2025 Fall Speaker Series
Hilton Head Island: Legends & Luminaries
In celebration of the Museum's 40th anniversary, this lecture series highlights the artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who shaped Hilton Head Island. Explore the videos below and revisit these conversations anytime.
GREGG RUSSELL
Music & Memories: If This Old Tree Could Talk
Since 1977, Gregg Russell, the island's beloved singer, songwriter, and actor, has entertained audiences under the iconic oak tree in Harbour Town, performed across the country, appeared in films, and collaborated with renowned artists. He will share memories of his early days on Hilton Head, his friendship with Charles Fraser (the founder of Sea Pines), and his lifelong dedication to bringing laughter and song to generations of families through his performances and humanitarian efforts.
Recorded September 30, 2025DAVID LAUDERDALE
From Headlines to History: A Lowcountry Reporter’s Tales
For four decades, David Lauderdale has chronicled Hilton Head’s milestones, influential figures and everyday people who give the island its character. An award-winning reporter, columnist, and senior editor at The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette who retired in 2020, he continues to reflect and write about the people and events that shape the island’s history and community.
Recorded October 7, 2025RUTHIE EDWARDS
The Greenery: From Humble Nursery to Island Landmark
In 1973, Ruthie and Berry Edwards bought a small Hilton Head nursery with six employees and two trucks. They moved a historic 1873 church by barge and transformed it into a garden center and gift shop, growing the nursery into The Greenery — now 100% employee-owned, and one of the region’s most respected landscaping companies. Ruthie will share how a modest family venture became a story of growth, resilience, and community.
Recorded October 30, 2025
MARGARET GOLSON PEARMAN
Growing Up with Charlie's Bistro
Certified sommelier Margaret Golson Pearman shares stories about her father, Charlie Golson, and the early days of his family-run bistro, Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte, known for its French-inspired coastal cuisine and cozy atmosphere. She reflects on what it was like to start a restaurant on Hilton Head in the early 1980s and how she and her brother Palmer have carried forward their father’s approach to food, hospitality, and community.
Recorded November 6, 2025WYMAN FRASER DAVIS
Reflections on Charles Fraser and the Making of Sea Pines
Wyman Fraser Davis, daughter of Charles Fraser, shares personal stories of her father, visionary founder and developer of Sea Pines Resort. She will reflect on his legacy, offering life lessons that reveal his deep love of the land, his delight in learning, and unwavering dedication to protecting Hilton Head Island.
Recorded November 20, 2025
LOUANNE LAROCHE
Artist and Former Owner of The Red Piano Gallery
Louanne LaRoche, artist and former owner of The Red Piano Gallery (1980–1995), was instrumental in shaping the Round Table, a group of 15 prominent artists who met weekly to share ideas about art and foster creativity. She will share stories about The Red Piano, the Round Table, and the Museum’s exhibition, “It’s Thursday! Artist of the Round Table,” which features the work of these artists, including Aldwyth, during a defining moment in the arts on the island.
Recorded December 4, 2025
JR RICHARDSON, MARC PUNTERERI AND CHUCK SCARMINACH
Hilton Head Island from Heel to Toe: Tales of Community, Planning & What’s Next
JR Richardson, a resident since 1955, developed Coligny Plaza, Windmill Harbour, and the South Carolina Yacht Club, while serving in civic leadership roles. Marc Puntereri helped guide Sea Pines through pivotal transitions and co-founded the Cypress Group retirement communities. Chuck Scarminach, former General Counsel of the Sea Pines Company and co-founder of Novit & Scarminach law firm, shaped land-use policy and community association law. Together, they share personal perspectives on four decades of growth and the challenges and opportunities for Hilton Head's next era.
Recorded December 11, 2025