Lottery chief named chair of First Federal

The head of South Carolina’s lottery has been tapped to oversee on the boards of directors at First Federal of Charleston and its holding company.

Paula Harper Bethea of Hilton Head Island was elected chairman of North Charleston-based First Financial Holdings Inc. and its main lending subsidiary, it was announced Wednesday.

Bethea succeeded James C. Murray, who retired and was named director emeritus.

Murray, 70, had been on the board of First Financial since 1991 and was named chairman of the holding company and its First Federal unit in 2004. He is a retired engineer and business owner.

Bethea, 54, has been on the boards of the two entities since 1996. She was named executive director of the S.C. Education Lottery in September, after serving briefly as interim director. Previously, the Hampton native was director of external relations at McNair Law Firm.

Tom Hood, president and chief executive officer of First Financial and First Federal, said Bethea has “made extraordinary contributions” to the boards of the two companies.

“Ms. Bethea has 14 years of board experience in virtually every aspect of our companies operations and governance,” Hood said in statement.

Thomas J. Johnson succeeded Bethea as vice chairman. He has been on the boards of First Financial and First Federal since 1998 and 2002, respectively. He is president, CEO and owner of F&J Associates, which operates automobile dealerships in the southeastern United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Separately, First Financial said it declared a quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents a share payable Feb. 26 to stockholders of record as of Feb. 12.

With 65 branches and assets of $3.5 billion, First Federal is the largest bank based in the Charleston area.