbled down her feed, as three mini-donkeys quickly grabbed the grains she dropped. Annabelle often provides visitors to Simple Times their very first experiences milking a cow.

“Annabelle was once milked by 200 Girl Scouts in one day,” Anastasia said proudly.

For young visitors to Simple Times, their favorite activity isn't milking the cow, however.

“They love the washing station,” Anastasia said, which includes a handcranked wringer, washboard and tub. “You can go to a museum and see this stuff, but to actually use it, hands on... It's a new experience for them.”

The Eubanks children, who range in age from 18 to mid-20s now, all live on the property. The five youngest still live in the homestead tent, which now has a shower and running water, and sleep in bunk beds. Sandra Kay and Stephen now live in a 220-square-foot shed, also with running water. The family's electricity comes from a solar-powered generator. Everyone uses outhouses on the property.

After the spinning, milking and blacksmithing demonstrations Thursday morning, the children change into contemporary clothing. Xander and Anastasia work as correctional guards — Xander at Tyger River and Anastasia at the juvenile facility in Union County. Melissa works at the Laurens County Library. Nicholas, the oldest at 24, lives in a separate, simple dwelling on the land with his wife, Rebecca, and their 1-month-old, Adielynn.

“The children are adults and can leave,” Sandra Kay said. “But they all want to build on the property.”

Stephen Eubanks is a manager at a plant in Fountain Inn and formerly served in the Navy. When he retires, he wants to devote his time to woodworking.

Last year, Simple Times had 277 visitors. This year, that number was topped by March, with 525 visitors. The family hopes to host 400 guests at the farm's Fourth of July event Saturday, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Hot dogs will be served, and there will be a variety of activities, including a hayride, blacksmithing, spinning, woodworking, Indian trick riders, re-enactors on horseback, and fireworks. Cost is $10.

Since new roadside signs for the farm with the “Certified SC Grown” seal on them went up this week, the farm has received more than 1,000 new hits on social media, Sandra Kay said. Eventually, the Eubanks plan a general store and coffee shop on the property, where the farm's artisan goods, raw milk, eggs and produce will be sold.

“People can get a cup of coffee, sit on the porch and watch the barnyard,” Sandra Kay said. “I can't think of anything better.”

A picnic pavilion, which could be rented for special events, is in the plans, and eventually, the Eubanks will build a family farmhouse with an industrial kitchen, where they will hold cheese and soap making classes. Farm-to-fork dinners will also be held there (and yes, the family plans to have indoor plumbing and bathrooms in the future).

Sandra Kay realizes the family might seem a little different to some. They've heard the rumors — that they're in the witness protection program, having moved around so much (that comes from the family's military background) or that they're trying to start a commune. They've been asked if they're Mormon, Mennonite or Amish.

“We're not any of those things,” Sandra Kay said. “We're just holistic and simplified.”

For the Eubanks family, Cross Anchor is home now, after many years of moving place to place. They have found less is more, as God orchestrated their path there, Sandra Kay said.

“It's been an amazing journey,” she said, with her ever-present smile. “I love Cross Anchor. I love the people here. We decided to jump off the cliff, and we all jumped together. We're here for good, and put down roots which we've never had before.”

For more, visit Simple Times Farm on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SimpleTimesFarm, at the website, www.mysimpletimesfarm.com or call 864-909-4669. The farm is located at 651 New Hope Church Road, Cross Anchor.

Donald Keith "Little Man" White Jr. Obituary

Donald K. White Jr.

“Little Man”

ENOREE- Donald Keith “Little Man” White Jr.,46, of 260 Buncombe Road passed away Monday, June 23, 2025, at his residence.

He was born on September 16, 1978, in Gaffney, S.C. He was a member of Cross Anchor Masonic Lodge #262 AFM.

Surviving is his wife, Joni Sullivan White of the home; father and Donald White (Joan) of Cross Anchor; four daughters, Krista White of Woodruff, Ashlyn Rogers of Woodruff, Caitlyn Wagner (Trevor) of Pacolet and Olivia White of Enoree; two sons, Braydon White of Enoree and Bryan Grubbs of Pauline; seven sisters, Windy Tatum (Josh) of Union, Sheila Greene of Gaffney, Christy Moore of Louisiana, Mary Bragg of Woodruff, Crystal Bragg of New Mexico, June Bragg of Texas and Sandy Lanier of Blacksburg; one brother, Bo Bragg of Woodruff; 5 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Shirley Wilson White Moore.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, June 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary Chapel by family and friends.

The family would like to extend special thanks to VIA Hospice and his nurses that became family, Brantley and Kenzie, and to Heartland Hospice along with his nurse Meredith for staying with the family the entire day of his final hours. We love all these ladies. Unk Man to all his nieces and nephews he gave suckers to his Houdini. To his niece Kayla Bost thank you for taking special care of your uncle and being our strength. A special thank you to Candy and Cherry, Huuuuuuh.

Sho nuff he took his last ride in the black El Camino, Huuuuuuuh.

Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary

Events

There are no events scheduled.

You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Donald Keith "Little Man" White Jr..

TREVOR ANDERSON [email protected]

The odds were stacked against 21-month-old Jason Elijah Burton.

At 1:30 p.m. on Friday, his mother, Brittany Burton, reported the toddler missing from the family's home at 250 E. Blackstock Road in a rural area of Spartanburg County near Cross Anchor.

Burton was wearing only a long sleeve pajama top and shorts, and did not have on shoes. Temperatures dipped into the low 50s as the search continued overnight.

Saturday morning dawned with renewed hope for a positive outcome, but by 2:30 p.m., the situation was growing more desperate. Nighttime temperatures were expected to drop into the 30s and search dogs, a small army of searchers and a rescue helicopter from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's office equipped with heat sensors had not found a trace of the boy.

Suddenly, a call came in to Sheriff Chuck Wright's mobile command unit that changed everything. A hearty cheer rose up among rescuers and family members who were holding vigil.

"They got him," a family member cried out. "He's alive!"

A few moments later, Burton was brought out of the woods by helicopter and placed back into his mother's arms more than 24 hours after he wandered away.

They boarded an ambulance in a field across from their home until Spartanburg Regional Hospital's Region One helicopter landed to take the boy in as a precaution.

"I'm just glad he is found," Brittany Burton said. "Thank you Jesus. Thank you."

Burton's grandmother, Armenda Vinson, was crying tears of joy as she clutched a small blue teddy bear belonging to the boy.

"I want to thank everyone (who searched) from the bottom of my heart," said Robert Vinson, Burton's grandfather. "They love children and to see their passion for finding my grandson was a blessing to me and my family. This community is fortunate to have men and women like them. To have him returned to us is an answer to our prayers."

Wright said the toddler was found by deputy Jamie Tate and David Fox with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Wright said they found him sitting on a sand bar in the middle of the Tyger River. The boy was wet, cold and exhausted, but he was otherwise in good health.

He said the department's helicopter had flown over the river twice. Tate and Fox were using kayaks to search the river.

"This is a miracle," Wright said. "A 21-month-old is not supposed to survive a river. This is the best Christmas gift this family or I could've gotten."

As he reflected on the day, Wright said the outcome could have been much different. He recalled the case of 2-year-old William Eschenbach, who disappeared from his family's backyard on March 17, 2009. His body was found two days later in the South Tyger River after he drowned.

Wright called for members of the community to remember the Eschenbach family in their prayers even as they say their thanks for Burton's safe return.

Emergency personnel from Spartanburg and Union counties helped in the rescue efforts.

Wright said Union Sheriff David Taylor slept overnight on the county's mobile command bus. Many other volunteers worked all night to find Burton.

Cross Anchor resident Stephanie O'Dell, 21, arrived at the Burton home at 10 p.m. on Friday to help with the search.

"I have a 2 year old," O'Dell said. "These woods are very dense. You can't even walk through them. It's hard to imagine a child getting far in this. It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Brig. Gen. James Burt with the S.C. National Guard's 2nd Brigade said 66 guardsmen and women from all over the Upstate were involved in the search. Burt said he was leading a team just upriver from Burton when he was found.

"I believed he was out there. It was just a matter of getting to him," Burt said. "God took care of him."

Family members said Brittany Burton left her son sitting on the living room sofa Friday afternoon and stepped out of the room for a moment. When she returned, he was gone. The family dog is able to open the back door and may have opened the door and Burton got out.

His mother called 911 at 1:30 p.m. Burton's father, Michael Burton, was at work at the time.

The sheriff's office sent out a reverse 911 call to homes in the area, informing residents that the child was missing and to be on the lookout.

Spotty cell phone reception in the area hampered communications, but rescue workers used radios to communicate with each other and air units. At least 200 people helped search for Burton.

"We are ecstatic that we found (Burton) alive," Wright said. "We're so grateful to everyone who helped. I'm very proud of the team we had… We've got a lot of people who care about children and family."