Her bike was stolen in 2006. Rock Hill got her a new one. Janie Mae Agurs has died at 93.
When somebody stole Janie Mae Agurs bicycle in 2006, she got mad. But she got a new one thanks to help from people in Rock Hill, S.C..
Agurs, nicknamed “Dank,” died Thursday, according to her family and an obituary from Robinson Funeral Home. She was 93.
The Herald published a story about the bike theft in November 2006. At that time, Agurs was 76 years old, living in Rock Hill. Agurs was working and rode her Western Flyer bicycle every day. She had ridden to the store when the bike was stolen.
“Nobody ever bothered it before, anyplace I ever went,” Agurs told The Herald. “I didn’t want a lock. Or a chain. I’m just a little old lady on a bike.”
Readers were immediately outraged and offered money, bicycles, and support.
Officers from the Rock Hill Police Department, led by patrolman James Carsto who took the bike theft incident report in 2006, searched for the bike, but it was never found.
A Rock Hill bicycle shop donated a brand new bicycle to Agurs days later and she rode it for years.
A fund in Agurs’ name was then set up to help the needy at a Rock Hill charity.
Agurs’ daughter, Gloria Finch, said her mother and the family were always thankful to the community for the support shown after the bicycle was stolen and replaced.
“We will always remember the love,” Finch said.
Funeral services for Agurs will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Grove AME Zion Church, 2443 E. Chappell Rd., Rock Hill.
