PHOTO GALLERY: A HOME FOR HEALING

A LIFELINE

“Healthcare is about access. What happens after a provider writes a prescription. Can a family get the medication they need safely, affordably, and conveniently. That’s why this means so much. For many families in rural areas and under-served communities, the pharmacy can be one of the most difficult parts of healthcare to access. Too many times, people face long drives, high costs, or confusing insurance systems. Some go without prescriptions entirely because these barriers are simply too great to surmount. At Carolina Health Centers, we believe that pharmacy access is not a luxury - it’s a lifeline.” - Dominic Mellette, Chief Pharmacy Officer”

"More than just a facility"

“To all the children who will walk through our doors, to the parents who will find comfort here, and to the team members who will dedicate themselves to this space, know that this place was built with you in mind. … Thank you for trusting us, partnering with us, and walking alongside us as we bring more care, more hope, and more healing to Laurens County. Together, we are building more than just a facility. We are building a healthier future for Laurens County.” — Miriam Ferguson, Acting Chief Executive Officer

HEALING will get a new home sometime in 2026 in Laurens County as construction began Thursday on the new HomeTown Pediatrics & Carolina Community Pharmacy.

It will be at US Highway 76 / Templeton Road, between Clinton and Laurens - that's the empty land between the Hot Spot and Laurens County Hospital managed by Prisma, across the highway from Self Regional's medical practice. Close by is the Professional Park, home to Piedmont Tech, the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, the Laurens County Cancer Association, and physicians' and professional offices. The official address is 22545 US 76, Laurens.

"You are all invited for the ribbon cutting in ... 2026," enthused Rachel Manner, Director of Development for Carolina Health Centers Inc. 

The "Home for Healing" theme was carried forth by several speakers: 3rd District Congresswoman Sheri Biggs; Miriam Ferguson, Acting Chief Executive Officer; Dominic Mellette, Chief Pharmacy Officer; and Dr. Christine Gray, Director of Pediatrics. Dr. Locke Simons, Chief Medical Officer, provided the prayer.

Biggs brought perspective as the mother of a preemie (her son, now 26 years old) and discussed the importance of rural healthcare as outlined in a massive rural health-upgrading bill passed by Congress. 

After remarks, Manner and Rachel Arnold, marketing director, directed groups at the ceremonial shovels to include the dignitaries, finance & construction representatives, and child-health front-line workers for dirt-turning and photos. It was an uncharacteristically cool early August morning, with overcast skies, as traffic passed on busy Hwy 76 and lesser-user Templeton Road, on which the Laurens County Detention Center and the Sheriff's Office's modern evidence-management building are located. On the opposite side of Hwy 76, the side road is Barnes Road, where the new Hidden Hills subdivision is nearing its build-out. Near the backside of the new facility's property, the Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission is constructing a much-larger replacement water tank to serve this healthcare and professional services hub in central Laurens County. 

Based in Greenwood and chartered in 1977, Carolina Health Centers Inc. provides services in 13 locations throughout a 7-county service area, with more than 250 employees to include 30 healthcare providers. It says, "We are your medical home, right here at home!"