08/06/2026
Great Bio of our Mayor Brian Henry!
If you have followed the life of the Town of Pawleys Island, SC in recent years, you have almost certainly seen Mayor Brian Henry at work. He is a visible leader who combines business success with public service, helping shape the character of this special place. Today we celebrate a resident who has called the Hammock Coast home for more than two decades.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROVIDED BY Jake Lee - Myrtle Beach & Pawleys Island Top Realtor
Brian Henry was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana State University and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering in May 1990. After building a corporate career, he and his wife Sassy married in 1997. The couple welcomed two daughters, May May in 1998 and Camille in 2001. In March 2002 the family made a bold move. They left Atlanta and came to Pawleys Island to take over the historic Sea View Inn, a classic oceanfront bed and breakfast that has long been part of the island story.
While running the Sea View Inn, Brian and Sassy shared Southern hospitality every day of the season. One of the favorite offerings was a pimento cheese recipe Sassy had developed years earlier for tailgates. In 2006 they turned that recipe into the brand known as Palmetto Cheese. What began as a local favorite grew into a nationally recognized product that carries a taste of the Lowcountry far beyond the island. In 2011 the couple opened Get Carried Away Southern Takeout, another business rooted in traditional Southern comfort food and community gathering. These ventures have employed local people and helped put Pawleys Island flavors on tables across the country.
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In November 2019 Brian Henry was elected Mayor of the Town of Pawleys Island. He has been reelected since and is currently serving his fourth term after the November 2025 election. As mayor he works with Town Council and staff on the everyday and long term needs of a small barrier island community. He has spoken publicly about swimmer safety, the importance of educating visitors about the ocean, and the desire to protect the quiet, unpretentious character that residents and visitors value. His approach reflects a business owners practicality combined with a deep appreciation for the place he chose to raise his family.
Brian Henry is often seen at local events, parades, and town meetings. He and Sassy have built businesses that celebrate Southern food and hospitality while remaining rooted in Pawleys Island. Their story shows how newcomers can become stewards of local traditions and institutions. The Sea View Inn continues under their care, and their other enterprises have become familiar names along the coast.
Thank you, Brian Henry, for the leap of faith that brought your family here in 2002, for the businesses that share a taste of this place with the wider world, and for the steady leadership you have offered as mayor. Your work helps keep Pawleys Island a community that values both its past and its future.
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