STAFF
Executive Director
Rebekka Byrd
Blythewood, SC
Rebekka earned her PhD in Health Sciences with a research focus on healthcare disparities. She also holds a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration. Her professional background includes work in nonprofit organizations and clinical settings.
Before beginning her academic journey and transitioning into healthcare, Rebekka served five years in the Army as an active-duty multiple-launch rocket system crew member. She particularly enjoyed operating M270 track vehicles and launching live-fire 227 mm rockets.
As she transitioned out of the military, Rebekka met her husband Nick, and the two were married two years later. Nick remains on active duty and is approaching his well-earned retirement.
Outside the office, Rebekka enjoys exploring the world with her husband and 6 kids—especially by cruise ship. Some of her favorite destinations so far include Iceland and Belize, and she looks forward to expanding her travel adventures even further.
Outreach Coordinator
Sherwood Toatley
As a result of a bicycle accident, Sherwood sustained a C1/C2 incomplete spinal cord injury at the age of 11. Despite his life altering injury, Sherwood was determined to continue to live the life he was given. After 20 years of service and “Paying it Forward”, Sherwood retired from his full time career in Emergency Communications as a 911 Dispatch/Telecommunicator Manager. However, after 5 months of retirement, boredom began to surface. In 2010, he returned to working part time for the City of Columbia as a 911 Administrative Assistant and later transitioned over to the Columbia City Police Department as a Police Associate for a combined 15 years.
From 2010-2019, Sherwood began volunteering with the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association. In 2013, Sherwood joined the Board of Directors, and later began serving as the President from 2014-2018. From 2013-2019, Sherwood worked as a Spinal Cord Injury Peer Navigator with the Medical University of South Carolina “PHOENIX” Research Grant. In 2023, Sherwood began serving on the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund Board of Directors, and is currently serving as the SCIRF Board Chair.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Chair
David Stringer
Elgin, South Carolina
David sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of fifteen (15) in a diving accident in his home town of Goose Creek, South Carolina.
He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and has completed coursework towards a MBA at Webster University. David is an advocate for individuals with spinal cord injuries through his work as a coach with Columbia Wheelchair Basketball, the USTA Southern Wheelchair Tennis Committee and through the SCSCIA’s SCI Awareness Committee and other programs.
Chair Elect
Summer Still
Columbia, SC
Summer James Still is Michael Still’s sister Little Still or as she says Mike is the steak and she’s the chopped liver because she can’t go anywhere with out people wanting to meet her big brother Mike. He was quite popular before his accident too. Michael is a vehicle accident and spinal card injury survivor.
Summer is a radio & television personality who made the biggest Market jump from Myrtle Beach to Los Angeles with her own radio show.
Interviewing on the RadCarpets and being on the scene was second nature every day until her brother and mom asked her to return.
Summer attended college in Los Angeles for film and Broadcasting but returned to SC when she got that call.
Upon her arrival Summer found a radio show in Columbia then won SCBroadcasting Awards 2019
‘Star Awards Personality of the Year’.
Being honored for her Radio show also meant the opportunities to help others in the Midlands could become a reality and then she joined our team and the SC Assistive Technology program where she has the opportunity to share equipment and knowledge for those with different abilities across the state.
Summer said “…coming back to help Michael in his mission was the best choice ever. We call ourselves The BookEndKids, our mom named us that because he’s the eldest child and I, the youngest…BookEnds! Michael inspires everything I do. Through his eyes, I have learned to see more than I could ever have seen on my own no matter how far I traveled”.
We hope together to make a difference and to make his life as happy as possible. We are honoured to be a part of the SCSCIA and to speak about it any chance we get asked.
Treasurer
Pauline Hunt
Conway, SC
Pauline, an Ohio native, retired in 2010 from the world of finance in both Government and industry business banking. She and her husband, Larry, then moved to Conway, South Carolina. In 2012, Pauline and her husband were involved in a motorcycle accident. Both sustained spinal cord injuries, but Larry regained his ability to walk. At L-1 and T-12 areas, Pauline's injury left her as an incomplete paraplegic. Pauline is also a retired volunteer Paramedic/Firefighter. She and her husband are active in their local Breeze group. Pauline enjoys crafts, reading, fishing, her cat, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She feels her purpose in life is to advocate for improving the quality of life for current and future generations with special challenges and spinal cord injuries. Her motto: Always smile!
Secretary
Dot Colson
Dot suffered a spinal cord injury 23 years ago in a boating accident at 42 years old. Her life changed, but maybe for the better. At the time of her injury, she was in Finance at Denny’s corporate headquarters. After her injury she continued to work part-time for 16 more years at Denny’s corporation.
Dot previously served as the treasurer on the board for the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association while also starting and leading a Spinal Cord Injury support group in Spartanburg. She has also served on the Spartanburg Mayor’s Committee for people with Disabilities and on the board of Habitat for Humanity.
Dot never lets her injury get in the way of what she wants to do. She has tiled her bathroom walls, made padded headboards, stained kitchen cabinets, sewn countless drapes and decorated both her children’s homes. Dot even bought a chop saw and nail gun to make a dog cage and laundry cart. She has two adult children, age 40 and 36.
MEMBERS
Lewis Stephens
Columbia, SC
Lewis Stephens is originally from Woodruff, SC, in Spartanburg County. Due to a diving accident in 1981, Lewis was left a C4-5 quadriplegic. After months of rehab at Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation and at home, Lewis never looked back.
After two years of college at Spartanburg Methodist College before his accident, and nearly two more years commuting to USC-Spartanburg, Lewis found out about a unique program at the University of South Carolina. The program housed eight students with severe disabilities and 24-7 care at Woodrow Dorm on the Horseshoe.
While a student at USC, Lewis began honing his advocacy skills. In 1985, Lewis graduated with a Bachelor’s in Management Science and was soon hired at SCANA Corp., now Dominion Energy. During his nearly four-decade work career, Lewis has worked in Strategic Planning, Research Services and Corporate Security.
Over the past forty years, Lewis has been a champion and advocate for citizens with disabilities. He is currently chair-elect for the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association. He previously served as commissioner for the South Carolina Department Disabilities and Special Needs. Lewis also serves on the leadership team of the Dominion Energy DiverseAbility Employee Resource Group.
Lewis’s passion is to help for those who are unable to advocate for themselves.
Alex Jackson
Charleston, SC
Alex sustained a C6 SCI from a car accident at nine months old and is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies Communication and a Master of Arts degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication, both from the College of Charleston. Alex is the Chief of Media in the Public Affairs Office at the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic. He also serves on the Disabilities Board of Charleston County and the City of Charleston Mayor’s Commission for Disability Issues. He has a disability blog called “Tuesday Talk With Alex,” in which he shares his experiences living with a spinal cord injury. Alex has also contributed articles to the national spinal cord injury magazine, New Mobility.
Mark Riffle
Columbia SC
As an Information & Referral Specialist at Able SC , Mark handles phone calls and inquiries at the front desk. He strives to direct consumers to requested resources from Able SC or those that may exist in the community. He also manages the Assistive Technology Re-use Program so that donated medical equipment and/or supplies may be reutilized by those with the appropriate needs.
Mark received his BA in political science from Marshall University and MA in public administration from the University of South Carolina. He worked in human resources and disability services for two State agencies during the 20 years prior to joining Able SC. He has been active in disability advocacy, peer support, and expanding recreational opportunities for folks who have disabilities. An avid gardener, Mark can often be counted on to provide fresh flowers to staff and visitors. With an appreciation for almost any kind of outdoor activity, his new favorite thing is adaptive surfing where the Kuad Kahuna can often be found angling for a tasty wave!
Susan Newman
Charleston, SC
Dr. Susan Newman is a Health Sciences Endowed Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse with clinical experience in acute inpatient medical rehabilitation, caring for individuals with various disabilities, including spinal cord injury. Her research interests include the application of community-engaged research approaches to address issues affecting community participation, health, and overall quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury.
Susan has received funding from the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health, the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation. Outside of the office, she can most likely be found holding a paddle, in a saddle, hauling hay, shoveling manure, or somewhere outdoors enjoying the day.
Joe Pomeroy
Easley, SC
Joe lives in the Upstate of South Carolina. In 2013, he sustained a spinal cord injury at the T7-T8 level due to an engine failure while road racing a motorcycle. The first few years injured were extremely difficult, but he’s here to tell you that life does get better. He was introduced to adaptive sports around 2015, and in 2017 he bought his first handcycle. Handcycling has become his number one passion, and provides him with a feeling of freedom, is excellent exercise, and is wonderful therapy for his soul. In 2020, he handcycled 6,405 miles, and he keeps piling on more miles every month.
Chasity Miles
Lake City, SC
My name is Chasity Lynn Miles, and I’m from Lake City, South Carolina. I have been a trauma certified emergency room nurse for the past 13 years. I was shot with an AR15 in August 2022, and I have a SCI at T12/L1 level. But this hasn’t stopped me from doing all the things I loved doing prior to my injury. I have a son named Boone, and two fur babies named poppy and gunner. We enjoy big game hunting and going to Africa yearly, boating during the summers, riding in the mountains on our side by side in the fall and winter, traveling, working out and training to be in a WCBB show one day, and most of all making memories with family and friends. I am a firm believer in mind over matter. We are people of determination, and there is nothing we can’t do when we have a drive and the right support systems.
Gloria Stokely
Fountain Inn, SC
Gloria grew up as an Air Force dependent then as a Navy wife until 1989 brought her and her husband to the Upstate and to Fountain Inn. She and her husband, Kelvin, raised two children. Both children are active-duty military, which they support in any way they can. Gloria is an Alumni of Greenville Tech, Lander University and Webster University. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling.
Gloria was injured in July of 2004 and is an incomplete paraplegic at L4/L5/S1 (Cauda Equina Syndrome). She has been an active member of the Upstate Breeze Groups since 2007 and a member of various SCI support groups online. She is a strong believer in Networking, Educating & Advocating as knowing what resources are available is key to improving life with a SCI. She enjoys attending Disability Expos in various states & SCI events. She is a member of the United Spinal Association.
She enjoys her grandchildren, great-granddaughter, swimming, volunteering, crocheting, genealogy, cruises & both domestic and international travel. Trying new things (ex. Waterskiing, handcycling, jet skiing) and doing old things in a new way (ex. Driving with hand controls) are ways to enjoy life to the fullest. She is known as the resource person as she has a large list of resources and contacts that continues to grow. Gloria is rarely seen without her service dog, Nainoa Hoe.
Life is only limited by the limits you put on it, so focus on the positive and enjoy!
Marly Saade