Tennis brought Margie and Stan Smith together. At age 13, Margie was a ball girl at a tennis championship that Stan had just won. He was 17. After the match, Margie told her mother, “Stan Smith will never notice me. Mother was very prophetic. She told me, ‘Wait five years ‘til your 18th birthday.’ On my 18th birthday, Stan asked me out!”

Stan and Margie have been married for 50 years. “I guess being married 50 years is a long time, and 50 seems like a big number. But looking back, it doesn’t seem that long. A marriage goes through different stages, and it’s important to communicate and try to understand the other person’s point of view. There’s a saying about walking in another’s moccasins. We’ve stayed married because we were in it for the long haul, and happily so. Besides, it’s too late for a divorce,” she joked.

Jamese Franklin knows who she is.

Born and raised on Hilton Head Island, Jamese hails from an athletic family. Her father coached track and field and football; her mom coached basketball. Growing up, Jamese played volleyball and soccer, but it was basketball that captured her heart. “In my family, you don’t really have a choice,” said Jamese. “Once you can walk, you pick up a sport.”

Kenzie McCracken exudes confidence and a desire to live her best life. From beauty pageants to Spartan races to motherhood, she does it all.

Kenzie was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and attended Hilton Head High School, where she was a cheerleader, earning a competitive cheer scholarship to Limestone University in Gaffney, SC. The University is a longtime sponsor of the South Carolina Peach Festival, which includes the Peach Festival Beauty Pageant held on the Limestone campus. With all the excitement surrounding the festival, Kenzie decided to compete.

Sarah Mitten plays hard both on and off the pickleball court. By day, Sarah is a realtor and a professional pickleball coach on Hilton Head Island at Island Rec Center. She arrived in the U.S. in 1987 on a full scholarship to nationally ranked Mississippi State to play Division I tennis. A student-athlete, Sarah played field hockey, soccer, and tennis but needed to choose which sport she would pursue. Tennis offered young adult Sarah the most opportunity, and she became a SEC scholar-athlete.

Early on the morning of October 5, 1976, shortly after her husband left for work, a ski-masked man brandishing a butcher knife broke into Jane Carson-Sandler’s home. Threatening her between clenched teeth, he bound, gagged, and blindfolded both her and her 3-year-old son. After taking the boy away, he viciously raped Jane, but all she could think the whole time was Where is my son? What are you going to do to my son?

Her attacker was the notorious Golden State Killer, one of the worst serial rapists and murderers in American history. Between 1974 and 1986 he went on a series of sadistic sprees, leaving entire counties gripped in fear. He raped more than 50 women, killed at least 13 people and burglarized over a hundred homes around Central and Southern California.

Life has a way of guiding people toward their calling.
What do you feel you have been called to do?
I think my calling is to bring people together and enrich the lives of those around me through shared passions and experiences. A little about my early years… I was born in New York and later moved with my family to Hilton Head Island. In both places, I dabbled in as many sports as possible, dipped into every art form I could, and joined more social clubs than I can count. I traveled a lot, which exposed me to a vast variety of people and places. Nowadays, I love connecting people to others who I think they might enjoy getting to know, and nothing makes me happier than taking someone out to try a new activity or see a new place with me as their guide.

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” —Helen Keller.

No one can say Hilton Head Island native Annie Bartholomew’s life is nothing, because she has already lived a life filled with adventures and entrepreneurship, and she has no intention of stopping now.

This small-town island girl transformed into a world traveler at the nudging of her mother, who had studied abroad when she was in college. Now, Annie has traveled across the US to 36 states and around the world to 47 different countries—some more than once!

Kim and Nils Buri call Grindelwald, Switzerland home, but their hearts also belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where for decades, they have maintained a second home.

Their story began in 1989 when they met on a chairlift in Aspen, Colorado. Kim, a private banker from New York City, wasn’t sure about dating Nils, a youthful-looking ski instructor, but his persistence paid off. They’ve practically been inseparable now for 35 years.

In 1991, as Nils watched the Heritage Golf Classic on television, he declared, “We need to go there!”

Dianne Acton lived a life of adventure and loved to experience new places and try new things. Her daughter, Shelly Hudson, described her as a groundbreaker for women. “She was the only one in her family who went to college. Once she worked on a construction site and wore a pink hard hat,” Shelly said. Her Mom was a strong, independent, and successful woman with an entrepreneurial spirit, who owned a contract support business in Washington D.C.

Shelly’s Mom lived life to the fullest, enjoying every exciting adventure she could, like skydiving, hang gliding, parasailing, soaring in a hot air balloon and a glider plane. Dianne especially loved to travel.

Sixteen-year-old Mac Gohagan came home from football practice last May (2024) and told his mother, Jackie, “Boy, I’m out of shape. I can hardly keep going.” Jackie said the next day he felt sick, he had a fever of 102°, he was throwing up and holding his upper stomach, lying on the floor in pain. She noticed his eyes were yellow and thought it might be his gall bladder. She took her son to the emergency room and was told it was probably a virus.

Sandra Bowden is a collector of beautiful things.

Twenty years ago, Sandra and her husband arrived in the Lowcountry to be near family—two children, four grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren—some of whom were heading toward Savannah. A friend lived in the area, and as an avid golfer, the choice to live in Hilton Head seemed obvious. “We had only a few days to make a decision and bought our house in three hours,” explained Sandra. The rush to find a landing pad resulted from the recent sale of their prior home. With a smile in her voice, Sandra said, “It was a good choice!”

Sometimes two people are just meant to be together.

Mark Hammond and Deanna (Dee) Dowling met unconventionally. A chance meeting in Six Oaks Cemetery in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island would change their lives in ways that neither understood at the time. That moment led Mark and Dee to not only discover how many things they had in common, but also how their relationship was almost preordained.

Fate? Destiny? Karma? Are you someone who believes there’s no such thing as coincidences? Whether you believe or not, some kind of magic (perhaps patience) played a role in the love story of Lauren and Dennis Puckey, for it mirrors the love stories of both their parents.

Dennis’ parents, Bob and Dolores Puckey, were sweethearts in high school. When Bob moved to Michigan after graduation, Dolores followed, and they eloped. They were married on March 15, 1956.

Mellow Lee began visiting her grandparents’ Hilton Head Island home in the mid-1980s.

Somehow their tiny piece of the Lowcountry always felt like a close second home to her. Mellow spent her entire life in Charleston, West Virginia, except for a year in Morgantown. However, life somewhat came full circle for her, and the Lowcountry became her next home when the Beaufort County School District Deputy Superintendent position became available in September 2023.

“It was difficult to leave my coworkers and family in West Virginia, but it was an opportunity, and I was looking for something to help me grow,” said Mellow. Her son, his fiancé, and their daughter moved into Mellow’s West Virginia home, while she headed south. “I had my mind set on coming here,” she said. However, she was surprised when she received the phone call from Beaufort County School District, as she had previously applied for the same position and never heard back.

There’s more to A’Nya Marshburn’s life story than meets the eye.

A’Nya graduated from high school as salutatorian with a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human development and family studies in three years and graduated from the honors college. She then earned her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.

A’Nya Marshburn is a mere 23 years old.


Before COVID arrived, A’Nya trained and became a Certified Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Technician. ABA therapy is the gold standard of care and an evidence-based practice that targets children with autistic behaviors.

Jackie Rosswurm, Ph.D, sees life differently than most people. Teaching, learning, and problem solving drive many facets of her life, and she often handles challenges and opportunities with these classroom techniques. It’s a recipe for success, and her resume proves it.


Jackie hails from Monroe, Michigan, a small town south of Detroit where the automotive industry was king. Monroe was a factory town where packing materials and cardboard were made to supply the automotive industry. Jackie grew up in an average family and was the oldest of three children, the only girl, and the first in her family to go to college.

Life has a way of guiding people toward their calling. What do you feel you have been called to do?
I firmly believe our purpose is to serve one another. My greatest desire is for the Lord’s light to shine through my life, guiding others toward Him. I aim to inspire not with my words, but through my actions. Like everyone, I am human and make mistakes daily, sometimes even before I get out of bed. Still, I am dedicated to helping each person I encounter in any way I can.

You have a heart to serve others. Did this come naturally or did someone or something inspire you to get involved and make a difference?
Throughout my life, I developed a deep love and appreciation of people. Inspired by my mom, who cares for everyone, I learned the importance of genuine connections. In both business and personal relationships, she prioritized people above all else. (Her best connection ever was setting me up with Paul on a blind date—talk about mutually beneficial!

As a child, Rosanna Keyes loved animals, and her bedroom walls were plastered with posters of all kinds of animals—even tigers. She was 8 years old when she found a stray cat lying in a culvert and wanted to help it, but the cat bit her and had to be put down in case it had rabies. It was a tough introduction to euthanasia. Two years later, she was surprised by her uncle who raised Collies: “One of his litters wasn’t show-quality, and I finally got my Lassie,” she said.

Her husband introduced her to animal rescue shelters and the joy of being outdoors. They started with rescuing horses and eventually changed over to working with dogs. “We always adopted rescue dogs at the holidays. We had eight dogs when we split up, and I won the dogs in my divorce.” While living in Virginia, Rosanna also offered socialization training for other dogs in her fenced-in yard.

Sharon Middleton is an encourager. She drives her own spiffy red car every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning in the dark to begin dialysis at 5:30 a.m. Despite the early hour, she is always perky and friendly to everyone. She likes to get there early and be finished by 8:30 or 9:00 in order to have the rest of her day to enjoy herself. This has been her schedule for the past three years or so, and it works just fine for her.

I met with Sharon on a Wednesday afternoon at her home, where Leo, her devoted dog, greeted me at the door. He is a new addition to Sharon’s life: He needed a home, and Sharon needed a new dog. He’s a poodle mix and as sweet and well-behaved as he can be. Leo parked himself right by his new mistress and regarded me with much interest. She had dialysis earlier that morning, and after a short nap in her chair when she got home, she was ready for our visit.

While there are many differences between us as individuals, one common denominator that unites us all is the grief we feel after losing a loved one.
 
In 2003, Carol Moorehead and her husband, Richard, drove from their home in New Jersey to Florida, deciding to visit friends in Hilton Head along the way. They immediately fell in love with the Island and began looking for a home. Carol and Richard were unable to find the house of their dreams in the tight real estate market during that first visit. However, Carol’s friend of 55 years (who was not a realtor) said, “I’ll find one for you!” So, Carol and Richard continued on their trip to Florida, and sure enough, her friend found them a home. On their way back north, they visited the listing, entered into a bidding war, and were initially elated when their offer was accepted.

You are the queen of the wine industry on Hilton Head Island. Not only are you the General Manager of Roller’s Wine & Spirits, you also designed the gorgeous Roller’s retail and tasting kitchen on Palmetto Bay Road. How did you get into the wine business? 
After 10 years in special events and catering sales, my boss in Atlanta told me, “Darling, you’ve maximized your potential in this arena. I’ve never seen anyone do what you’ve done by age 26. Consider the wine industry… your palate is remarkable and a gift.” I knew then, especially with two babies in diapers, it was time to switch gears. 

There are many facets to running Roller’s, which is a high-volume store with many departments and moving parts. What do you enjoy the most in your day-to-day work?
Seeing the staff grow and empowering them. When I first moved to Hilton Head, I knew I had to learn all about wine. I got a job at Red Fish. Young Jimmy Schmid was working there, and he was the epitome of “hustle.” Years later, I talked John Kelsey, owner of Roller’s, into hiring him and our Class-B division took off. If I’m the Wine Queen, John is the Liquor King, and Jimmy is definitely heir to the throne! Roller’s has more than 40 local, hardworking staff members, some we hired at just over 21 years old.

As a child, Savannah Hylton traveled to Hilton Head to attend golf school. When her mother, Heather Hylton, sensed the time was right for a fresh start, she moved Savannah and her brother to the island in 2014. “Who wouldn’t want to start over at the beach,” Heather asked. “Driving over the bridge, your blood pressure drops. It just feels like home.”

Savannah graduated from high school with a golf scholarship to Furman University and played on the college team as a freshman. As COVID protocols became a day-to-day reality, college life became lonely for many students. Savannah decided to return home to be with family.

As fate would have it, she attended a bridal shower where the host presented a “grazing table” with lots of yummy things to taste. Admiring the beautiful table together, the hostess said to Savannah, “You can do this!”

Ty Ware loves to succeed, and her inspiration for her success is her 6-year-old daughter, Olyvia. “I wake up every day and make sure she’s okay. I want the best for her, so I set high standards and teach by example. Being a Mama Bear is everything. Structure is important, and she’s a really good kid, so there’s no need for discipline. I believe in a higher power,” Ty said.

Ty, a St. Helena native, is a sous chef at Sea Pines Resort. She’s a single mom who co-parents Olyvia with her ex-partner. She said because she has a great co-parenting relationship, she can drop Olyvia off at 7:30 a.m. to make her 90-minute commute from St. Helena to Sea Pines.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Pinckney is a Lowcountry native who finds great joy in her job, loves her co-workers and Frankie Bones Restaurant.

However, Jackie has seen her share of hardship and tragedy over the years. Raised in Walterboro, Jackie hails from a large, closely connected family. She’s the second oldest on her dad’s side and the oldest on her mom’s side. One sister lives in Bluffton, another sister resides in Ridgeland—more on her later—and Jackie’s mom and a brother still live in Walterboro. Jackie was partially raised by her grandparents until her mother returned from New York to the Lowcountry. That close family bond has stayed with Jackie all her life and continues through her extended family.

Zoë Farley is a very busy young woman. She’s mom to 8-year-old Emily and daughter to Nancy and Allen Farley. She is a restaurant manager, a student, and she will be graduating this semester from the Technical College of the Lowcountry Culinary Institute of the South.

Zoë is also impressively punctual, arriving early to meet me at the new Beaufort Harris Teeter bar area. But we weren’t drinking alcohol; we were having vanilla matcha lattes with almond milk. That was her order, and being daring, I just said, “I’ll have that, too.” With long, gorgeous brown hair and big beautiful eyes, she was calm and quite unruffled for meeting a stranger for the first time. She put me at ease even though she was being interviewed. I revealed I didn’t know what a vanilla matcha latte was, but I like trying new things. Zoë correctly described it as tasting like birthday cake. It was a tea drink, which turned out to be delicious! I didn’t think I could go wrong with a suggestion from a professional chef.

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 inherent need to create.

Welcome to our fifth year featuring Lowcountry Originals, where you will meet six dynamic artisans, all filled with creative energy and verve for their work. They have allowed us a peek into their creative minds, 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:

Miho Kinnas
Art: Poetry
Career: Corporate, consulting to freelance
Current Residence: Hilton Head
Hometown: Yokohama, Japan
Family: Husband, Ben. Daughter, Leslie, married and lives in Philadelphia. Dusty, the Labrador- deceased

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and / or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
I was born and raised in Japan, my father a publisher, my mother an editor. The house was filled with books, but I didn’t know I would be a poet writing in English until I was 40 years old. We were living in Hong Kong, and I became unemployed and thought I’d become a literary translator. Then, one of my mentors, Allegra Wong, told me I must be a poet to translate poetry. Within ten years, the Museum of American Poetics published my poems, thanks to another mentor, Marc Olmsted, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in poetry from the City University of Hong Kong. I love the process of making a poem and putting together a book. The more I learn, the more I see how much freedom poetry offers to both readers and writers.

Beth Inabinett
Art: Music—singer, songwriter, performing artist, bandleader of “Beth Inabinett & For The FunK Of It”
Current Residence & Hometown:
Saint Helena Island, SC
Career: 30 years in Counseling, Human Services & Education;
Certified K-12 School Guidance Counselor and Global Career Development Facilitator
Family: Daughter of Shirley Brown Inabinett & the late Heyward Inabinett; 2 older sisters: Sharon & Gail; 1 younger brother:
Heyward, II “Reggie”; 2 sons: Zuhri (21) & Solomon (17); bonus daughter: Tiana Parker; bonus grandchildren: Keion & Kyana.

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
I love how music allows me to be and feel free; it connects me with other beautiful souls; it spreads peace, love, light, and laughter. I get to relive my childhood and honor my favorite artists. Music inspires me to dance, move, and raise my vibration. Music is spiritual; it heals me and many others. It’s a gift my mom unselfishly passed on to me, and I am forever grateful. Singing is my tribute to her.

Alicia Franco
Art: Aquatic Adventure / Wildlife imagery
Career: Underwater Photographer & Videographer
Current Residence: Hilton Head Island
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, HI
Family: Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Boyfriend & 2 fluffy dogs!

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
My mom was the person who originally instilled an appreciation of photography within me. Throughout my childhood, her Nikon film camera was never far from her reach as she captured everything from my first swim to saturated sunsets behind our house, contrasted by the silhouette of a Great Blue Heron. Our home was adorned with precious moments preserved for a lifetime thanks to her keen eye.

At the age of 15, I got my first job as a photographer on a dolphin swimming tour off the west coast of Oahu. I had previously dabbled with my mom’s camera but when my new boss handed me a DSLR inside a water housing and told me, ‘If you can dive 20 feet down to the bottom on a single breath of air and take a picture of those fish, I’ll hire you,’ an entirely new world opened up to me.

Elizabeth (Beth) Schlieger
Art: Multifaceted Artist—works range from traditional painting to theatrical costumes
Career: High School Visual Art Teacher and Board President May River Theatre (Artistic Director, Director, Costume Designer)
Current Residence: Bluffton Hometown: Marshall, Wisconsin
Family: Married 31 years to Don Schlieger;
2 children: Alex (28) and Cait (27)

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose this medium? What do you love about it?
My earliest memories of creating are drawing horses with my father; I was about 4. I do not work with one medium, but flow amongst painting, ceramics, and costume design. I love the physicality of the medium, and when I have the time to fully immerse myself in the process, the rest of the world disappears. With ceramics there is something in the process that connects me to the environment. Utilizing material that was harvested from the earth and creating art from it just feels like the ultimate human experience. And with costumes, who doesn’t like creating a whole new world? I started making my own costumes in elementary school. As an actual art, I landed a job at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina as a wardrobe supervisor. They were down a draper, so I tapped into my earlier interests, and here I am, designing and creating the costumes for all of the shows at May River Theatre. For me creating the visual experience of a production is the ultimate “painting”, just the “brushes” are different.