BDPF Board of Directors

W. Harrison Brown, Chair, holds a BS degree in Business Administration with minors in American History and Western Civilization. He is retired from the U.S. Foreign Service, in which he served as executive officer for the Press and Cultural Section of American Embassies in Nigeria, Tunisia, Thailand, China, Zaire and Indonesia. In addition to serving as Chair of BDPF, Mr. Brown is currently President of the Millwood Elementary School PTA (Sumter SC), a board member of Sumter County Library and Treasurer for The Friends of Sumter County Library.

Arlonial D. Bradford, Vice Chair of BDPF, holds a BA degree in Business Education and a MA degree in Education. She has also done additional graduate study. Her teaching experience is at both high school and college levels. Ms Bradford retired from the Williamsburg County (SC) public school system after 35 years of service. Her college teaching experience was at Winona State University. Additionally, her professional experience includes five years as Administrative Assistant to Headstart in Williamsburg County and extensive travel in West Africa and South Africa as an educational consultant for the AME Church. Ms Bradford is active in many other church (AME) and civic organizations of Clarendon County.

Brumit B. De Laine, Secretary, holds a BA degree in psychology and economics and a MA degree in education, as well as an Advanced Certification in School Administration (Sixth Year Degree). He is an experienced classroom teacher and school administrator. Retired from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System (NC), he served for 22 years as Director of Driver Education and 5 years as Director of Student Placement and Student Records. Mr. De Laine is a volunteer with several organizations, including United Memorial Presbyterian Church (Charlotte NC), Habitat for Humanity and the national De Laine Family Organization.

Luetina Ragin, Treasurer, is a graduate of Manhattan Community College of The City University of New York with an associate degree in accounting and has done further studies at Baruch College. She retired from The Hertz Corporation (Park Ridge, NJ) as Manager of Excise Taxes after 31 years of service. She is a member of Historic Liberty Hill AME Church where she serves as assistant secretary and teacher of the intermediate class in the Church School Department, and is a member of the mass choir. In addition to serving as treasurer of BDPF, she is a volunteer with the Foundation’s after school enrichment and tutorial program.

Dorothy P. Choice holds a BA degree with majors in English and French. She retired from Clarendon County’s District One school system after teaching for more than 35 years. Ms Choice has been extraordinarily active in community affairs and excels in organizing public events. She holds the honorary position of Chair Emeritus of BDPF.

Gussie Cochrane hold a BS degree in Education from The City University of New York. She is a retired teacher with a total of twenty-seven (27) experience in New York City (8 years) and in South Carolina (19 years). She is a member of Historic Liberty Hill AME. Church and sings in its mass choir, volunteer with Rolling Readers, life member of the NAACP, life member of SCEAR/NEA, member of Clarendon School District One’s board of trustees and volunteer with BDPF in addition to serving on its board of directors.

Joseph A. De Laine, Jr. holds a BA degree in Biology and has pursued graduate studies in biochemistry. He holds certificates in Design and Management of Employee Training Development; Organizational Management and Development; and Business Management for Marketing and Advertising. He is retired from Hoffmann-LaRoche where, over the years, he worked in various executive management positions charged with employee training, sales administration, marketing and advertising. For eight years, he served as a trustee for the New Jersey Youth Correctional System. After an early retirement, he served as chairman of the Charlotte Northwest Corridor Community Development Corporation for ten years. Mr. De Laine is the most knowledgeable living person on the genesis of the Briggs v. Elliott lawsuit.

Marguirite L. De Laine holds a BA degree in English and has done graduate studies at the University of South Carolina and The Citadel. She has also earned a certificate from the Non-Profit Leadership Institute at Francis Marion University. Now retired, she was a respected teacher of both high school English and middle school Language Arts while teaching in public school systems in South Carolina (31 years) and North Carolina (4 yrs). Ms De Laine has been an active volunteer in a number of organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross, PTA Board of Alston Middle School (Summerville, SC), many AME church organizations, and as director of the BDPF Enrichment/Tutorial Program. She received certification for participation in the Cities in Schools Program and for involvement in the after school tutorial program in Dorchester County, SC

Marie Gates is a business school graduate. She is retired from the banking industry (Howard Savings Bank) where she served in various capacities including Secretary, Trouble Shooter and Section Head (School Loans). She is an exceptionally active volunteer, working indefatigably with BDPF’s Enrichment/Tutorial Program, Rolling Readers of South Carolina, the Summerton Catholic Church Food Pantry, the Clarendon County Special Needs and Handicapped Board, and a migrant workers association. Mrs. Gates is an avid bowler and is active in Episcopal Church.

Hilda Green-Flippen holds a BS degree in Business Management from Wilberforce University, as well as a MEd degree from South Carolina State University. She has teaching experience and is co-owner and business manager of Flippen Contracting Inc. Her work experience includes grant management, compiling budgets, and program evaluations.

Alfreda Pearson studied Art and Interior Decorating at University of South Carolina, Midland Technical College and Thomson Education Direct. Ms Pearson owns and operates Le’Als Creations, an interior design business that specializes in window treatments. Her experience includes work as a designer with Vision Magazine, Benedict College, Carolina Procurement, Signature Realty and Parade of Homes (Lake Carolina). In addition to her membership on the board of BDPF, she does volunteer work in Columbia, SC with: a) the homeless program, b) Creating A Positive Environment to Succeed volunteer organization and c) teaching art at the Columbia Adult Activity Center for Seniors.

J. Wesley Richburg holds a BA in Business, as well as AA degrees in Environmental Engineering and in Electronic Service and Technology. He served four years in the United States Air Force and has 23 years experience in electronics and computer numerical control machine operating. Additionally, he has experience as a Pre-Vocational Education high school Teacher. Now medically disabled, Mr. Richburg has served on the Summerton Planning Commission and the Summerton Election Commission and currently volunteers with BDPF’s Enrichment/Tutorial Program.

Beatrice Rivers holds a BS degree in Special Education and Reading from University of the District of Columbia. She is a Certified Grant Specialist and Certified Grant Reviewer. Additionally, she holds a certificate from The Non-Profit Leadership Institute at Francis Marion University. Ms Rivers is a retired government administrator, having served with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an Equal Opportunity Specialist and then as Chief of State and Local Programs for the same agency. Upon retirement from the EEOC, she worked as an independent contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency (Langley, VA), recruiting Native Americans for employment as interns. She is currently a volunteer tutor in the Clarendon County District One school system, a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and a member of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Voter Education Project.

Laura Simon is a graduate of Durham Business College (Durham NC). Now retired, she worked as an accountant for the Department of Agriculture in the Farm Services Agency. She is extremely active in church organizations (Church of God by Faith) and the Clarendon County Community Choir.

Sarah Ellen Ragin Williams is a retired station supervisor for the New York (NY) Transit Authority. She was one of the 46 minors named in the Briggs v Elliott federal lawsuit. She is active in her church.