In March of 2020, Leah McCarthy, owner of Downtown Catering Company, was at the pinnacle of success. “I was at the height of my business—successful, a high achiever, caring for both my mother, who had dementia, and three kids. Then my life fell apart.”

The Covid pandemic struck America like a sledgehammer. Events were cancelled, schools were closed, and kids transitioned to online learning. Churches held virtual services, and funerals were suspended. The hospitality industry was hit especially hard, and Downtown Catering Company was no exception.

“You will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. –Helen Keller

What makes a champion? Is it skill? Drive? Hard work? For Maria Francescotti it is all of these mixed with tremendous discipline and perseverance. At age 16, Maria is a champion swimmer. Not only does she strictly adhere to proper nutrition, train diligently, and love to compete, she does it all even though she was born with Poland Syndrome and Symbrachydactyly.

Poland Syndrome is a condition where someone is born with missing or underdeveloped chest muscles. In addition, they may have webbed or fused fingers as another sign of the condition (WebMD.com). According to stanfordchildrens.org, Symbrachydactyly occurs when an arm or hand does not develop completely. Sometimes, one hand may be smaller than the other. Both Poland Syndrome and Symbrachydactyly happen as the fetus is developing in the mother’s womb. In Maria’s case, her right arm, upper chest, shoulder, and right hand are affected. However, her conditions have never stopped her from reaching her goals.

Tell us how your passion to serve others started?
My passion to serve others started with my grandmother, Lucinda Moore. She was a loving women of God who opened her home to many children in the community. She lived in the city of Hampton, SC. There was a local park behind her house where all the kids came over for meals and snacks because they knew she would take care of them. She treated them all like her own. She taught me how to love unconditionally and share no matter if it was a lot or a little. I remember her making homemade quilts, fruit cakes, and pound and sour cream cakes for everyone—siblings, children, grandchildren, and church members.

Susan Rafetto has found her dream job.

A self-declared free spirit, Susan moved to the Lowcountry from City Center Philadelphia in 2019. She lost her job there as a property manager when the company was sold. Without an obvious Plan B, Susan followed her younger daughter and son-in-law to Hilton Head. “I thought, ‘Maybe this is a window opening for me,’” said Susan. “I decided to take a leap.” Little did she know that her decision would renew a childhood passion that would soon lead to a new and rewarding career.

I was so lucky to be invited to meet MeMe in person, the Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube star! Her formal name is Diane Altman Leary, and I caught up with her when she was visiting down in Okatie for the weekend with her daughter Katrina and son-in-law. Since she truly looks like a MeMe, I’ll just call her that, instead of Diane, or Mrs. Leary, and I know she won’t mind. She is a beautiful, petite lady in her 80s, with every hair in place, full makeup, and a cute pink top. Katrina looks like her mom, and they welcomed me in, of course, through the kitchen!

Cheryl Fields is used to routines. The Beaufort-area mother of seven children would not survive long without them. But nothing was routine about the screening mammogram she had last year at the Beaufort Memorial Breast Health Center.

The then 42-year-old felt fine when she arrived for her annual appointment. Following her screening mammogram, she waited patiently in the dressing room for the “all-clear" from the radiologist. She never expected she would be asked to undergo a breast ultrasound to get a closer look at some suspicious areas.

Tell us how your passion for dancing began? I began dancing at the age of 2! My older sister, DJ, was put into a dance class, and I would sit and cry at the door until they finally let me into the room. I went into that dance class, and the rest is history! 

What are some of the obstacles you have overcome to achieve your goals in dance?
My biggest obstacle I had to overcome was in October of 2017 when I had bilateral hip surgery. It was a big challenge physically but mostly emotionally. Having my dancing, which is something I had done every day since I was able to walk, taken away from me for months was so hard to accept. I had every reason to give up or quit, but I knew deep down that was never an option. I was meant to be a dancer and nothing was getting in the way of it.

Helen had just finished a full day of teaching school, and after meeting up with the Pink Magazine photographer at the Waterfront Park, she sat down with me with an iced tea. She looked fresh as a daisy, with a pretty matching necklace and earrings set, long Jennifer Anniston blonde hair, and a royal blue blouse.

Helen teaches 4th and 5th grade Special Ed students at nearby Beaufort Elementary. This is her second year there, after transferring down to the coast from the Upstate. She is an independent woman, not married, but has two grown children, Jonathan Watson and Victoria Johns-Paradise and two granddaughters. She is energetic and passionate about teaching, and it comes through in other areas of her life as well.

Traci Sampson is relatively new to the Lowcountry. She moved to Hilton Head in December 2022 but previously vacationed here for many years. Born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Traci attended college in Pennsylvania and later married and moved to Chicago where she raised three kids – Chloe (now 27), Andrew (25), and Scott (21) – with her husband, Neal. Traci was a full-time mom, while Neal worked as a futures and options currency trader.

The 2008 financial crisis brought hardship to most families, and the Sampsons were no different. The financial markets became very volatile as many migrated to online trading. Neal’s demeanor began to change as a result of market turmoil. He began trading at home, stopped going into the office, and instead became reclusive, avoiding social interaction.

Jane Rhodes is the very definition of Southern charm--sweet, polite, and respectful. “I’ve been taught to say ‘Ma’am’ my whole life.” Jane is 15 years old, lives on a farm in Brunson, SC, in Hampton County, and attends Thomas Heyward Academy. She loves living on the farm. “Nature can be everything, and I can be around it all.”

At age 5 or 6, Jane started hunting for duck, doves, turkey and deer with her father, Scott. She bagged her first turkey when she was 7 years old, and she’s gotten at least one every year since, not an easy feat. “I love doing stuff with Dad. My friends don’t really like fishing or hunting. I’m a Daddy’s girl. I guess I’m a Tomboy, but I’m really a mix because I can be pretty girly when I want to be.”

You are a Daufuskie Island Native. Tell us why your history is so special to you?
I am a sixth generation born native from a beautiful and special Island—“Dawfuskie.” Besides being my birthplace, this place is my history that will always be within me. As a born native you don’t just love the Island, you are a part of the Island. As a descendent, I am not just Gullah on my grandfather’s side, I am also part native American Indian on my grandmother’s side—two very strong-willed cultures I am proud of. My history is my identity of people long before I knew myself. I embrace it with all I can do to help preserve it, so generations to come will know and appreciate their heritage.

Annelore Harrell has been writing a weekly newspaper column called “SOMETIMES” for 23 years. She’s a well-loved storyteller, but even after winning the award for best in her category from the SC Press Association, she finds it difficult to believe the popularity of her columns.

Her father, Martin Stelljes, a jeweler and certified master watchmaker, immigrated to the United States in 1923 with little more than his work tools. He was 21 years old and only knew a few words of English, but he was optimistic and determined. Martin worked for Desbouillons Jewelers in Savannah, became an American citizen, and returned to Germany in May 1931, where he met Anni Dönselmann-Theile. Always the romantic, he proposed after taking her for a bicycle ride and walk. They married in September, honeymooned in Heidelberg, and by Christmas were living with Martin’s aunt and uncle in a depressing apartment in Savannah’s Old Fort. Twenty-one-year-old Anni, now called Anna, was pregnant, spoke no English, and was more than a little homesick.

Marie and her husband Tom have been in the restaurant business for the past 40 years. They started their first Alvin Ord’s location in downtown Beaufort on West Street. Their friend, Bruce Whitney dressed in a monk’s outfit sewn by Marie’s mom and passed out sandwich samples up and down Bay Street. This unusual opening must have worked! They’ve been blessed ever since.

The original Alvin Ord’s began in Texas, and actually the man who started the sandwiches, Alvin Ord Johnson, left in 1971 to become a monk. Hence the many bald-headed friars and monk statues and pictures in the business.

Beth Henzler and her husband, Matt, have five dogs and two cats, and thankfully, a large fenced-in yard. Six of the these furry friends are rescue animals. One of her cats was found hidden in a car engine and rescued at Sam’s Club; the other cat just appeared around her home and never left. Beth and Matt rescued four dogs. Beth said she “will rescue almost anything.” Memorial Day this year, she proved it, when she decided to adopt a feral dog called Sunny.

“We’re foster failures,” Beth laughed. When it comes to rescues she said there’s not even six degrees of separation. “We know people who know people, and we asked to foster Sunny for a while, and as I said, we’re foster failures and adopted Sunny.”

“At the end of the day, it's not about what you have, or even what you have accomplished… it's about who you've lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you've given back.”
- Denzel Washington

Lillie Varner can simply be described as a steadfast, philanthropic, hospitable woman. Still walking the walk and talking the talk at 94 years old, Lillie has brought growth and kindness into others’ lives, following her heart which bleeds for God and her community, no matter where she is in life.

Some may say Kai Patterson is her own most enthusiastic cheerleader. Well, that's important when you decide to go all in and dedicate yourself to the world of competitive cheerleading. Kai started cheering when she was still toddling around learning her ABCs. With a love for tumbling and a spirited personality, she was destined to feel at home on a cheering squad. But people began to notice her exceptional skills and athleticism and encouraged her to up her game. Now, after a lifetime of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, Kai can be found at the top of the pyramid--a two-time world champion! 

In 2014 Maggie Creeden was 21 years old and a senior at the University of South Carolina in Columbia studying hospitality management. She was enjoying college—USC’s really good year of football, her sorority, Delta Zeta, and being involved in “senior things.” Maggie was excited to graduate and start the next phase of her life.

She got an upper respiratory infection and the doctor told her the lump in her neck was an enlarged lymph node due to the infection, and it was fine. He put her on antibiotics. When her mother noticed the large lump on Maggie’s neck, she and Maggie luckily decided to get a second opinion. The new doctor said, “Trust me, that lymph node is not normal.” She was in kidney failure. Her creatinine level was 11 and should have been .06. Her kidneys were functioning at only 16 percent.

Vivian Urriola is an athlete. Her sport: Wrestling. She is a member of the Reverence Wrestling Club in Bluffton and a rising freshman at May River High School. Vivian was one of five Beaufort County female youth wrestlers who competed at the Southeast Regionals Tournament hosted by USA Wrestling in Cherokee, NC. This competition was a qualifying tournament for the 2023 US Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals, a national Freestyle and Greco tournament held every year in Fargo, ND. Vivian competed in the 16U, 117 pound class and is the only female at Reverence Wrestling Club who competed in both Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling. She won first place in Freestyle and came in second place in Greco. These wins were her ticket to Fargo.

Morgan Smith began volunteering with the Special Olympics in the sixth grade.

Her introduction to volunteerism began in an untraditional way. Born and raised in Hilton Head, Morgan had difficulty making friends in elementary school. She arrived early on her first day of middle school and met Kathy Cramer, a special education teacher. Morgan watched from the curb as Kathy unloaded some equipment from her car. Kathy asked Morgan to help her. They unloaded the equipment, and Morgan then helped Kathy's students as they got off the bus. “All of these kids wanted to be my friend! I felt included and welcomed,” said Morgan. From that day forward, Morgan helped Kathy and those children with intellectual disabilities each and every day until she went to college. Little did she know that her chance meeting would later lead to the rewarding career she now loves.

Cool art vibes saturate the air in every form and medium in the Lowcountry, one of the most beautiful natural canvases on earth. With all the surrounding beauty, it’s no wonder the Lowcountry is teeming with creative minds and talented artists. Some do it for fun. Some do it for a living. All do it to nourish their organic need to create. Welcome to our fourth edition of Lowcountry Originals, where you will meet seven dynamic artisans, all filled with creative energy and verve for their work. They have allowed us a peek into their creative worlds, revealed their fears and doubts, told us what inspires them and given us insight into their processes.

Enjoy a creative stroll and step into the Lowcountry art scene>>

When and how did you discover your artistic talent?
It was in the late 1980s when I first became aware of my talent to sculpt! I created a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for my daughter’s elementary school display in honor of Martin Luther King Day. According to all spectators, it was an astonishing likeness! I remember the rants and raves about how talented I was. Still, I didn’t get it yet! I couldn’t be an artist! So, I tucked it all away.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent?
It was in the late 1980s when I first became aware of my talent to sculpt! I created a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for my daughter’s elementary school display in honor of Martin Luther King Day. According to all spectators, it was an astonishing likeness! I remember the rants and raves about how talented I was. Still, I didn’t get it yet! I couldn’t be an artist! So, I tucked it all away.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? 
Growing up on Hilton Head, I was always surrounded by music. My father played guitar and piano and Mother sang. Many nights after dinner were spent harmonizing together with Dad playing guitar. Singing was always how I expressed myself. The acting came later when I discovered theatre.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? What do you love about it?
All I know is my mom has a cassette tape hidden somewhere for safe keeping of me singing “Sarah” by Starship at 2-years-old. I have memories of singing from very early childhood. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is the song I remember learning all the words to first; I would not stop singing it. I love to sing because it is fun and therapeutic, both for us as musicians and for the crowds!

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
Thirty-plus years ago, I had a very wise boss who recognized signs of corporate burnout in me and told me to find a hobby. I explored classes in various mediums, but none resonated with me. Then, I took a glass blowing glass and fell in love! I’m drawn to the illusion of texture and movement found in glass. And glass is shiny. Like a squirrel, I am drawn to the shiny factor! Although it became apparent my talent didn’t lie in glass blowing, my instructor recognized my passion and introduced me to fused glass. Embracing this new avenue of artistic expression, I began taking classes and found my niche. Glass continued to be my creative outlet throughout my corporate journey and is now my full-time passion.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent?
I discovered my artistic talent in December 2015. My family’s business, Pender Brother’s, bought the contract to purchase the last two and one-half miles of the Port Royal Railroad in 2011. When we purchased the contract to take up that section of railroad, we also purchased the rights to keep what we took up, meaning we kept the rock, rail, crossties, spikes, clips, and plates. They wanted to scrap everything, but I kept insisting we could do something with it. We sold off most of it, but kept the spikes, along with some clips, plates, and rail. I was scrolling Facebook a few weeks before Christmas and saw a picture of a horseshoe Christmas tree on someone’s page. I shared it to my page thinking “I can make that.” A few days later my husband and I were in the shop, and he took a few horseshoes my dad had, and laid them out into the shape of a Christmas tree and said, “Here honey, weld that together.” I did, which prompted me to make the words “Love” and “Joy” out of the spikes. And that started it all.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium?
I am thrilled to be able to paint. The first time a painting made an impression on me was when I was 8 or 9 years old. It was a painting of garden flowers done on silk fabric. The painter was Shin Saimdang who was a poet and painter in the 1500s in Korea. She is the first woman painter celebrated in Korea. I wanted to paint like her. However, that desire didn’t have a chance to grow when my middle school art teacher said, “You don’t have the talent.” It had to wait 30 some years until I was old enough to say, “I want to do what I really want to do.” Meanwhile, I obtained a Masters in Public Health and worked as a nutritionist.

Jessica Duke had a longtime career as a staff nurse at a hospital, until things changed five years ago.

Born and bred in Beaufort, SC, Jessica earned an associate degree in nursing at Technical College of the Lowcountry, a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in hospital care administration.

After years of working in a brick-and-mortar hospital setting, Jessica is now able to help larger groups of people, opposed to individual patients, in a constantly changing environment.

Crystal Abitz created a beautiful logo for her company. It is a feather with tiny birds flying off the end of the words, as well. She explains it like this: “Birds drop their feathers; it’s what they leave behind, and it’s how we know they were here. Our legacy is what we leave behind. What is your legacy?”

Sitting with Crystal in a coffee shop was fun, as well as thought-provoking. She talked about her growing up years, college, and fun experiences, and just as easily went into deeper subjects, such as priorities, personal worth, values, and purpose.

Crystal grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and met her husband there, although he was a friend of her brother, and she was just “the kid sister.” Tony is a few years older than Crystal, and when he graduated from high school, he left and joined the Marines. They sent handwritten letters to each other through his first deployment to Iraq. Crystal saved all the letters she received from Tony for posterity, even the smudged ones. Time went by, and they continued their individual journeys.

Blanca Gregory loves a good adventure.

Blanca came to the United States from Mexico to help her older sister, Maria, with her new baby. She met her soon-to-be husband a month later and moved to Charlotte in 1996. In 2010, when her life changed and it was time to move on, Blanca relocated to Bluffton where another brother and sister lived. In keeping with Mexican tradition, Blanca’s family has always remained close. One of five children, Blanca looked up to Maria as a role model and mentor. Maria encouraged Blanca to seize life and to be adventurous—advice Blanca not only took to heart, but also eventually embraced full-throttle.