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Our founder Pelor Richards is a sixth-generation Gullah Geechee descendant, born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina, where her family's roots run deep into the soil and story of the Lowcountry. As a lifelong entrepreneur and cultural advocate, Pelor has dedicated her career to building bridges between heritage and enterprise — creating spaces where Gullah Geechee culture is not only preserved, but actively lived, shared, and sustained.
Our founder Pelor Richards is a sixth-generation Gullah Geechee descendant, born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina, where her family's roots run deep into the soil and story of the Lowcountry. As a lifelong entrepreneur and cultural advocate, Pelor has dedicated her career to building bridges between heritage and enterprise — creating spaces where Gullah Geechee culture is not only preserved, but actively lived, shared, and sustained.
In 2026, Pelor founded the Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to connect the culture-bearers, businesses, and communities of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor — a region spanning four states, from Jacksonville, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida. Guided by the belief that "Help Me, Help You, Help WE" is more than a motto but a way of life, Pelor built a board of directors reflecting the diverse strength of the Gullah Geechee community: veterans, farmers, educators, and entrepreneurs united around one mission.
Pelor is also an active participant in the South Carolina 250 Sesquicentennial Commemoration and organizes the annual Sweet Potato Festival, held each fall. This year Freewood Farm in the Burgess community of Horry County will be the hosting location. She is a proud mother of three — two daughters ages eight, and nine known as Da Gullah Dolls, and a one-year-old son — raising the next generation to carry the culture forward.
Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation: Board of Directors
Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation: Board of Directors
Chef Matthew Raiford, Co-Director
Army Veteran | Chef & Farmer | Co-Owner, Gilliard Farms, Brunswick, Georgia
Matthew Raiford is a sixth-generation farmer and the co-owner of Gilliard Farms, a certified organic, centennial family farm founded in 1874 by his great-great-great grandfather, a farm that has stayed in the family for over 150 years and is recognized as a Georgia Centennial Family Farm. Known widely by "CheFarmer," Raiford blends military service, formal culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America, and deep agricultural roots into a career spent connecting food, land, and heritage. He is the author of Bress 'n' Nyam: Gullah Geechee Recipes from a Sixth-Generation Farmer, a cookbook rooted in his Gullah Geechee heritage, and has been recognized as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. As Co-Director of the Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation, Matthew brings agricultural expertise, culinary leadership, and a lifelong dedication to sharing Gullah Geechee foodways with the world.
Ashley Reed, Secretary
Founder, A.S.H. for All | Community Development Consultant Coordinator,
Ashley Reed serves as Secretary of the Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation, bringing a background rooted in community service and youth development. She is the founder of Ash for All — Assemble To Serve Humanity — a nonprofit built on the belief that collective action creates lasting positive impact for communities. Ashley also serves as the Children's Coordinator for the Georgetown County Library, where she works to foster literacy, learning, and cultural connection among the county's youth. Her dual role as an educator and nonprofit founder strengthens the Foundation's commitment to cultural education, community mobilization, and youth engagement throughout the corridor.
Jeremy Gamble Sr., Treasurer
Marine Corps Veteran | Owner, Gridlock Firearm
Jeremy Gamble Sr. serves as Treasurer of the Gullah Goodz Cultural Heritage Foundation. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and business owner of Gridlock Firearm, Jeremy brings the discipline, integrity, and financial stewardship of his military and entrepreneurial background to the Foundation's board, helping guide the organization's fiscal responsibility as it grows across the four-state corridor.
Jamal Richardson, Media Specialist & Production
Navy Veteran | Owner, Palmetto Pest Control | Host, Welcome to Andrews Podcast
Jamal Richardson is a U.S. Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and media producer who owns Palmetto Pest Control and hosts Welcome to Andrews, a podcast delivering community stories and insights from Georgetown County and beyond, reaching over a million listeners annually. As the Foundation's Media Specialist, Jamal leads the organization's storytelling and production efforts — amplifying the voices, businesses, and traditions of the Gullah Geechee community across the corridor through digital media and podcasting.
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