SC’s Penn Center director retiring after 26 years
ST. HELENA ISLAND — The executive director of the Penn Center in Beaufort County is retiring after 26 years. The center was founded as one of the nation’s first schools for freed slaves.
Walter Mack has served in various posts, the last four years as executive director.
This year is the 150th anniversary of the center’s founding during the Civil War. During the civil rights movement, it was used as by the Rev. Martin Luther King as a retreat center for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Mack says the biggest mission of the center is to preserve not only artifacts, but the community and the environment of the sea islands.
Mack plans to remain executive director through year’s end. A search for a new executive director is under way.
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