Hilton Head Monthly Connecting the Lowcountry 
BRANDY GRAY AND ABBY BOYLSTON ENCOURAGE PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION
Question. What are your biggest accomplishments thus far in your career?
Brandy Gray. I had the honor to serve as the 59th commodore of the Beaufort Water Festival — one of only five female commodores in its 63 years. I’m also a board member for BJWSA.
ROCHELLE CLARKSON MAKES YOUNG DANCERS SHINE
Question. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
Answer. Alliance Dance Academy is the most significant accomplishment in my career. We have created a studio that has filled a need in our community, and have given kids the opportunity to find their love of dance and still be kids.
Who are the female SERG managers and partners?
Kim Keppel, Orchid Paulmeier, Lori Taylor, Nicole Cibelli, Jordan Norris, Brittany Shane, Shannon Mccune, Lindsey Spargur, Meggie Thompson, Kristen Quillin, Misty Marshall, Sandi Schrettner, Bonnie Callahan, Jill Shrecengost and Sarah Sanders.
HOSPITALITY TEAM FOCUSES ON GIVING BACK AND CONTINUING TO GROW
Question. What is something about your job that brings you pride?
BRANTLEY KING IS PROOF THAT HARD WORK LEADS TO BIG RESULTS
Question. What is the most significant accomplishment of your career thus far?
Answer. Purchasing Billy Wood Appliance in 2016 was a fantastic professional growth experience. Reshaping the business, remodeling the showroom, developing new relationships and preparing to launch our second store in Bluffton have been both thrilling and rewarding. It’s exciting to see hard work deliver results.
“I’M A BUILDER AND A CRAFTSMAN,” ROBERT GRAVES JR. SAID IN A THICK SOUTHERN DRAWL. A PIONEER AND ONE OF THE FIRST DEVELOPERS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CHARLES FRASER.
“Charles would give me his vision and talk to me while designing a home,” he said. “Without him, I wouldn’t have raised seven children and 22 grandchildren at last count.”
Graves, 79, founded his custom home construction business in 1959. It is still in operation today, though the island looks a lot different now than when he started.
Caring for others, especially seniors, has always been a big part of Jennifer Spencer’s life. In fact, caring for others is her way of life. Her new business helps deal with the details when someone downsizes, moves to a senior facility or passes away.
The new Lowcountry resident recently opened the doors to Relics Estate Sales and Consignments on Persimmon Street in Bluffton, a business she started with her fiancé and business partner, Scott Tracy.
Roots have a way of extending themselves over time and eventually rising to the surface.
Researching family genealogy and DNA testing have become very popular, and people are using a combination of DNA testing and online websites and apps to construct their family trees — and some have tracked down long-lost relatives in other countries and travelled to meet them. But the burning question is: Do I really want to know?
JUST FIVE WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD, DANIELLE VELEZ OF BLUFFTON FOUND HERSELF NEEDING A PLACE TO LIVE.
Velez contacted the local Medicaid office to find out what programs were available to her and her infant son, Jameson. She was referred to Family Promise of Beaufort County, an affiliate of the national nonprofit organization that provides temporary shelter, food and other resources to homeless families with children.
Local congregations provide shelter for the families, who move once a week from one location to the next. Volunteers serve food to the families and offer companionship. Staff members provide case management and help families find jobs, child care, school placement and ultimately affordable housing.
Photo by Rob Kaufman: From left: Bill Green, Mary Lawyer Green, Rosalind Trotter, Mike Major, Louise Lawyer McCluney, George McCluney, Samantha Mendoza, Uriel Mendoza, Veronica Lawyer Ferguson and May Lawyer.
Very few details are known about the personal stories and the often heroic lives of the original residents of Mitchelville. The story of the Lawyer family is important because it is a story of survival, and fearless determination to succeed against all odds. It provides us with new and valuable insights into Hilton Head Island’s past. This is a story about a proud and courageous American family that dates all of the way back to Mitchellville’s heyday in the mid-19th century.
Planner and developer David Ames wins special election for Ward 3 seat on Hilton Head Town Council. Now what?
David Ames is the newest member of Hilton Head Town Council. The 71-year-old planner and developer defeated three other candidates during a special election for the Ward 3 seat on May 3.
Ames will represent the Hilton Head Island areas of Spanish Wells, Point Comfort, Palmetto Bay, Wexford, Long Cove, Yacht Cove, Shelter Cove and Shipyard.
