MURRELLS INLET, S.C., – Brookgreen Gardens, a leading conservator of Lowcountry culture and history, presented the Huntington Exemplary Service Award to three recipients who have made meaningful contributions to improving race relations in South Carolina over the past year. The award, presented during Brookgreen Gardens’ annual Gullah Geechee Junkanoo Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13, is named in honor of Brookgreen’s founders, Anna and Archer Huntington, who left a legacy of public service and cultural conservation through their work in Georgetown County. Award winners were Ashley Nelson from Georgetown County, Andrena Baker from Horry County, and Torreah “Cookie” Washington at the state level.
“We are honored to recognize such deserving and impactful members of our community, especially during one of Brookgreen’s most beloved cultural celebrations,” says Page Kiniry, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens. “Through their leadership and social justice contributions, these individuals carry forward the philanthropic spirit of the Huntingtons.”
The Gullah Geechee Junkanoo Festival also included presentations on West African, Caribbean, and Gullah Geechee heritage, a Junkanoo mask parade, African drumming and dancing, children's crafts, Gullah Geechee food tastings, and an artisan market. The project was funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Ashley Nelson, Georgetown County
Ashley Nelson, a Pawleys Island native, has dedicated her career to strengthening Georgetown County through service, advocacy, and leadership. As Senior Director at the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, she guides grantmaking and nonprofit capacity-building efforts that support equity and opportunity. She also serves on several boards, including The Village Group, the Waccamaw High School Improvement Council, and the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation Board, where she advocates for youth empowerment, educational access, and workforce development. Ashley is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Mu Phi Omega Chapter, and a graduate of Leadership Grand Strand Class 40. Grounded in faith as a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and inspired by her daughter, Aubree, Ashley leads with integrity, compassion, and vision.
Andrena Baker, Horry County
Andrena Washington Baker, a native of Myrtle Beach and proud product of the Racepath community, has devoted her career to education and youth empowerment, creating safe and supportive spaces where children can grow, thrive, and find their voices. A graduate of Myrtle Beach schools before attending Francis Marion University and Grand Canyon University, she spent nine years teaching before moving into roles as assistant principal at Pee Dee Elementary and Myrtle Beach Middle School. This year, she became the first principal of Ten Oaks Elementary, a new Horry County school serving more than 1,000 students. In addition to serving as a role model for students and colleagues throughout her career, Andrena has co-founded the Grand Strand Guys in Ties and Girls in Pearls program, equipping teens with life skills, etiquette, and self-esteem; developed workshops and courses that empower students to face society’s challenges with confidence; and has led community-building projects that foster collaboration, service, and civic engagement among young people.
Torreah “Cookie” Washington
Born in Rabat, Morocco, and now based in Charleston, Torreah “Cookie” Washington is a fourth-generation needleworker and nationally recognized fiber artist whose quilts honor African ancestral heritage and the Divine Feminine, continuing a centuries-old tradition of storytelling through cloth. For more than 16 years, she has curated the African American Fiber Arts Exhibit for the North Charleston Arts Festival, creating platforms for artists of color and bringing African American history and stories to broader audiences. Her practice of upcycling textiles reflects her belief in art as a tool of resistance, addressing environmental justice while affirming the dignity of Black communities. Cookie teaches quilting in underserved communities, inspires students through art and history lectures, and donates quilts to charities serving the homeless. In addition to her work being featured in several documentaries, including The Skin Quilt Project and The Wayshowers, for which she served as executive producer, Cookie was chosen as one of 44 Master Art Quilters to create a quilt in celebration of President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
For more information about Brookgreen Gardens, visit www.brookgreen.org.