The awards displayed in Carol Burdette’s office are numerous, save one. But that was remedied on Thursday night when Burdette received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions.
Burdette was presented the award during a celebration at Tucker’s in Anderson that included the reading of a congratulatory letter from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and remarks by S.C. Rep Brian White of Anderson.
“The state of South Carolina is recognizing Carol tonight for her servantship to the state and to the people of the state, but she’s also a servant of the Lord and that giving, caring heart allows her to do what she does and do it so well. That’s what makes Carol a special person,” White said.
A native of Pendleton and a graduate of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, Burdette has served as Executive Director of United Way of Anderson County since July 2002. She also was mayor of the Town of Pendleton in Anderson County for 12 years.
Burdette has served on the boards of Anderson University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Sister Cities International and the Anderson Oconee Pickens Mental Health Board. Her long resume of community service includes work with, among other groups, the South Carolina Municipal Association, AdvanceSC, Ten at the Top, the YMCA, Rotary International and the South Carolina Association of Nonprofits.
“I am both humbled and grateful,” Burdette said in accepting the Order of the Palmetto. “God has opened more doors than I can count over my 30-plus years of being able to serve this community, in more organizations and in more ways than I can name here this evening. I get the greatest joy in the world from serving.”
Burdette recounted some of her greatest joys over the years – hammering the nails at a Habitat for Humanity house, picking up trash along Anderson streets, delivering food to shut-ins, packing weekend snack packs for Anderson County students and reading to the children at Holland Park.
“You see, it reminds me of the words of John Wesley who said, ‘Do all you can with what you have, where you are, in the time you have,’” Burdette said. “For me, I want to serve until my final day because my grandmother used to say, ‘I’d rather wear out than rust out.’”
Burdette is the second Anderson County resident to receive the prestigious Order of the Palmetto award this year. Jeuel Bannister Esmacher, 97, received the award in August. The Starr native and Winthrop University graduate was recruited by the U.S. Department of Defense to serve as a code breaker during World War II.
