Foundation Board

David Bennett

David Bennett is a Charleston native who has devoted more than 30 years to serving his community and the park and recreation industry in Charleston, South Carolina. His professional career started at Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) as a Recreation Program Specialist in 1988 and within a year became the Assistant Recreation Director. In 1993, he was honored as the South Carolina Recreation Park Association (SCRPA) Young Professional of the Year and was promoted to Director of Recreation in 1993, where he created the Lowcountry Cajun Festival which is now celebrating its 27th anniversary year. In 2004, David served as SCRPA President and was promoted to Associate Executive Director of CCPRC in 2006. He was appointed by the Commission as the Executive Director in 2016 and honored as the 2017 SCRPA Professional of the Year. In 2022 he transitioned to be the Executive Director of the Charleston County Parks Foundation and retired in June of 2024.

David has served in a variety of professional and community organizations while maintaining a Nationally Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP). He has served on the boards of the National Recreation and Parks Association, South Carolina Parks and Recreation Association, James Island Charter High School, Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project, Charleston Heritage Education Forum, Charleston County Greenbelt Projects Urban Grants Review Committee, Family Corps, Bishop Gadsden Trustees, Wallington Presbyterian Church Trustees, and the Cooper River Bridge Run. Presently he is on the Charleston County Aviation Authority as a board member.

He is a graduate of Middleton High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Mars Hill College, where he was recruited on a full athletic football scholarship. David and his wife Cheryl are the proud parents of Austin, Dale, Cydney.

Gary Christmas

Gary Christmas is the founder and managing partner of Christmas Injury Lawyers, LLC and has been featured in publications and media outlets such as CNN, CBS News, ABC News, NBC News, USA Today, The Post and Courier, The State Newspaper, Work Comp Central and South Carolina Lawyer's Weekly, just to name a few. He obtained a $10,000,000.00 settlement in the Jamal Sutherland case which is the largest Civil Rights settlement in the history of South Carolina. His practice is dedicated to protecting the rights of the injured and their families, including representing those injured on the job under the South Carolina Workers Compensation Act, the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, the Defense Base Act, the Federal Employees Liability Act, and Jones Act Seamen. Gary is a Certified Circuit Court Mediator who has practiced law for over 25 years and takes great pride in developing meaningful relationships with his clients and other professionals.

Barbara Denton

Barbara grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. A graduate of Saint Mary’s School of Nursing there, she and her late husband moved to Charleston in the 1970s where she worked at Saint Francis Hospital Coronary Intensive Care Unit. In the 1980s Barbara and Ted began to own and operate Piggly Wiggly grocery stores and become very involved in the communities where the stores were located. She served on the Board of Easter Seals, the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston, and the Hollings Cancer Center Advisory Board. In the 1990’s they moved to Hendersonville North Carolina, and Barbara resumed her career in nursing with Hospice. Together they started a non-profit in 1993 for children with cancer called Camp Merry Times, which is still going strong. She returned to Charleston after the death of her husband to cancer and was motivated to start a non-profit called Camp Rise Above in 2008. Camp Rise Above serves children with serious medical illnesses, disabilities and life challenges. She continues to serve on this board. In 2022 she was named “Charleston Hometown Hero” for her work with children with a variety of illnesses.  Her favorite quote is from Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get; we make life by what we give.” Barbara now resides in Mount Pleasant with her husband Don and sees her greatest accomplishment as being a fun and caring “Mimi” to her ten grandchildren.

Jacquelyn Smashum Heyward

Jackie is celebrating over 50 years of marriage to James Lee Heyward with whom they share children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A proud product of Baptist Hill High School, a graduate of St. Augustine’s College with a BA degree and Winthrop University, with a Master’s degree, and further studies at The Citadel. Her career spanned over 30 years as a teacher and guidance counselor in Charleston County. Some of her proudest moments are seeing her former students blossom into the adults of their chosen paths. After retirement, her decision to continue to serve her community lead to being elected Mayor of the Town of Hollywood for 12 years. During which time, many opportunities were created for recreational activities through the development of community parks.

Lisa King

Lisa King grew up in the Lowcountry. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and furthered her studies with a master’s degree in computer resources and information management. Lisa is employed as a Senior Systems Analyst for Charleston Water Systems. Lisa was first appointed to the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission in 2004. She served as Vice Chair from 2005 to 2006 and served as Chair from 2008-2010. During her tenure, she also chaired the Finance Committee and the Planning and Development Committee. Lisa is actively involved with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she serves over 46 chapters in SC as the State Coordinator, and serves on a national committee of the international membership organization. She is also a chapter officer for The Charleston (SC) Chapter of the Links Inc. Lisa and her husband, John, have two children and one granddaughter.

Seth A. Levy

Seth Levy was born and raised in Union, New Jersey.  He attended University of Rochester and then West Virginia College of Law. His early career focused on energy and environmental law. He worked for Ebasco Environmental in the late 1980's, a Manhattan law firm in the early 1990's, and then AEGIS Insurance, a captive of the gas and electric utility industries in the mid to late 1990's. He retired from law and moved to Mount Pleasant with his wife Heidi and two young children in August of 1998. From 1998 to 2015, he owned with his wife Heidi a very successful floor services company called Maxcare Floor Care. After Heidi died from cancer in 2015 and with two teenage children, he became a South Carolina lawyer and opened his law office in late 2017, specializing in Estate Planning and Probate Administration. He has an office in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley and employs two paralegals and a legal assistant. His son Sammy lives in San Francisco and his daughter Ellie attends Brandeis University. Seth lives in the Old Hobcaw section of Mount Pleasant. For relaxation, Seth plays old man's basketball and backpacks in the mountains.  

Jeff Odom

Jeff Odom grew up in eastern North Carolina and graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 2003. In 2004, he graduated from the National Automobile Dealers Association Dealer Candidate Academy, while working in the automotive industry. He moved to Charleston in 2005 to accept a position with Southcoast Community Bank, later acquired by Pinnacle Financial Partners. He has earned diplomas from the SCBA South Carolina Bankers School and The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.  He also holds a certificate from the Risk Management Association’s Commercial Lending School at East Carolina University. Jeff lives in downtown Charleston and his passions include helping small businesses thrive, travelling, and spending time outdoors, hiking and camping, with his two dogs.

Eva Ravenel

Eva Ravenel is a native of Charleston. She grew up West of the Ashley and after graduating Ashley Hall School traveled for one year with “Up with People” before attending the University of South Carolina. She has been in the Real Estate business since 1980 but now is retired. She served on the board of the Outreach for the Mentally Ill and the Charleston Disability Board. She is an elder at the French Huguenot Church. She lives in downtown Charleston and is the widow of Dr. Rene Ravenel and has one child.

Ronald Ravenell

Ronald A. Ravenell graduated from Claflin University in 1970 with a B.A. Degree in Social Studies. He also earned a Master’ s Degree in Health Care Administration and Human Resources from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served two years on active duty stationed on board the USS Columbus CG-12, Norfolk, Virginia/Roto, Spain and in the Naval Reserves. He was employed at Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center, Inc., Charleston, SC as a Health Advocate, Administrative Assistant to the Medical Director, and Operations Manager for fifteen years, St. James-Santee Family Health Center, McClellanville, SC as Executive Director for fourteen years, Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation, Johns Island, SC as Executive Director for three years and returned to Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center, Inc. for seven years as Executive Director. He retired from the health care profession in 2013. He is a member of First See Wee Missionary Baptist Church, Awendaw, SC, Prince Hall Lodge No. 46, Free and Accepted Masons, and Beta Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is married to Thelma L. Brown-Ravenell and they are the proud parents of Rhonda Alicia, Dr. Rahn Antonio (Dr. Tamika) and they have two grandsons, Rahn Antonio Jr. (RJ) and Roman Andrew.

Stephanie Monroe Tillerson

Ms. Tillerson is currently the Town Administrator for the Town of Kiawah Island, where her responsibilities include but are not limited to running the Town's day-to-day operations. Before joining the Town of Kiawah Island, she was the City Manager for the City of Woodruff, the Planning Director for the City of Spartanburg, Director of Upstate Forever Spartanburg Office, and Planning Director for Laurens County and the City of Clinton. She is a graduate of the Leadership Charleston class of 2017. She served on numerous Boards and Committees. She served as a Director at Large for the Junior League of Charleston from 2018 – 2020. She currently serves on the Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic and the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center. Stephanie holds a bachelor's degree in public affairs management and a master's degree in urban and regional planning, both from Michigan State University. She also has a master's degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina.