Cori Talbert

Spetember 2026 Issue

by Mary Hope Roseneau
Photography by Cassidy Dunn Photography

Cori Talbert is a busy woman with lots on her “to do” list. But it doesn’t show. We met up at the new “Harris Teeter coffee house” in Beaufort, and I knew who she was as soon as she walked up. She had on the most beautiful, sparkly gold earrings with the Beaufort Water Festival logo, so I knew this had to be our new Commodore for 2027!

Cori is married to Pat, a retired Naval Officer, and they have three good-looking sons. She married Pat at age 20 and spent the first years as a busy “military spouse,” moving to duty stations as ordered and raising their boys. As anyone knows who’s done it, being a military spouse is a full-time job. And Cori balanced it all with volunteering and working as time went on.

She and Pat are from Maryland, but they fell in love with Beaufort in 2000-2003 during their first orders here. They told each other this would be a great place to retire one day…and they did!

The family returned to Beaufort in 2008, and a good friend, Nicky Fowlkes, suggested to Cori that she volunteer with her at the Beaufort Water Festival. Her first duty was helping the treasurer count money, and it blossomed from there. Since then, Cori has had various assignments with the Water Festival, such as treasurer, admin, sports coordinator, marketing and public relations, sales and merchandise, and parks.

In Water Festival lingo, this is known as “working your way around the table,” gaining experience and knowledge about every facet of Beaufort’s huge, volunteer-run event that has been going on for 70 years.

Living here now for 18 years, their family has called Beaufort home longer than anywhere else, and they all love it. Cori worked for several years at Lady’s Island Middle School in the media center and now works at the Gruel Group eXp Realty as an administrative assistant. Her office is upstairs in the historic Thomas Building, which ironically is also convenient to the Water Festival office.

Each year, the Water Festival board, composed of past commodores, meets and discusses as to who would be a candidate for Commodore at next year’s festival. The choice was easy this year: Cori Talbert, the sixth woman to hold the title.

Of course, having a supportive family makes a huge difference. Cori feels very lucky to have full support from them, as she devotes time all year long to the planning of next year’s event. Then the entire family becomes engulfed 24/7 during the active ten days of the Festival in July with the many activities.

Pat has picked up a post-retirement job working at the VA office that he enjoys. Their oldest son, Patrick II, age 28, is a batboy for the Atlanta Braves, Zachary, age 21, attends the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), and Nicholas, age 18, has hopes of becoming a lineman with the utility company.

Cori gives credit to the Leadership Beaufort program she attended in 2024. Under the leadership of Connie Hipp, hundreds of “come here’s” meet for several months with “been here’s” to learn about the history, culture, challenges, and opportunities unique to Beaufort County. Cori highly recommends the program to anyone wanting to learn more about this area and the leadership and service opportunities that are here.

She already has plans brewing in her mind for next year’s event, and the 2027 theme was revealed in August: Summer Celebration Anchored in Tradition. She feels tradition is important and said her not being “from here” is not a detriment in any way, but a plus. She and her family are folks who have “chosen here” and love the Lowcountry with an inspirational dedication for service and volunteerism.

“Volunteerism, in general, is down,” she said. “Not just here in Beaufort but across the country, too. Many people just don’t have the time, or they need to work more than one job to make ends meet these days.” However, Cori hopes to reach the many new residents in the area who may have the time and stamina (the outdoor events are hot) and want to get involved to make a difference. “It’s a wonderful way to make new friends and build community connections. And it’s fun to not just be a member of the audiences, but to be one of the many people who put on this beloved, long-standing water festival.”

It’s a fun and different perspective to experience, plus you get the T-shirt!

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Up Close:

Get involved or inquire about volunteering: www.bftwaterfestival.com

About those fabulous Beaufort Water Festival earrings Cori was wearing?
They were a gift from her husband via Modern Jewelers on Bay Street, Beaufort.