Kind, caring, compassionate, helpful, one of the nicest people in the world. That's what everyone is saying about Bernard Boatwright on the day after his apparent murder.

From the time that word spread after Boatwright was found in his Sharperson Street home Wednesday afternoon, people have been shaking their heads in disbelief, wondering who could have done such a heinous thing to such a wonderful person.

"I am finding this hard to deal with," Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Choral Director Sheniece Smith said. "He was my supervising teacher when I did my practice teaching. He was teaching chorus at St. Matthews High and St. John's High. He used to pick me up at State (SCSU) and take me to work with him because I didn't have a car at the time.

"Now, how many people do you think would have been that considerate? He didn't have to do that, but that's the kind of person he was. Always thinking of others."

Boatwright, 57, of 1904 Sharperson St., Orangeburg, was found apparently bludgeoned to death in his home Wednesday.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said police have not located a murder weapon yet, but officers believe the church musician was struck "multiple times with a blunt object" on his upper body.

Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall said a preliminary report indicates Boatwright "died from blunt force trauma." A complete autopsy report is expected later.

The victim's sister found the well-liked Orangeburg man laying on the floor in a bedroom at his residence Wednesday afternoon.

Smith recalls that she received excellent tutelage under the watchful eye of Boatwright and that his lessons went beyond the classroom.

"He used to listen to Paul Harvey when we traveled between schools," Smith said. "He had a great sense of humor. And taking off on Paul Harvey's opinions, Mr. Boatwright would talk to me about world events and current affairs. Those conversations contributed to my awareness of global news.

"And I learned from listening to the way he phrased things that he was a compassionate man, very caring about other people. He would do anything he could to help you.

"And he was one of the most positive people I knew," she said. "He never said anything negative about my work. He was always encouraging and always positive. I will miss him terribly."

As Smith knew Boatwright from the perspective of one who was mentored by him, James McDaniel knew him as a college student beginning his professional life. But bonded by their mutual love of music, the two became friends.

"I've known Boatwright since 1966, and he was always interested in music," McDaniel said of his friend. "When he was in high school, he played for the children's choir at Trinity (United Methodist Church, where he later served as organist for several years). My daughter, Yvette, Janice McCollom and Karen Amos got together and formed a trio, and he played for them. One time he was in and out of our house just like one of our children."

McDaniel not only remembers Boatwright's musical talent, but he remembers the musician's penchant for altruism.

"He was always doing something for somebody, especially his family," McDaniel said. "He was like the lifeblood of his family. But I believe everybody will miss him. He grew up here in Orangeburg, went to Christ the King, then to Wilkinson and on to Claflin."

Investigators are still attempting to develop a motive which would cause someone to take the life of the popular church-goer. Nothing appeared to be missing from the his home nor were there any signs of forced entry, Williams said.

"We haven't developed any (motive), but we think the victim may have known the intruder," Williams said. "There is nothing that stands out to indicate this is a theft-type crime or a hate-related crime. It does have indicators that this may be a crime of passion."

An acquaintance of Boatwright's, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had bumped into her long-time friend Tuesday at an Orangeburg business. Boatwright's demeanor did not give any impression her former high school classmate was anxious or concerned that his life was in danger, she said.

The last time she saw her friend was around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

"He didn't give me any impression he was distressed or anything," she said. "We were all laughing; he was not distraught. I'm very upset about it. He was a nice person, a very pleasant, nice person."

Boatwright was last seen alive around 9 p.m. when he left his mother's Belleville Road residence after a visit.

Relatives reported Boatwright as missing around 1:50 p.m. Wednesday after he failed to pick up a family member to accompany that individual to a doctor's appointment scheduled for early that same morning.

In addition, the victim's sister told police she had spotted the victim's Ford van behind Kmart. OCSO deputies learned that Orangeburg DPS officers had taken note of what appeared to be an abandoned vehicle around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

A closer inspection of the vehicle in daylight revealed what appeared to be mud splattered around the driver's side door handle "with what appears to be blood also," according to an OCSO report.

"Apparently a van linked to the murder was left in the city," Williams said. "A red residue, which hasn't been tested yet, was found on the side of the van."

Forensics experts are concentrating their efforts on the victim's home and the 1999 Ford Windstar van. Investigators are following what Williams termed "some promising leads."

"The van has been impounded, but nothing inside the van has led us towards any suspects," he said.

While investigators probe into the shroud of mystery surrounding the death of the well-liked Orangeburg native, friends and family are left in a state of disbelief.

"It is just unbelievable that somebody could do something like that to somebody who never said a cross word about anybody and never did anything to hurt another soul," McDaniel said. "He didn't have it in him to be a mean person. He will be sorely missed."

T&D Staff Writer Thomas Brown can be reached by e-mail at tbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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