State Museum Commission

Bio

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, John F. McCabe has lived in Columbia, South Carolina for over 30 years and is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President as a founding member of TCG & Associates of Merrill Lynch.  When not managing portfolios, John spends his time serving on many and various historical and civic organizations, as well as spending time with his wife, Mandy Waites McCabe and their three sons’ (John Jr, Mitchell, and Charles) various sports teams and school groups. 

John has served as President of the AC Flora High School Athletic Booster Club, on The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alumni Commission, and Chair of the Francis Marion Memorial Project in Washington, D.C, and is the South Carolina Representative of The River Alliance Board of Directors, and is a former Deacon at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

He is past chairman of the board of the South Carolina State Museum Foundation, past president of the Palmetto Baseball League, the past president of the Colonel Thomas Taylor Chapter of the South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, is Secretary of The Board of Governors of The Palmetto Club, the Chair of The South Carolina State Museum Commission, on the Board of the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion Foundation, Chair of The Partisan Society of The Congaree, the Saint Andrew’s Society of Columbia, and The South Carolina Historical Society Board of Managers.

John is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

Bio

Gray T. Culbreath represents corporations, individuals and insurers in trials and appeals. For over 30 years he has handled complex trials and appeals in federal and state courts across South Carolina. His career has taken him from Army courtrooms to every federal and state courthouse in South Carolina. His principal areas of practice include complex commercial and class action litigation, including antitrust, product liability and mass tort as well as claims of sexual abuse.

Gray’s law practice includes defending product manufacturers in product liability suits brought both individually and as class actions for economic loss, personal injury and property damage. He has represented a number of different industries including automotive products, building products, heavy machinery, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals and water treatment chemicals. Gray has handled numerous cases involving explosions and fire losses. In addition to his products practice, Gray continues to defend organizations alleged to have hired persons who have sexually abused children. His experience in this area dates back to his career as an Army JAGC officer, where he defended soldiers accused of those crimes.

As a trial attorney, he has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict in federal and state court. Gray has briefed and argued over 20 appeals at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the South Carolina Supreme Court and the South Carolina Court of Appeals. He is frequently hired to write amicus briefs for chambers of commerce and trade organizations for submission to federal and state appellate courts.

Gray is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has been recognized by numerous legal publications including Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers, Chambers USA as well as South Carolina Super Lawyers. He has been named Lawyer of the Year for Bet the Company Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions by Best Lawyers. Locally he has received numerous awards including the Order of the Palmetto and the Gold Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is a past president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Gray received his B.A. from Wofford College and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina. He serves on the firm’s executive committee.

Bio

Sharon Bryant currently serves as the South Carolina Regional Executive Vice President for First Citizens Bank. She served as Executive Vice President and  Division Executive from 2001-2010. In 2010, she  assumed the dual roles of Regional Executive Vice President for Central South Carolina and Director of  the Bank’s Wealth Advisory Group, while continuing  to serve as President of First Citizens Securities. In 2012, she was named South Carolina Banking Executive prior to being named South Carolina Regional Executive Vice President in 2014. As South Carolina Regional Executive Vice President, Bryant is responsible for retail, business and commercial banking in South Carolina, Northeast Georgia, Augusta and Savannah. From 2010 to 2013, Bryant served as director of the bank’s Wealth Advisory Group, a division with more than $2.7 billion in assets under management.

Bryant has more than 35 years of banking, fiduciary and investment services experience.  She is licensed securities representative and 
principal, a 2004 recipient of the Women of Distinction award given by the Girl Scouts of America, a 1997 recipient of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women in Industry award, a 1997 winner of the Athena award by the Chamber of Commerce, a 1995 graduate of Leadership 
Columbia, a founding member of Women in Philanthropy, and a Junior League sustainer, a 2017 recipient of First Citizens Chairman’s Circle Award; a 2019 Junior League of the Midlands Lifetime Achievement Award; a 2021 recipient of the Order of the Palmetto.

Bio

James H. “Jed” Suddeth is currently the CEO of Suddeth Healthcare Solutions, LLC with a mission of educating the public concerning the systemic problems our healthcare delivery system has causing exceedingly high costs with poor aggregate results then exploring solutions. 

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Economics, Jed was commissioned in the US Naval Submarine Force.  He served as a Weapons and Engineering Officer on boats in the Pacific and Atlantic fleets.  After completion of active duty Jed returned to USC and received a Masters of Business Administration from the Moore School of Business.  He continued in the US Naval Reserve and retired as a Captain.

Upon completion of the MBA program Jed worked for Procter and Gamble in the production and engineering division of Charmin Paper Products.   He subsequently formed First Carolina Risk Management Advisors furthering his career in risk management and insurance specializing in the medical industry.  

Jed has been very active in the medical community having served as Chairmen of the board of Prisma Richland, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Palmetto Health Alliance, Board member of Carolina Health Choice Network and Board member of the South Carolina Hospital Association.  He has participated in numerous other trade and community associations.

Jed is married to Elizabeth Deyermond living in Edisto Beach, SC.  He has 2 children, Meghan Hesley and James H. Suddeth, III with 7 grandchildren.  

Bio coming soon

Dr. Patrick was born and lives in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from Wade Hampton High School Presbyterian College, Medical College of South Carolina, and Emory. Alex was in the army and stationed mostly in South Korea and then lived in Atlanta, Georgia where he met and married Clayton Latimer. They returned to Greenville where Alex practiced primary care for more than 40 years. He has 2 daughters, Mary Frances and Elizabeth, and 3 grandchildren: James Patrick, Robert Mcleod and Annie Dubose. He loves the mountains, the Carolina coast, life in South Carolina and being a cheerleader for the State Museum.

Bio

Lori was raised in Camden and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Carolina in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism. After graduating, Lori and her husband Dennis moved back to Camden and raised their three sons.

Currently, Lori is the Campaign Director at the United Way of Kershaw County. She enjoys painting, photography and traveling.