Palmetto Pioneers

Palmetto Civics Project an Initiative of the South Carolina Department of Education

Palmetto Pioneers

Mary
McLeod Bethune

Francis
Marion

William
Jasper

Maude
E. Callen

Ann
Pamela Cunningham

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Mary McLeod Bethune

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Background

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina. The daughter of former slaves, Mary was one of seventeen children. She worked hard to help support her family and fought with determination to get an education while living in a segregated society.

Life's Work

Determined to succeed, Mary went on to pursue higher education and graduate from college. She became a teacher and dedicated her life to providing rigorous education for African American girls like herself, whom she lovingly called her "Black Roses." With very limited resources, Mary founded a school that eventually grew into what is now known as Bethune-Cookman University, to help them achieve university degrees. Her Black Roses would often sing, "Who built the school? Sister Mary built the school!"

Virtue

Perseverance: A determined and proactive attitude that drives steady, sustained effort toward a goal, even in the face of difficulties, obstacles, or failure.

Accomplishments

Mary became a renowned national leader, advising U.S. Presidents and First Ladies, holding an important government position, and leading the National Association of Colored Women. She worked tirelessly to improve educational and employment opportunities for her community.

Lasting Impact

Mary's relentless commitment to education changed lives and advanced civil rights. Today, her marble statue stands in the United States Capitol, the first African American to be thus honored. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune teaches us that determination can overcome obstacles and create a brighter future for all.

Francis Marion

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Background

Born around 1732 in Berkeley County, Marion was the youngest of six in a Huguenot family--French Protestants who faced persecution and emigrated in search of religious freedom. At 15, he survived a shipwreck on a voyage to the West Indies. He also fought in the French and Indian War, learning guerrilla tactics he would use in the American Revolution. Despite malformed legs and modest beginnings, he became a Revolutionary War hero.

Revolutionary Leadership

After the battles of Lexington and Concord, Francis Marion became a militia captain. He fought at Fort Sullivan (1776) and in Savannah. A broken foot kept him from Charleston's capture in 1780, allowing him to lead raids in the backcountry. Using guerrilla tactics, he rescued prisoners and disrupted British operations, earning the nickname "Swamp Fox." In 2000, the movie The Patriot even told the story of this SC Patriot on the big screen!

Virtue

Loyalty: Consistent devotion--demonstrated through unwavering support, especially in the face of adversity, risk, or personal sacrifice--driven by integrity and a deep sense of duty and responsibility.

Accomplishments

Francis Marion pioneered guerrilla warfare, leading surprise raids that weakened British forces. His leadership inspired loyalty and respect, even from enemies. His service in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution showed lifelong dedication to heroic military service for his country.

Lasting Impact

After the war, Marion returned to his home, married Mary Esther Videau, and served in the SC Assembly. He opposed harsh treatment of Loyalists--American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the Revolution--and helped draft South Carolina's 1790 state constitution. He died in 1795 at Pond Bluff and was buried at Belle Isle Plantation. Marion remains a symbol of strategic brilliance and American resilience.

William Jasper

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Background

On June 28, 1776, fewer than 1,200 Patriot soldiers repelled a major British force more than twice their size at the Battle of Sullivan's Island--the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War. Led by Colonel William Moultrie, a Charleston native, the Patriots built their humble fort out of Palmetto logs, a plentiful local resource. Faced with such makeshift opposition, British officers thought they would easily take Charleston. Instead, they were soundly defeated in a grueling, nine-hour battle, thanks to the fierce bravery of the Patriots and the amazing Palmetto logs, which actually absorbed the impact of the British cannonballs! Fort Moultrie, as it came to be known, became a symbol of resilience and victory, rallying morale across the American colonies.

A Legacy in Action

Amid the battle, a British cannonball struck the fort's flagpole, knocking the regimental flag to the ground. Without hesitation, Sergeant Jasper leapt over the wall, retrieved the flag, and replanted it on the fort wall, risking his life to keep the spirit of the fight alive. He is reported to have said, "Colonel, don't let us fight without our flag!"

Virtue

Bravery: The spark that transforms doubt into determination, showing that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act with resolute hope despite it.

Accomplishments

Sergeant Jasper's daring act became a symbol of bravery and devotion. His loyalty inspired others to stand strong. Later, he was offered a military promotion but humbly declined, choosing instead to stay with his unit.

Lasting Impact

The Patriots' victory at Fort Moultrie and Sergeant Jasper's legendary bravery lives on today in our iconic state flag. First featured on that tattered regimental "Liberty" flag and the hats of the soldiers who fought under it, the crescent continues to wave proudly alongside the strong and resilient Palmetto tree wherever South Carolina's flag flies. Each June 28, we celebrate Carolina Day to honor South Carolina's landmark role in America's fight for independence.

Maude E. Callen

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Background

Maude Callen was born in Florida just before the dawn of the twentieth century. Orphaned at only seven years old, she was raised by her uncle, the first black doctor in Tallahassee. From him, she learned the power of education and the responsibility to serve others. She graduated from college in Florida and completed nurse and midwife training at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Legacy of Care and Courage

In the early 1920s, Maude moved to rural South Carolina as an Episcopal missionary nurse-midwife in Berkeley County. She delivered up to 800 babies, often alone after traveling through dark, swampy backroads. Her lantern, weaving through the darkness, earned her the nickname “Angel in Twilight.” She also trained other midwives, taught literacy, organized clothing drives, and transported the sick to hospitals. She summed up her calling: “Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”

Virtue

Compassion: A deep awareness of and genuine concern for the suffering and needs of others, expressed through selfless service and kindness.

Accomplishments

In the 1950s, Life magazine spotlighted Nurse Maude’s service, helping fund a Pineville clinic. She worked tirelessly until retirement and later delivered meals to seniors. When invited to the White House by President Reagan, she reportedly said, “You can’t just call me up and ask me to be somewhere. I’ve got to do my job.” Her dedication to Pineville and its people never wavered.

Lasting Impact

Reflecting on her life, she said, “I’ve seen people in need so much, and there’s so much to be done, I decided within myself that I was going to make some effort in order to help them live a better life.” For over 60 years, her compassion transformed lives and strengthened her community, setting an example for us all to follow.

Ann Pamela Cunningham

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Background

Born in 1816 in Laurens County, Ann Pamela Cunningham grew up surrounded by the beauty of the South Carolina countryside and the values of service and duty. Her life changed dramatically after a horseback riding accident left her with a spinal injury. Though she lived with pain for the rest of her life, Ann remained determined to make a difference in the world around her.

Preserving a Legacy

Years later, Ann’s mother visited Mount Vernon—George Washington’s historic home —and was heartbroken by its crumbling condition. When she shared what she saw, Ann felt a deep sense of responsibility. She believed that the home of the nation’s first president should be preserved for all Americans. Ann launched a national campaign to save Mount Vernon, rallying women across the country to join her cause. She founded the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the first national historic preservation organization in the United States.

Virtue

Responsibility: Recognizing what must be done and taking it upon yourself to protect and preserve what matters—for the good of others.

Accomplishments

Through tireless fundraising and organizing, Ann and the women of the Association raised enough money to purchase and restore Mount Vernon. Their work not only saved the estate from ruin but also set a powerful example of civic responsibility and leadership— especially for women, who had few public roles at the time.

Lasting Impact

Thanks to Ann Pamela Cunningham’s vision and determination, Mount Vernon stands today as a beautifully preserved museum and national treasure. Her memory is commemorated by a monument in the historic churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Her legacy lives on in every visitor who walks Mount Vernon’s grounds and in every American historic site preserved, because one woman took responsibility for protecting America’s past for future generations.