President
Marietta, SC

Carlton, a forester and wildlife biologist, spent 45-years in the forestry profession. More than 20-years were with forest industry, including 11-years as VP-Forest Policy with Champion International Corp with global responsibilities. He ended his career in December 2020 after 15-years as Founding President & CEO of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, North America’s largest not-for-profit working to protect forests and rural forest-rich communities across Canada and the U.S. Since 2020 he has worked to help Soapstone Church pay off its mortgage and served as an advisor to church leadership as it developed a conservation easement to protect the historic site.

Secretary/Treasurer
Greenville, SC

Andy is a graduate of Presbyterian College. He is a retired commercial banker with 45-years’ experience in NC and SC. He served on and chaired numerous nonprofit boards and recently retired as Director of Stewardship Ministries at Greenville First Presbyterian Church. Currently, he is a part-time nature guide on Lake Jocassee. Through his love of Mable Clarke, he has become a supporter and advocate of and for Soapstone Baptist Church.

Greenville, SC

Peggy retired from Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, CA and returned to her native Upstate SC. She graduated from Hampton University and Denver University School of Social Work. Her entire career was in pediatric health care where she began as a clinical social worker and spent twenty-five years in hospital administration. For more than 40 years she has volunteered with the American Cancer Society on local and national boards. She is currently involved with several not-for-profits dealing with health, housing, and youth development. She is a deacon at Long Branch Baptist Church and longtime friend of Soapstone Baptist Church.

Pickens, SC

A native of Pickens County, SC, Mable was born and raised on Liberia Road to Chris and Lula Mae Owens. She attended school in a one-room school that still sits on the Soapstone site. She is a graduate of Bryant & Stranton Business School in Boston, MA. In 1983, Mable and her husband returned to the area and opened Le Salon Hair Salon & Boutique. She returned to her family church, Soapstone Baptist Church, where she serves as a Deacon and the church Chef. Mable is also a mover and a shaker when it comes to fundraising and organizing events for her church. Her work has been widely recognized as the driving force for the church’s persistence against many challenges.

Tigerville, SC

A psychiatrist, Jeff graduated Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He completed his residency at Wake Forest University. He is Medical Director, Acute Autism Assessment and Stabilization Unit, Springbrook Hospital in Travelers Rest, SC, and Medical Director / Program Sponsor of Recovery Concepts of the Upstate, Easley, SC. He has been in private practice for 27 years. He is an ordained minister, deacon, and Director of Family Ministries at Cox Chapel Baptist Church in Marietta, SC. He serves on the boards of the Centers for Drug and Alcohol Program Philanthropy at MUSC as well as the Proactive Parenting Initiative where is also CFO. He and his wife became involved with Soapstone Church nearly a decade ago upon discovery of the historic slave cemetery.

Greenville, SC

Don spent his professional career in higher education, first as a German instructor at Hollins College in the 1970s, then as a development officer. He headed the fundraising department at Rhodes College in Memphis for 15 years, and finally served as VP for Development at Furman University for another 15 years until his retirement in 2008. He has served on the board of the Stuttering Foundation of America for 35 years. He was attracted to Soapstone Baptist Church first by Mable Clarke’s monthly fish-fry events, and then by the amazing story of her family, and her community.

Piedmont, SC

Chet, a chemist by education, is a US Army Vietnam-era combat veteran. He retired from Michelin North America after 33 years in various managerial assignments including Management Training; Production Management; Plant Personnel Manager; and Quality Systems Management. He is currently in his 11th year as pastor of Soapstone Baptist Church; 5th year as Dean of Oolenoy River Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education; and 2nd year as 1st Vice President, Pickens County NAACP.