The Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Foundation leadership and staff members have one thing in common: a passion for the well-being of older adults and hospice patients. We believe in the mission of LHSC of compassionate, person-centered care and supporting our residents, patients, and clients to live a fulfilling life throughout their retirement.
We welcome you to contact our leadership using their contact information below.
A native South Carolinian, Ernest has served the Foundation since 2001 and was named the President and CEO in early 2017. He is a graduate of Clemson University, the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and the National Planned Giving Institute. He is active in the Association of Lutheran Development Executives, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning. His wife, Laura is an elementary public school educator in chorus and music, and they are the proud parents of two young children.
DeeDee is a South Carolina native and a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg, SC where she received a BA in Accounting and Political Science. She served as controller for Lutheran Homes of SC from 2001 – 2004 before taking a few years off to be home with her children. She continued to work with Lutheran Homes of SC since 2004 in various roles prior to joining the Foundation staff in 2013. DeeDee is a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of SC and a member of the South Carolina Association of CPA’s. She lives in Lexington with her husband and two children.
Allison’s tenure with Lutheran Homes began at Franke at Seaside in 2013. In 2023 she was named Philanthropy Director for the Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Foundation where she works with residents, families, and community members to support the organization’s mission. She received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Georgia. Allison has been living in Charleston for over 20 years with the opportunity to focus on older adults and end-of-life care for two decades. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.
Susan grew up in Spartanburg, SC and is a Presbyterian College graduate. Prior to joining the team at the Foundation, Susan served 16 years in executive leadership with NovusWay Ministries. She has served on the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA Board of Trustees, as Chair, and on the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Board of Trustees. Susan and her husband, David, live in Greenville, are members of St John’s Lutheran Church, where they were married and where her parents worship, and they have three grown children. In her free time Susan enjoys spending time with family at the beach, gardening and exploring national parks.
"Pastor Chris" served Lutheran Campus Ministry Clemson for twenty-seven years. After a brief "retirement", he joined our staff. Pastor Heavner's role is to strengthen congregational relationships. Those years in campus ministry allowed him to serve students (now congregational leaders) in many of our congregations. Nearly a dozen of those former students are serving as Pastors or Deacons. Chris loves making sawdust in his woodshop and rarely sits through a long meeting without breaking out his knitting. There are three Sundays a year when he is not available - those would be NASCAR races in Darlington, Bristol, and Charlotte. Pastor Chris continues to live in Clemson. He (along with his life-partner of forty-two years - Laura) offers free babysitting to any of those alumni coming back to watch the Tigers play.
Judith moved to Chapin, SC as a junior in high school in 1990. She was married to her husband Mike in 1992. Before starting her career she chose to be a stay-at-home-mom and was actively involved in her children’s education. Prior to joining the LHSC Foundation Team in 2019 she was an Affiliate and Events Coordinator at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Judith and her husband Mike have four children and have lived in Ballentine, SC for 23 years where they are fervently involved in their family ministry.
Lynn is a native of South Carolina and a graduate of Coker College. Prior to joining the Foundation in September of 2007, she was the Office manager at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville where she worked for 19 years and continues to be actively involved. Lynn and her husband, Jim, have three children and three grandchildren.