Our Board of Directors is composed of a group of highly motivated individuals with a passion for making a difference in the lives of young adults in our community. Each member brings unique skills and experience to the table, all united by the common goal of providing financial support and guidance to local students pursuing higher education.
Our Board of Directors is led by Walter Wheeler, a highly respected community leader with years of experience in mentoring and community outreach. Walter has been a driving force behind our organization's growth and success, inspiring our team to go above and beyond in support of our mission.
Our Board of Directors is also supported by several other community leaders providing valuable insight and guidance as we work towards achieving our goals. Together, our board is committed to fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation, constantly seeking new ways to enhance our programs and better serve our scholarship recipients.
We are proud to have such a dedicated and passionate team of leaders at the helm of our organization. Their hard work and dedication have helped us make a positive impact on the lives of countless students in our community, and we are excited to continue working together towards our vision of a world where every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.
Meet The Board
Walter Wheeler Director
Walter Wheeler Director
Walter Wheeler Director
Walter was raised in Mayesville, a rural cotton town in Sumter County, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina where he earned a Business Management degree. He is a partner and technician with Fabric Tech of South Carolina, a business that performs leather, vinyl, plastic, and cloth repair for automobiles.
Walter has
Walter was raised in Mayesville, a rural cotton town in Sumter County, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina where he earned a Business Management degree. He is a partner and technician with Fabric Tech of South Carolina, a business that performs leather, vinyl, plastic, and cloth repair for automobiles.
Walter has been a lead volunteer mentor for 13 years in both Beaufort and Jasper County schools. He has served on the Boards of The Children’s Center of Hilton Head, the Foundation for Educational Excellence (Beaufort County), The Boys and Girls Club of Bluffton, and currently serves on the Boards of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and A Call to Action (ACTA).
Church, education, sports, and hard work have been the foundations of his life. His mother, a single parent, instilled the values of faith, responsibility, respect for others, and giving an honest effort in all things. Walter honors her by staying true to those values. Having been mentored for over 50 years by the late Rev. Dr. E. W. Palmer has both prepared and inspired Walter to support the efforts of Real Champions, Inc.
Walter and his wife Anita will rejoice in their 33rd anniversary this year. They have three children and two grandkids. There is nothing more important to him than his relationships with God and his family.
Rev. Paul Hamilton
Walter Wheeler Director
Walter Wheeler Director
Rev. Hamilton is the Pastor of the Bible Missionary Baptist Church of Bluffton. Pastor Hamilton serves on board and provides Chaplin services and spiritual guidance.
Carletha M. Frazier
Walter Wheeler Director
Carletha M. Frazier
Carletha M. Frazier is a community leader, real estate broker, and mentor dedicated to creating opportunities for families across the Lowcountry. With nearly two decades of experience, she specializes in helping individuals build stability, achieve homeownership, and create generational wealth.
Deeply rooted in the Gullah Geechee community
Carletha M. Frazier is a community leader, real estate broker, and mentor dedicated to creating opportunities for families across the Lowcountry. With nearly two decades of experience, she specializes in helping individuals build stability, achieve homeownership, and create generational wealth.
Deeply rooted in the Gullah Geechee community, Carletha is passionate about empowering youth, uplifting women, and preserving cultural heritage while building pathways for progress. She is also an author and empowerment leader who encourages others to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
Mark Dorsey
Brandeis Shelton
Brenda Shelton
Mark Dorsey is a dedicated board member of Heroes of the Lowcountry with a lifelong record of service. He served 33 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard specializing in Human Resources, and 22 years in law enforcement, exemplifying leadership, and commitment to others. Mark continues to lead as Commander of the Beaufort American Legi
Mark Dorsey is a dedicated board member of Heroes of the Lowcountry with a lifelong record of service. He served 33 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard specializing in Human Resources, and 22 years in law enforcement, exemplifying leadership, and commitment to others. Mark continues to lead as Commander of the Beaufort American Legion, a role he has held for four years, while recently expanding his service as District Commander of the Lowcountry. Through these dual leadership roles, he remains steadfast in his mission to support veterans, strengthen communities, and advance the values HOLC promotes in empowering future generations.
Brenda Shelton
Brandeis Shelton
Brenda Shelton
Brenda Shelton is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant who dedicated over 21 years to military service specializing in logistics and leadership, earning her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Human Resources while on active duty. After retirement, she continued her career in public service as a civil servant fo
Brenda Shelton is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant who dedicated over 21 years to military service specializing in logistics and leadership, earning her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Human Resources while on active duty. After retirement, she continued her career in public service as a civil servant for the Department of Defense. She currently serves as a Property Control Officer at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, overseeing logistics and accountability for the United States Marine Corps. Brenda brings her education, experience, and lifelong commitment to service to HOLC’s mission of empowering students and strengthening the community.
Brandeis Shelton
Brandeis Shelton
Brandeis Shelton
Brandeis Shelton is a U.S. Army veteran who honorably served for 10 years before being medically retired. A dedicated mental health professional, she holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) in North Carolina. Brandeis is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psyc
Brandeis Shelton is a U.S. Army veteran who honorably served for 10 years before being medically retired. A dedicated mental health professional, she holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) in North Carolina. Brandeis is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Liberty University with a focus on leadership, equity, and systemic change.
Deeply committed to uplifting underserved communities, Brandeis serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of BlacQuity, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting Black entrepreneurs and advancing economic justice in South Carolina. She also mentors transitioning service members and veterans through Hire Heroes, helping them chart purposeful post-military paths. As a board member for Heroes of the Lowcountry, she continues her lifelong dedication to service by helping youth and families access resources, opportunities, and inspiration to reach their full potential.
Whether through mental health advocacy, entrepreneurship support, or mentorship, Brandeis champions the next generation of leaders especially those from marginalized and overlooked communities.