The Honorable Lethonia “Peaches” Barnes, Mayor of the City of Florence, spoke to the Corporate Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area during the Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 30, at The Gately Gallery in downtown Florence.

“Leadership is not about authority. It is about service,” Barnes said. “It is about putting the needs of others before your own and working tirelessly to make a difference.”

Barnes said she counted this opportunity as a great privilege as she and her brother attended the Club every day during the summer.

“Stay true to the values of the Boys & Girls Clubs: Respect, responsibility, and resilience. These principles will guide you in every decision you make,” she said.

She installed the six new members of the board, Evrik Gary, Shane Gebhards, Ian Harris, Chris Hughes, Susan McGill, and Jim Wright, and the 2025 slate of officers, Chair Damon White, Vice Chair of Governance Jeff Stevens, Vice Chair of Development Merrette Dowdell, Vice Chair Operations Chipper Smith, Vice Chair of Safety Larry Waring, Secretary Bilal Davis, Treasurer Curtis Jacobs, and Immediate Past Chair Patricia Singleton Parr.

Upcoming events

The winner of the Pee Dee Youth of the Year Competition would be announced at the Steak N Burger Dinner on Tuesday, March 4, at First Presbyterian Church in Florence where two top students will receive scholarships. Tickets and sponsorship information are available at https://bit.ly/SNB2025.