St. David’s School Staff & Leadership

Jimmy Carol Avent - School Director

Mrs. Avent born and raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina, and earned her bachelor's degree from St. Andrews University. Married to Mark Avent, they have three sons; twins, Kirkham and Hammond, and Slade, along with two wonderful daughters-in-law, Lindsey and Victoria Avent. Mrs. Avent proudly serves as "Nimmy" to her grandchildren.

Mrs. Avent served St. David’s Episcopal School as 4K Preschool teacher for fourteen years before becoming the Director in 2023. She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bennettsville. She enjoys spending time with family (including four dogs), gardening, rocking babies, traveling, beach time, and Clemson football.

Email: stdavids1970@gmail.com

Phone: 843.253.5296

St. David’s Episcopal School Board

The St. David’s Episcopal School Board directs the operations and ministry of the School and Daycare. Made up of individuals who care deeply about the ministry of St. David’s Episcopal School & Daycare, they meet regularly, along with the School Director, to resolve issues and plan improvements and development for the School.

Pictured: Seated, L-R: Lou Hendley, Vickie Buckner, Peggy Michaux; standing L-R, Sally Powell, Anne Pate. Not shown; Victoria Lowery

Learn more about each member in their bios below.

Vickie Davis Buckner

School Board President, graduated from Chesterfield High School and went on to earn a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Elementary Education Administration & Supervision from Winthrop University, in addition to more than thirty hours of advanced courses in Early Childhood Education at University of South Carolina.

Mrs. Buckner served for 36 years with Chesterfield County Schools as Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal. She further taught Early Childhood Education courses at Northeastern Technical College, and served for five years as Principal of St. David’s Episcopal School.

She and her husband Jeff Buckner live in Cheraw and attend St. David’s Episcopal Church. In addition to serving the church, she enjoys reading, flower gardening, and baking, and is active in Four Seasons Garden Club, Cheraw Red Hats, Cheraw Book Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Lou Hendley

is a Cheraw native and graduate of Cheraw High School. She attended Columbia College and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College, then married and spent the next thirteen years moving up and down the East Coast with her husband’s U.S. Navy commitment and early work years. They settled in Cheraw, their home town, and Lou spent the next 47 years raising three children and multiple dogs.

She is a life member of St. David’s Episcopal Church where she serves on the Altar Guild and served many years in the Choir. Mrs. Hendley taught at St. David’s Episcopal School for 45 years! She especially enjoyed teaching music to 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. She and the children prepared special programs to celebrate all of the major holidays of the school year.

Married to retired accounting firm owner Tom Hendley, they continue to live in one of the beautiful historic homes of Cheraw. Two of her children are graduates of St. David’s Episcopal School, proudly displaying their Kindergarten class pictures in their homes. Lou Hendley is now retired and enjoys her time with grandchildren, gardening and reading.

Peggy Michaux

attended Elon College (now University) and taught school until retiring to raise her family. She is blessed with three sons, seven grandchildren and soon to be five great grandchildren.

Mrs. Michaux served as Teacher and Principal at St. David’s Episcopal School for a combined 14 years. She also has supported the ministry of the Church by serving on the Vestry, the Thrift Shop Board, the Episcopal Church Women, and outreach programs, and by singing in the choir for years.

Sally Powell

earned a Bachelors in Physical Education and a Masters in Elementary Education Administration & Supervision from Winthrop University, and taught Physical Education for 39 years, including in Cheraw from 1975 to 2010. She served on the St. David’s Episcopal School Board in the 1980s and early 1990s, and served as a representative for the Women of St. David’s Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Powell is a member of the Old Cheraws Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as Regent from 2020-2023. She is active in the Four Seasons Garden Club in Cheraw, served in the St. David’s Episcopal Church Choir from 1976 to 2010, and is presently a member of the Cheraw Community Choir.

She enjoys singing, reading , cross stitch, crocheting, and baking. She and her husband Phil have two grown children, both of whom graduated from St. David’s Episcopal School Kindergarten.

Ron Stafford

brings more than a decade of experience in higher education and a deep commitment to expanding access to learning. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wingate University, a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership at Brenau University.

Ron is the Library Director at Northeastern Technical College, where he has led initiatives to improve digital access and promote open educational resources. His scholarly work focuses on bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to information and education for all learners.

Beyond his professional life, Ron is active in the parish life of St. David’s, contributing his time and talents to support the church community. He values education not only as a professional calling but also as a vital ministry that shapes minds, nurtures faith, and strengthens communities.