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James F. Byrnes Foundation Directors

Activities of the James F. Byrnes Foundation are under the direction of a 13-member
Board of Directors made up entirely of Byrnes Scholars. The Directors are:

Lois Anderson

Lois Hatfield Anderson received her James F. Byrnes Scholarship in 1950. Lois has served as a JFBF director since 1980, and has held the position of Chairman, as well as other officer roles. Lois is retired from the board and was named Chairman Emeritus. She is a native of Bishopville, SC, and attended Coker College. She graduated with a major in biology, and taught biology, chemistry, physics and French. Lois could be given the title of professional volunteer. She lives in Columbia, (actually Hopkins), and is active in garden club, music club, book club, Family Community Leaders Club, Woodmen of the World, and Garden City Chapel, where she serves as a trustee. She is active at her alma mater and is former Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Coker. She teaches Sunday school and is very involved with many aspects of the church at Shandon Baptist Church. Lois loves to sing and enjoys telling stories of how her family sang on the front porch as she was growing up. Lois recorded tapes for the visually impaired for over twenty years. Lois takes care of many of the daily activities of a rental business which she and her daughter, Electa Anderson Small, own together. Prior to his death in 2002, Lois was married to Charles D. Anderson, Jr., for 48 years.

Edward ‘Ty’ Collier

Edward ‘Ty’ Collier, a 2004 James F. Byrnes Scholar graduated from the University of South Carolina - Columbia in 2008. He continued his studies at the University of South Carolina graduating with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2011 and a Masters in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing in 2018. Ty has been active with the foundation since receiving his scholarship and joined the Foundation Board in the Fall of 2022. He currently works as a Director at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia. He currently lives in Columbia, SC and is married to Ever, and they have two children, Ethan and Eden. Ty is an active member of Bethlehem Baptist Church (College Place) in Columbia.

Kim Rabon Hatcher

Kim Rabon Hatcher, 1992 Scholar, graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She continued her studies at the USC School of Medicine, where she obtained a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia. She currently lives in Lexington, SC, and works as a nurse anesthetist with MedStream Anesthesia and Prisma Health. Kim has been active with the foundation since receiving her scholarship and has served on the Byrnes Scholars Board several times. She is the Secretary to the Foundation Board of Directors. She is married to Charles, and they have two children, Ethan and Avery, who also enjoy being a part of the Byrnes Family.

Jay Hayes

Earle Jenning "Jay" Hayes, 1982 Scholar, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. He currently works for Shakespeare Company as a Senior Process Engineer. He has been active with the Byrnes Foundation since receiving his scholarship and has served on the Scholars Board, received the Jake Salley Service Award and is the “Games Facilitator” for Friday night games at Super Weekends for over ten years. Jay also serves as a board member of the Lake Murray Titans Baseball Organization. Jay and his wife Tonya live in Irmo, SC, and are active in Riverland Hills Baptist church where both teach and where Jay serves in the Music Ministry and a Deacon. They have a son, Bryson, daughter-in-law, Kathryn, and son, Garrett and a beautiful granddaughter Hallie Ann.

Dee McCraw

Deaver "Dee" McCraw is a 1978 scholar and has served on the Byrnes Foundation board since 1988. He has also served on the Byrnes Scholars board. He received the Jake Sally service award in 1992. Dee graduated from Furman University in 1982 with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is married to Ruthie McCraw and they live in Powdersville. They have a son, Daiten, daughter Cameron Lenz, and four awesome grandchildren. Dee is the President of McCraw Corporation, an information services and technology company. He also serves as an Elder at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Powdersville, SC.

Pam McElveen

Pamela Galloway McElveen, a 1984 Scholar, graduated from Columbia College in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. She has been active with the Byrnes Foundation since receiving her scholarship. She began her service on the Foundation Board in 2002 and has served as Vice President and Secretary. Pam and her husband, Dennis, live in Murrells Inlet, SC. They have a son, Will, daughter-in-law, Johni, and son, Drew, and daughter-in-law, Emilee, and three grandchildren, Lynlee Kate, Reid, and Ella Rose. Pam spends her time working in the family real estate business, Garden City Realty, and helping care for her grandchildren.

Carrie Fletcher Pergerson

Carrie Fletcher Pergerson is a 1992 Byrnes Scholar who grew up in Seneca, SC. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications. She has served on the Board since 2015 and also runs the Foundation's Maude’s Angels Network program. Carrie is the Transaction Manager for HINGE Advisors, an early education business transaction firm located in downtown Greenville, SC. Carrie resides in Simpsonville, SC, with her husband Kevin, children Emma Jean and Sam, and their menagerie of pets. Carrie and Kevin’s oldest daughter Allie married in October 2023 and now resides in Easley, SC, with her husband, Ryan. Carrie is passionate about volunteering and, most importantly, time invested in and with her Byrnes family.

Dal Poston

Daltrum H. "Dal" Poston is a retired utility and construction executive. He previously served as President, N.G. Gilbert Corporation, Vice President of Smart Grid and Vice President of Central Operations for Duke Energy’s U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas organization. The Kingstree, S.C., native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., and a Master of Business Administration degree from Queens University in Charlotte, N.C. Poston is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina. He is a 1974 scholar and Past Chairman of the Byrnes Foundation. He is a past member of the board of directors of the National Association of Energy Services Companies, past chairman of the Southeastern Electric Exchange Engineering and Operations committee, past member of Clemson University Electrical engineering Board of Advocates, and a past president of the Newton-Conover Rotary Club. Poston and his wife, the former Jane Courtney, have one son Jacob and a daughter-in-law Amy. They reside in Seneca S.C..

Dr. Rory Priester

Rory Priester, M.D., is a 1994 Byrnes Scholar who grew up in Hampton County, South Carolina. He is a graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Biomedical Ethics from Brown University and a Doctorate of Medicine from Brown Medical School (currently the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University). After completing post-graduate training in internal medicine and cardiology, he joined a large national health care organization and is a practicing cardiologist. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Nancy, and daughters, Sage and Isabel.

James Rhodes

James Rhodes is a 1993 Byrnes Scholar who grew up in Laurens, SC. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Analytical Finance and Accountancy. He has been active with the foundation since receiving his scholarship and previously served on the Byrnes Scholars board. He has been on the Foundation Board since 2008 and serves as Treasurer. James lives in Charlotte, NC and is in banking, working with private equity firms, family offices, and middle market corporate clients. He also serves as President of the Charlotte Outdoor Alliance. He enjoys all things outdoors from backpacking and rock climbing to skiing and mountain biking.

Ryan Sneed

Ryan Sneed, a 1995 Scholar, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Business Administration. He currently works for the South Carolina Department of Revenue and manages the Department’s District Office in Greenville, South Carolina. He has been active with the Byrnes Foundation since receiving his scholarship and has served on the Scholars Board. Ryan and his wife, Lisa, currently live in Hendersonville, NC.

Kristine LaSalle Hobbs

Faith Waitman, a 2008 James F. Byrnes Scholar, graduated from Wofford College in 2012. Since receiving her scholarship, Faith has been actively involved with the foundation, holding roles such as treasurer of the Scholars Board. In the fall of 2024, she joined the Foundation Board, furthering her commitment to the foundation. Currently, Faith serves as the Associate Director of Finance at United Healthcare, where she leverages her expertise in financial management and strategic planning to drive organizational success. Based in Columbia, SC, she resides with her two dogs, Bella and Scout. Outside of her professional endeavors, Faith enjoys engaging in DIY projects, exploring the outdoors, and traveling to broaden her cultural experiences.

Roxann Wrightson

Roxann Wrightson is a 1980 scholar and a 1985 graduate of Columbia College earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a Communications background from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is employed by Heritage Home of Florence as Administrative Assistant. She has been active with the Byrnes Foundation since receiving her scholarship and has served on the Scholars Board. Roxann lives in Florence and attends NewSpring Church. Other than her family and the Foundation, her passions include photography, dance, and the beach. She has two daughters, Savannah Rae Poston & Lindsey O’Cain Corbin who have grown up in the Byrnes Family; son-in-law, Matthew Corbin; and twin granddaughters, Logan Amelia & Natalie Grace Corbin.

Donate To The Foundation

In return for their generosity and support, Mom and Pop Byrnes asked only two things from us: become the very best people we could become in life, and make sure their legacy of family continues for those who come after us.

Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the James F. Byrnes Foundation to secure its ability to invite more deserving young women and men to join the Byrnes family, both now and in the future. The Donate button will take you to the Paypal site where you can use your credit card or Paypal account to make a secure, one-time donation or set up a monthly recurring donation.

Join the Maude's Angels Network

Maude’s Angels is family helping family. It is a network of former Scholars who assist a current Scholar or Alumnus with a need for an item or service.

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© 1998-2024 Byrnes Scholars. All Rights Reserved.
The James F. Byrnes Foundation
Post Office Box 6781
Columbia, SC 29260-6781
Tel.: (803) 254-9325