People Profiles

JUST FIVE WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD, DANIELLE VELEZ OF BLUFFTON FOUND HERSELF NEEDING A PLACE TO LIVE.

Danielle VelezVelez 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.

Angela McCall-Tanner saw the inner workings of the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, working in the office for 12 years, including five under current solicitor Duffie Stone.

She said she has learned a lot since leaving the office in 2011 to first run her own private practice and then serve as a Beaufort County magistrate from 2014 until late March. Seeing justice from all sides of the courtroom, she felt compelled to run against her former boss.

Solicitor Duffie Stone finds time to train while prosecuting the bad guys

Duffie Stone has always been a runner, but he wasn’t always a racer. That happened by accident about five years ago when, just for fun, he signed up for the Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5k. He was hooked.

For Stone, running and prosecution go hand in hand. “I use running to think. I don't listen to music. I think about my cases. I can organize openings, cross examination and witness order in my head during my runs. The problem is that the more complex the case, the longer the runs. That's how I went from running 5ks to marathons.“

Despite the instant notoriety and the unlikely accomplishment of being one of the top eight contestants on the final season of “American Idol,” Lee Jean Jr. takes it all in stride. If you have the pleasure of meeting Lee, you will instantly see that the 16 year old Bluffton resident exudes a gentle, fun-loving and humble persona that is surprisingly unaffected by his instant Hollywood success. 

“AND NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.”

According to British comedian and actor Eric Idle, “A few brave men took a risk to allow us to make ‘Monty Python.’ One in particular took the biggest risk to put it on American television.” In a personal note, Idle writes about Hilton Head Island resident Ron Devillier: “His inspired bravery to take an obscure, late-night BBC show and put it on public television was the catalyst that led to Monty Python quietly subverting America.”

Photo From left: Christina Bates, Paulette Singleton, Dorothy Singleton, Vernie Singleton and Alvin Singleton

Hilton Head Island has the unique distinction of being the home of Mitchelville, the first black self-governing town in the United States. Stories of what happened in Mitchelville and the continued impact that it had on the Gullah community, the outcome of the Civil War, race relations and even compulsory education today are still unfolding. But little is known about the individuals and families, who after being thrust into servitude in a new land, chose to not only embrace their new surroundings, but to love, nourish and cultivate this island as their home.

When most people retire, they choose to relax, take it easy and chill.

Not Mary Waterfall. In fact, the Hilton Head Island resident found a completely new career using her artistic skills.

She and her husband, Gene, both originally from Wisconsin, had a condo on the island since 2001. When Waterfall retired as an executive secretary after 18 years on the job, she started to focus on her arts and crafts skills.

Volunteering is a very important part of life, especially life here in the Lowcountry. We seek to improve our community on a day-to-day basis.

Volunteering is not simply helping others, or adding a few service hours to your résumé. Volunteering is serving the community by bringing people together for a common cause. You are strengthening your community’s foundation and building relationships.

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