A native of Chesterfield where he grew up working on a farm all through high school and during summers while he attended University of South Carolina. Upon graduation, John continued his agricultural career as a salesman with USS Agri-Chemicals, and he went on to eventually work with Elanco Products Company. After years in the agricultural community, John shifted gears and began his banking career, which led him to a move in 1998 to Cheraw. John currently serves as the EVP and Regional Manager for First Bank, managing all locations in Cheraw, Florence, Dillon and Latta. John never lost his love for the land, and he still enjoys spending time with his wife Bron in the Pee Dee outdoors. Mr. Long joined the PDLT Board of Directors in 2016.

Pat's knowledge of a need for people to actively protect the disappearing greenspace was fostered by spending time outdoors, drawing, walking her golden retrievers or riding trails on her horse.  Pat served as President of the Westbrook (CT) Land Trust and is a founding member of the Bridal Path Conservancy.  She helped create the Quinnimay Trail in Connecticut, weaving 14 miles of public access trails through five towns across public and private land.  In 2007, Pat and Brad Turley moved from CT and created Southern 8ths Farm in Chesterfield, SC and have been active members of Pee Dee Land Trust since 2009.  They are working with PDLT to preserve So 8ths' natural beauty and historic past for future generations of wildlife and people.  Pat's artistic experience aided her in an earlier career in the graphic arts and publications sectors.  Pat joined the PDLT board in 2018.  Pat is a certified Master Naturalist, having completed both the Upstate and Catawba programs in SC thru Clemson Extension as well as a Master Pond Manager.

grew up at Oaklyn, a PDLT-protected property located in Darlington County. After attending college and later obtaining his MBA from Stanford, Keith returned to the Pee Dee to work in the agricultural products industry. Keith, an avid tennis player, and his wife Caroline live in Hartsville, and have two sons. Keith joined the board in 2015 and he currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board, along with serving as a member of the Black Creek Committee and the Land Protection Committee.

Mary Caroline has lived in the Pee Dee for most of her life. She spent her childhood in Conway, married the next door neighbor and together they raised their four children in Florence. She has served on several boards, volunteers with local organizations, she has served as an Elder in First Presbyterian Church, Florence where she continues to wear any hats. She and her husband Wallace live on a new farm in Darlington County where they raise beef cattle, heritage pigs and vegetables for their own table. Wallace and Mary Caroline became involved with the Low Country Open Land Trust in 1999. She recognizes the importance of preserving the land for future generations and will continue to support land conservation. She joined the Board in 2016 and currently serves as the Chair for the Outreach Committee.

LaFon LeGette was born and raised in Latta.  He is a graduate of Wofford College and earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina.  He practiced law for 47 years in Latta until his retirement in 2017.  He has followed in the footsteps of several generations of his family by managing large amounts of farm land in Dillon County.  His love for history is satisfied with a huge collection of farm related items and old things in general.  He has a penchant for saving old buildings and has moved a total of 8 to his own properties.  Currently, Old Vidalia Schoolhouse and a caboose from Seaboard Coastline are on loan to the Town of Latta.  LaFon is married to Cindy whose father, C.P. Mincey, was a past board member.  They have 6 children and 8 grandchildren.

A businessman owning and operating several forestry-related businesses in Dillon County. In 2009, he helped organize the Dillon County Forest Landowners Association and currently serves as the past president of its board of directors. Mr. Sherman and his wife Janet live in the Minturn community of Dillon. He joined the PDLT Board in 2012.

a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments with over 20 years of experience.  Wendell and his wife, Margaret, raised their three grown children, Palmer, Caroline and William, in Florence.  He joined the Board in 2018 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Investments Sub-Committee and serves on the Finance Committee.

an avid sportsman, grew up in Lake City. After graduating from The Citadel, he began his career at his family owned company, W. Lee Flowers, an IGA and KJ's Market grocery distribution center based i Scranton. Johnson currently serves as the VP of Merchandising and he takes pride in W. Lee Flowers having become the largest grocery distributor and sell of "Certified SC Grown" agricultural products in our state.
Mr. Johnson, who joined the PDLT Board in 2017, lives in Florence with his wife Erin and their three young children.

hails from Bennettsville but has lived in Pawleys since 1980's. Johnny is a partner and broker with Realestar group at the beach and is the dockmaster for the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat show. Johnny is married to the former Janette Jennings and has two grown children. He joined the board in 2014 and currently serves as the Chairman for the Resource Committee.

is a PDLT easement donor, having put nearly 1000 acres of his family property along the Black River under easement in 2007. Professionally, Steve has served in many capacities, as an aide to U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond and as an executive at MUSC. A graduate of Clemson, USC, and MUSC, Dr. Jones' most recent assignment was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health Affairs in the Pentagon. He is married to Bee and lives at Isle of Palms. He joined the PDLT Board in 2014 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

A tax and estate attorney for The Bellamy Law Firm.  He resides in Murrells Inlet, in Horry County, with his family.

John and his wife, Mary Kendall, are Chesterfield natives.  They lived in Florence seventeen years before moving to Conway in 1988.  John has hunted and fished his entire life and after retirement from sales, has more time to enjoy the outdoors with his two black labs, Leize and McRae.  John has been a deacon, elder, and trustee at Kingston Presbyterian Church and volunteers often in the Conway area.  he has participated in PDLT events for many years and is happy to join the Board in 2019.  

Ruell Hicks, a Florence native, has lived at the beach for most of his career. Employed with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, as a Financial Advisor, Mr. Hicks and his wife Deborah have two grown children. Mr. Hicks serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Waccamaw Community Foundation. He currently serves as the Immediate Past Chairman of the Board.

Corey Craig was born and raised in Conway, SC. He completed the Forest Resource Management program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College before attending Clemson University and receiving his Bachelors of Science in Forest Resource Management. While completing his degree at Clemson, he participated in an internship program with Kings Mountain National Park and traveled the Southeast managing prescribed burns on federal lands. He was employed as a utility forester with Kentucky Utilities before returning back to South Carolina after accepting a position as the Pee Dee Area Extension Forester with Clemson University. After a few years with Clemson Extension, he started a career with Winyah Land and Timber as a Procurement Forester. Corey has a strong passion for the outdoors and land conservation. He resides in Marion with his wife Jamie and son Boone and enjoys managing their Tree Farm in the Wahee Community.

is a long time resident of Marion County and continues to honor her family farm in Dillon County. She graduated from Clemson University, served as a Special Agent with the US Dept. of State, then returned to SC and finished the Physician Assistant program at MUSC. Since then she has lived in Marion, working as a Physician's Assistant, raising a son, George, a 2015 graduate of the US Naval Academy, and instilling in him the same love of the family farm. Gwen has been active in the Marion community previously serving on the Marion School Board and is presently a Trustee at the Marion UMC. Gwen can often be found on the farm hiking, busting beaver dams, finding arrow heads, and just enjoyed the solitude as she serves as a caretaker of the land for her son and future generations. She joined the PDLT Board in 2016 and currently serves as the Chair for the Governance Committee.

is a native of Bennettsville now living in Charleston. A talented artist, Catherine owns Rogers Art Conservation, LLC, in Charleston where she specializes in mural restoration. Catherine has graciously hosted PDLT members for an experience at her newly restored family home in Marlboro County, Argyll Place (c. 1810.) Catherine joined the board in the fall of 2014.

is a native of McColl, SC in Marlboro County. He graduated from Clemson University and spent three years serving as an Army Aviator. In 1972 William started W. G. Tatum Farms in his hometown of McColl. After more than 45 years, William retired from farming in 2017. He now enjoys observing his son-in-law and grandson as they continue the farming tradition at Rhett Covington Farms. William has been married to Mary Coxwell since 1971. They have one daughter, Gray Covington, and two grandchildren.  He joined the Board in 2019.

is an Anesthesiologist with McLeod Health throughout the Pee Dee Watershed.  Al is said to be in surgery or out on his land in Cades where he farms, manages for wildlife and timber.  He partnered with PDLT in 2005 to put the Wallace Farm under conservation easement.

is a native of Kingstree, SC and received an MBA from Francis Marion University. He is an 8th generation farmer, commercial pilot and owner of Homegrown Cotton clothing line. McIntosh grows all the cotton in Kingstree that is then sewn in the Carolinas for the Homegrown Cotton polo shirts. He is the president of Tri County Gin, a Williamsburg County Soil & Water Commissioner, chairman of the Williamsburg County Farm Service Agency County Committee, a board member of Williamsburg County Farm Bureau, a board member of Williamsburg County Aeronautics Commission and a member of Midway Evangelical Presbyterian Church. McIntosh joined the Board in 2017.

Tim hails from Conway but has lived in Darlington for many years. A consulting forester at Dargan, King, and Knight LLC, Tim has served PDLT as a community member of the Land Protection Committee and also as interim Director of Land Protection in early 2013. He helped lead the merger with Black Creek Land Trust in 2014 and currently serves on the Black Creek Committee. Tim is married  to Caroline and has two grown children.

Kent is an avid outdoorsman and has a true passion for the Pee Dee. As a realtor with Palmetto Commercial Real Estate, Kent has worked with clients to purchase and preserve some of the most beautiful resources in our area. He brings a wealth of knowledge gained from his professional experience in the financial, insurance, staffing and real estate industries. Kent currently serves on the Florence County Council for District 5, along with many other boards and organizations working to better our community. Kent and his wife Carolyn live in Florence and are active members of First Presbyterian Church. They have three grown children that have all attended Clemson University. He looks forward to helping on the Board level to grow our conservation community. Kent joined the Board in 2016.

Edwin Haenni grew up on a Michigan farm and graduated from Michigan State. His professional career with Dow Chemical and Sonoco took him around the world. Ed and his wife (Judy deceased) moved to Hartsville in 1980. Two sons and five grandchildren live in Charlotte. Since retirement, he enjoys wood working, making stuff from lumber he has cut and milled. Ed is honored to serve on the PDLT Board.