Meet AARP South Carolina

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Charmaine Fuller Cooper
State Director

Charmaine Fuller Cooper became State Director for AARP South Carolina in 2022. Prior to joining the South Carolina office, she worked at AARP for 9 years as Campaigns Field Manager for the South region and Advocacy Director for the North Carolina state office. Fuller Cooper is a seasoned leader in campaign strategy and management, government relations and advocacy mobilization. Fuller Cooper holds a Bachelors in Political Science from NC Central University and a Masters in Public Administration from NC State University.

James Agens
Intern

Focus Areas: Campaigns and communications

Patrick Cobb
Sr. Associate State Director, Advocacy Campaigns

Focus Areas: Federal advocacy, voter engagement, elections, utility campaigns, regional outreach (Upstate)

Pearl Hall-Blount
Business Operations Associate

Focus Areas: Operations, Billing/Accounts payable, Local chapters

Nikki Hutchison
Associate State Director, Advocacy

Focus Area: State legislative lobbying

Sheila Lewis
Program Specialist

Focus Areas: Volunteer recruitment and management

Joseph Meyers
Associate State Director, Outreach & Engagement

Focus areas: Veterans and military families, Regional development (Pee Dee and Lower Midlands)

Sheree Muse
Associate State Director, Communications

Focus areas: Media, marketing, speakers bureau and community event participation

Jo Pauling-Jones
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach

Focus areas: Fraud prevention, multicultural outreach, health disparities and regional development (Lowcountry and Upper Midlands)

The Executive Council is a volunteer body that supports the state director and staff by providing strategic insights and tactical execution that help to accomplish AARP's mission across the state. The council consists of members from each congressional district.

Cassandra Addison
Volunteer State President
Columbia
Ms. Addison was appointed volunteer state president in January 2024. She works in partnership and collaboration with the state director, staff members and other volunteers to position AARP strategically to advance the organization’s mission. She also AARP South Carolina’s volunteer advisory body—the Executive Council.

Her career includes stints working for a U.S. congressman and Duke Energy, and she became an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer after retirement in 2016. Ms. Addison’s areas of expertise include advocacy efforts to address health care access, Social Security protections, brain health and caregiving.

Daniel J. Garvin
District 4—Greenville
Mr. Garvin is a retired operational analysis and supply chain consultant. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Rolling Green Village in Greenville, SC as well as the Board of Directors for United Quality Management Institute in Charlotte, NC.

Paula Howell
District 2—Lexington
Ms. Howell is a former non-profit executive with extensive experience in marketing, finance and technology. She served as VP, East for March of Dimes leading a staff of over 400 in 24 states. She also served as national director of Take Steps, a program of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

V. Susan Hutchinson
District 7—Conway
Ms. Hutchinson retired from a career in marketing and medical technology. She has a strong background in project management and team development. Hutchinson serves as one of the founding leaders of AARP’s Horry County community team, working to establish programming and advocacy efforts to serve the local community.

Karen Patterson
District 6—Barnwell
Ms. Patterson retired from a career in transportation and supply chain logistics. She is the state’s lead for the national Driver Safety Program where she provides training and management of a large team of volunteer instructors. She active in her local community advocating for issues like transportation access.

Dr. Cynthia Roddey
District 5—Catawba
Dr. Roddey spent 55 years as an educator serving students at every level—from Head Start through college. She is also the first African American woman to enroll at Winthrop University and is also the school’s first African American graduate student. Roddey is also co-founder of Special Needs and Abilities Family Empowerment (SAFE), a non-profit advocacy agency for those on the autism spectrum and other special needs. Dr. Roddey holds a Doctor of Ministry from Mid-Atlantic Seminary, as well as two bachelor's degrees and a M.A.T. in library science.

Lorraine Simmons
District 6—Columbia
Ms. Simmons is a retired federal employee, having worked much of her career with the United Postal Service. Her professional expertise includes operations and marketing. She Is heavily involved in community advocacy and education work leading efforts for the local NAACP, including work as a housing navigator. Lorraine also serves as AARP South Carolina’s volunteer leader for fraud prevention efforts and the annual community challenge grant review process.

Sam Waldrep
District 6—Columbia
Mr. Waldrep served at the SC Department of Health and Human Services for over 30 years holding a variety of positions including Deputy Director for Long Term and Behavior Health and acting as a senior advisor on the executive management team. He is a licensed Master level Social Worker. His areas of expertise include legislative advocacy, and long-term care issues.

Mike Wilt
District 1—St. Helena Island
Mr. Wilt served for 23 years as the executive director of Pennsylvania Coalition of Affiliated Healthcare & Living Communities. He currently resides in Beaufort County. His areas of expertise include legislative advocacy and long-term care issues.

Robert Zucker
District 1— Hilton Head
Mr. Zucker has a long history of community service including work with the Jaycees and other charitable groups in New York, prior to relocating to South Carolina. Since his move to Hilton Head in 1995, Zucker has been an integral part of growing Second Helpings, a food rescue organization serving Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. Zucker has been recognized as volunteer of the year for his efforts collecting and redistributing food. His work at AARP is focused on legislative advocacy, food insecurity and housing issues.

District 3—Vacant