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Wedding & Event Venue Near Kingstree, SC.

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Your Magic Moment Awaits

Your wedding day. Without a doubt, it's one of the most significant events you will ever experience - when you and the love of your life officially seal the deal and get married. On this day, your friends and family will gather to celebrate the next step in your life. Photographers will be running around snapping photos, catering plates delicious food for guests to enjoy, and the DJ sets the mood for a night of fun and libation. You've worked extra hard to make everything look perfect and run smoothly. You have examined every moving part down to the tiniest detail. At the center of all your effort is your wedding venue in Kingstree, SC.

Your event space can mean the difference between an unforgettable event and an average occasion. Capturing your uniqueness as a couple is paramount to a memorable wedding. But, without the right venue location and staff, your unforgettable event can turn into a painfully average occasion. Fortunately, at Abney Hall, you won't ever have to worry about dingy reception spaces and crummy chow halls.

Constructed in Kingstree, SC, in 1962, Abney Hall is 15,000 square feet and sits on 500 acres of land, making it a large wedding venue unlike any other. Abney Hall was originally the home of Mrs. Josephine Abney, a Kingstree native who was a lifelong philanthropist. Mrs. Abney devoted much of her time and effort towards supporting charities, educational institutions, hospitals, and other noble efforts. Today, Abney Hall stands tall as a symbol of love, both in our community and for the couples who choose to get married here.

Abney Hall is an exclusive event experience unlike any other, surrounded by verdant forests and sparkling ponds. Our venue is a natural fit for several occasions, including:

Special Event Space Kingstree, SC

Weddings

 Event Venue Kingstree, SC

Bridal Showers

 Event Space Kingstree, SC

Bridal Portraits

 Rehearsal Dinner Venue Kingstree, SC

Rehearsal Dinners

 Bridal Shower Venue Kingstree, SC

Corporate Events

 Business Event Space Kingstree, SC

Much More!

 Wedding Space Kingstree, SC

The Top Wedding Venue in Kingstree, SC

The beginning of your life starts at Abney Hall. With our team by your side, we can create the fairy tale wedding you have dreamed about since childhood. Whether you have 100 guests or 1,000, our waterfront ceremony locations and French-inspired courtyard are perfect for your big day. Celebrate in luxurious style surrounded by shady magnolia trees, a private forest, large ponds, and the beauty of Mother Nature. While our venue location and aesthetic have been praised far and wide, so too have the practical aspects of Abney Hall. Looking for a relaxing, comfortable spot for your bridal party to get ready in? We offer an entire floor in the Abney Hall residence to get the bridal party ready. Want to make your groomsman feel extra-special too? We've got a private, plush house just feet from a sparkling pond that is a proper hangout spot for the guys in your group.

To make life easier on you, we also offer Abney Hall as your go-to spot for rehearsal dinners. Why book an expensive restaurant or travel to another location when unmatched beauty and convenience are right at your fingertips? Abney Hall is just the place for that very important dinner the night before your big day. We are also happy to host your bridal shower at Abney Hall. Our venue makes for one of Kingstree's most unique bridal shower settings, where your family and friends can gather to give gifts and be merry before you walk down the aisle.

With such a large, magnificent house and a vast property, Abney Hall also makes for an unforgettable location for your bridal portraits and other wedding-related photography needs. Don't take our word for it - book a tour and see for yourself why so many new brides and grooms choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Kingstree.

 Wedding Venue Kingstree, SC

What Sets Abney Hall Apart from Other Wedding Venues in Kingstree?

You've already found the person you want to spend the rest of your life beside. The next step? Finding the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony, reception, and celebration of your lifelong commitment to one another. Remember, the backdrop for photos, dancing, eating, and all other activities will be at your wedding venue. That's why we work so hard to set Abney Hall apart from our competitors - so you and your guests can focus on love and living your new life while we work with your vendors and photographers to make your magic night a reality.

Here are just a few reasons why guests choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Kingstree, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:

Venue Size

Choosing the appropriate-sied venue for your desired guest count is a critical decision. A venue's capacity affects the number of people you need to consider having at your ceremony and reception. As you're first starting out, we recommend having a guest count in mind as you're searching for the right venue. Try to stick with that number. You may fall in love with a particular venue, but if its max capacity can't accommodate your guest count, it may be time to cross them off your list.

 Corporate Conference Hall Kingstree, SC
Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

Keep in mind that this is your big day. You shouldn't feel obligated to invite the college roommate you shared a dorm with for one semester. At the end of the day, your wedding venue should be one that can accommodate those closest to you. Abney Hall is equipped for both small and large weddings, consisting of 500 acres of forest, ponds, and lush natural beauty. Whether you want an intimate wedding with only your best friends or a grand ceremony with hundreds of people, we have the right amount of room to make you comfortable.

Location and Nearby Lodging

On your big day, you're likely to have friends and family traveling in from other parts of the state or country. These folks will need a place to stay during and even after your wedding. Accessibility and ease are important factors when it comes to choosing your wedding venue for both you and your guests.

Located in Kingstree, SC, Abney Hall is situated in a memorable, natural setting, giving your wedding a private vibe in the midst of Mother Nature. While we pride ourselves on having a secluded wedding event space, our venue is within an easy driving distance of hotels and vacation rentals.

Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

When you contact us for a tour, make sure to speak with our experienced venue manager about nearby hotels and shuttle service options. We understand that your guest's comfort and convenience are important, and we're happy to work with you to figure out the best way to get your guests to Abney Hall.

Venue Staff

At Abney Hall, our staff has earned its reputation as one of the industry's most friendly, accessible teams. We will provide you with a purpose-minded point of contact that can help answer questions relating to timelines, preferred vendors, and every aspect of your wedding. When you tour our wedding venue in Kingstree, SC, for the first time, we want you to feel like you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

We would be happy to go over:
  • Venue Pricing
  • Ceremony Specifics
  • Reception Specifics
  • Catering Possibilities
  • Decorating Possibilities
  • Entertainment Options
  • Photography and Photo Opportunities
  • Venue Amenities
  • Bridal Party Needs
  • Groomsman Needs

At Abney Hall, our goal is to be your first resource when it comes to setting up and coordinating the details of your wedding day.

Decor

When it comes to your wedding's decor, you probably already have a few ideas in mind. We love it when our brides and grooms have a vision in mind because one of our greatest joys is turning that vision into a reality. At Abney Hall, our team is available to help you and your decorator fit, accent, and accommodate your fairy-tale wedding - whatever that may be.

Are you looking to dress up your wedding with decorations galore? Just want to add a few accents that tie into your preferred color palette? Abney Hall is versatile and ready to help however we are able.

 Reception Hall Kingstree, SC
Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

If you're thinking about bringing in your own greenery, lighting, floral pieces, and more, we recommend discussing your vision with us on your initial tour of our event space. That way, we can get a head start on making your big day exactly how you envision it.

Photo Opportunities

10 years from now, when you and your spouse are celebrating your anniversary, you will pull out photographs from your wedding and will reminisce about the unforgettable time you spent at Abney Hall. Your wedding photos will be with you forever, and as such, we work closely with you and your photographer to suggest extra-special photo op spots that you can only find on Abney Hall grounds.

From the grand staircase and French-inspired courtyard to our manicured gardens and lovely pond, there is no shortage of photo-op locations for your photographer to choose from. As one of the most popular wedding venues in Kingstree, SC, we have worked with dozens of photographers over the years.

Our experience has allowed us to cultivate a list of preferred photographers - all of whom have the talent to take your pictures to the next level in a setting they're familiar with. We encourage you to check out our gallery to get a sense of the scope of our wedding venue and gain inspiration from other happy couples.

Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip

The gallery on our website is extensive but be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. We keep our social pages updated with recent wedding photographs, giving you an incredible resource that you can use for your own photography purposes.

Special Event Space Kingstree, SC

The Premier Corporate Event Venue in Kingstree, SC

Abney Hall is known across the United States for our stunning weddings, but we also play host to some of the largest corporate events in South Carolina. Why choose a bland, lifeless meeting space when you can enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature coupled with a professional atmosphere? If you have an important team-building event or corporate conference that you have to coordinate, look no further than Abney Hall.

The epitome of class and style, our corporate event space is large, lavish, and chock-full of onsite amenities for you and your co-workers to enjoy. If your team needs a morale boost, don't bring them to the local Olive Garden for a cheap lunch. Treat them to a refreshing experience in our main dining room, where we can work with you to incorporate your catering options with the goals of your event.

When the hard work is done, and your team needs a breather, what better way to relax than with a quick dip in our pool? To burn off a little steam, head over to our brand-new tennis court - the perfect place to get some exercise in an ultra-private setting while you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Don't forget to bring your fishing poles for a couple of hours of fishing. There's even an opportunity to go hunting if you wish.

 Event Venue Kingstree, SC

Elegance at Its Finest - Only
a Phone Call Away

If you're ready to learn more about Abney Hall as your wedding venue, don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear more about your plans, your vision, and your needs. We know that planning a wedding isn't easy. It takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. Our goal is to help provide you with all the info you need to learn more about our venue. Once you decide on a date, we'll work closely with you and your vendors to craft a wedding experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Our available dates for your big day are going quick, especially during peak seasons like spring and fall. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Contact us today for a FREE initial consultation
 Event Space Kingstree, SC

Latest News in Kingstree, SC

Opening Date Set for African American Archives

Final touches on exhibits are underway at The African American Archives of Williamsburg. Located to the left of the Williamsburg Historical Society Museum at 127 Hampton Avenue in Kingstree, SC, the Archives focuses on preserving the voices of Black and African American people in Williamsburg County, past and present, famous and not-so-famous. A ribbon cutting for the new space will take place on June 23, at 5:30 p.m. as a part of a two-day African American Heritage Celebration presented by the Williamsburg Historical Society and C. Williams...

Final touches on exhibits are underway at The African American Archives of Williamsburg. Located to the left of the Williamsburg Historical Society Museum at 127 Hampton Avenue in Kingstree, SC, the Archives focuses on preserving the voices of Black and African American people in Williamsburg County, past and present, famous and not-so-famous. A ribbon cutting for the new space will take place on June 23, at 5:30 p.m. as a part of a two-day African American Heritage Celebration presented by the Williamsburg Historical Society and C. Williams Rush African American Museum.

Author Gordon Rhea will speak at the ribbon cutting and be available for book signings. He is the author of “Black Freedom Fighter” a biography about Stephen A. Swails. Swails was the first African American commissioned as a combat officer in the United States military, and after the Civil War became the mayor of Kingstree. He also served as a SC State Senator for 10 years and served three terms as President Pro Tem. Swails’ family is one of three families whose ancestries are traced on the walls of the Archives. The Waiters Boyd family and Anthony Tisdale Shaw family genealogy are also on display. As visitors move through the museum, they experience the history of Williamsburg County, precolonial times to current day, through the story of the African Americans who have lived there.

Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Kingstree in May 1966. Visitors are invited to watch his “March on the Ballot Boxes” speech in one of the installations.

“Sixty-five percent of this county is African American. To ignore that history is a mistake,” says Billy Jenkinson, who has been a part of the historical society close to 50 years.

Wendell Voiselle, Director of the Historical Society says, “We had some African American artifacts, but not a lot. We needed to dig around and get more history of the African American people of Williamsburg County.” He is passionate about the mission to preserve protect and present the history of the county. “To do that we need to make a more concerted effort to get that information. There is a block before 1870, and not a lot of information that you can find. That is why it is important to get the stories from individual families.”

One of the exhibits at the Archives encourages community members to sit down with their relatives and friends in the recording booth and ask questions, tell stories, record history. The interviews are then archived for generations to come. It’s the community’s opportunity to help tell the story of the county.

“Williamsburg means everybody,” says Voiselle. “This is a way of redirecting that, and we have a focus now with the new building.”

The Archives is not only a museum, it is a community space available for meetings and events. It’s a space to be shared.

“It’s not only useful for the African American community but for all the community,” he says.

For more information on the ribbon cutting, opening celebration, and a list of all African American Heritage Celebration weekend activities, visit Williamsburg Historical Museum’s Facebook page. For additional Historical Museum information or questions, please visit www.williamsburgsc.org/museum or call (843) 355-3306.

Mother’s Touch provides support to Kingstree youth

Andrews native, Yatta Gayflor opened a daycare in her home during the pandemic. In three years, she quickly grew from a daycare serving a few children to A Mother’s Touch Resource Center that provides learning opportunities and mentorship for children ages 5-18 years and older. The center serves around 35 children of the Kingstree community.Gayflor attended Greenville Technical College and Florence Darlington Technical College and studied early childhood development. She is a member of New Covenant Christian Fellowship Ministrie...

Andrews native, Yatta Gayflor opened a daycare in her home during the pandemic. In three years, she quickly grew from a daycare serving a few children to A Mother’s Touch Resource Center that provides learning opportunities and mentorship for children ages 5-18 years and older. The center serves around 35 children of the Kingstree community.

Gayflor attended Greenville Technical College and Florence Darlington Technical College and studied early childhood development. She is a member of New Covenant Christian Fellowship Ministries and Mu Alpha Mu Multicultural Christian Sorority. She serves on the boards of Community Action Volunteer Experience (CAVE) and Hearts That Care of South Carolina.

She grew up around a lot of children, and has a 10-year-old son of her own. “I have been planning to start my childcare business for so long that it kept me up at night dreaming about what it would be like,” she says. She didn’t just want to just help children with homework, she wanted to teach life skills and build good citizens. “A mentor is an extra parent or big brother or sister. We make sure that they know what is going on in the world so we can better prepare them,” she says

Her students learn how to do their own laundry, to count money and how to make change, how to use the library.

“Instead of buying snacks and ramen noodles, we create a list so our kids can learn to grocery shop, be healthy, and know how manage their money,” she says.

Students learn about teamwork and volunteerism. She is always looking for local events that need volunteers, and loves partnering with local businesses for educational field trips. She is working with Lowcountry Medical Center on July 17 to hold a CPR Class for her kids.

She spends extra time with the older group to help them navigate the particular issues of teen years -bullying and peer pressure. She helps them get ready for college. “First-time college students should have a huge support system because there is so much happening,” she says.

The biggest reward for Gayflor is to attend her kids’ award ceremonies. She sees her lessons spread from child to child in school. Success is contagious. She works with her kids on mental health and self-esteem. She matches kids with mentors that are accountability partners to help the young adults navigate through life.

A Mother’s Touch continues to grow. Gayflor has added library, museum and college tours. She takes the kids to community events. “Our outings help broaden our children’s mind so that they know there are endless possibilities, opportunities, and resources that’s accessible to us,” she says. She is currently in need of two 12-15 seat passenger vans or a bus to transport students and continue to provide exciting opportunities for them.

This summer she is offering a summer literacy program for grades first to fourth that focuses on reading, math and science. The cost is $25 per week, per child. And there is still room in the program for more students.

The afterschool program is offered year-round at the Way Makers Community Center from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. for working parents. There is a commitment fee of $40 a week per child. The Saturday Exploration program is held twice a month at the cost of $50 per child. This year students are going to be studying the brain, heart, spine, foot, and lungs. They will also build mini farms, gardens, and cities. The children will have a chance to “Travel around the world with Miss G” in Kingstree. Every month she also hosts an event at Burger Kings so the kids can dance, chat over food and bond over planned activities.

Community members can purchase a $5 hand to support the Mother’s Touch All Hands On Deck campaign. The goal is $3,500.00, and hands will be posted on the center’s boards to let the kids know they are supported and cared for.

For information about available programs for kids ages 5 to 18, for information on how to become a mentor, or for donation or community partnership information, call (843) 401-9747, or email Yatta Gayflor at amtexperience29556@gmail.com.

Eight generations of descendants of enslaved Kingstree natives return “home”

Second Annual Singletary Family ReunionKingstree is home to a population of just over 3,000 and Williamsburg County numbers exceed just over 30,000 proud South Carolina citizens and enjoys its share of tourists from around the world. During July 13-16, among the group of tourists, will be a caravan of more than 30 Singletary family members hailing from varied cities as far away as Brockton, MA and Las Vegas, NV, several areas in Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey.But this caravan jou...

Second Annual Singletary Family Reunion

Kingstree is home to a population of just over 3,000 and Williamsburg County numbers exceed just over 30,000 proud South Carolina citizens and enjoys its share of tourists from around the world. During July 13-16, among the group of tourists, will be a caravan of more than 30 Singletary family members hailing from varied cities as far away as Brockton, MA and Las Vegas, NV, several areas in Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey.

But this caravan journey has particularly special meaning because members of the Singletary family will enjoy their second family reunion. They will honor the origins of their oldest known ancestors, Caesar and Aramintha Singletary, who were married in 1869 and lived in Nesmith, in the area formerly known as Turkey Township.

Dr. Shawnna L. Thomas-EL, a sixth-generation descendant and staff member at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, has always been intrigued by the historic journeys and experience of African Americans. As the family historian, she effected U.S. Census data to uncover information about their ancestral origins. During the pandemic, family members began meeting on a monthly Zoom call, dreaming of the time when they would be able to come together safely, which they did during the first family reunion in August of 2022 in Waldorf, Maryland, the home of the family’s matriarch and fifth-generation descendant, Ella Louise Harrison. Harrison is a retired U.S. veteran who just celebrated her 85th birthday.

“We knew how important it was for our family to stay connected,” Harrison said. “And while the Zoom calls were wonderful, I yearned for us to be in person and to embrace each other. When we learned the significance of Kingstree, and Williamsburg County South Carolina to our family’s history, we knew we had to come here. I am so blessed to live to see it.”

Family members traveling to Kingstree range in age from Harrison at 85, to the youngest eighth-generation descendants, three-year-olds Moriah Hamilton and Zephaniah Greene.

Cassandra Williams Rush, MPH of the C. Williams Rush Museum of African American Arts & Culture worked closely with the family to curate a customized experience for their time in Williamsburg County on Friday, July 14, which will include an excursion to the Singletary Cemetery in rural Kingstree that bears their family name; Williams Vineyard & Farm Tour and history presentation; a luncheon and presentation hosted by the Rush Museum of African American Arts & Culture and tour of Kingstree. The family is staying in historical Charleston with a planned visit to the International African American Museum where the family holds a charter membership. The reunion will conclude with a family service on Sunday.

Kingstree native publishes book

Urologist turned full-time author, Martha Boatwright Boone, hasn’t quite hung up her stethoscope. Her new novel The Unfettered Urologist: What I Never Had Time to Tell You in A Fifteen Minute Office Visit shares her expansive knowledge of urological health, and guides both patients and medical practitioners through common sense, intuition, and both scientific and alternative medicine. Throughout her 35-year career, she has written about, lectured on and continued her study of urology. She’s counseled thousands, done podcasts, You...

Urologist turned full-time author, Martha Boatwright Boone, hasn’t quite hung up her stethoscope. Her new novel The Unfettered Urologist: What I Never Had Time to Tell You in A Fifteen Minute Office Visit shares her expansive knowledge of urological health, and guides both patients and medical practitioners through common sense, intuition, and both scientific and alternative medicine. Throughout her 35-year career, she has written about, lectured on and continued her study of urology. She’s counseled thousands, done podcasts, YouTube Videos, and written newsletters. In her new book out this week, Boon is excited to take the opportunity, if only on the pages, to divulge all the things she wanted to tell her patients.

She covers interstitial cystitis, urinary tract infections, incontinence, low testosterone, alternative therapies, erectile dysfunction, prostate and bladder cancer and kidney stone prevention and surgery. She shares things people can do before they go to the doctor, and how to interact with the doctor to get the best care. “It’s quality information for when you walk into the office, and it can save you money and keep you from expensive procedures,” says Boone.

“This book is important because in America alternative and traditional medicine have taken different roads, but there is so much cross over in what they can offer a patient.”

Urology is clearly a calling for Boone, not just a job. She chose the field because a department chair told her urology didn’t accept women. Males accounted for 98% of the urologists at that time, and still account for 94%. Boon was one of the first 100 women board certified in Urology.

It wasn’t an easy path. “It’s hard to get women to go into surgical specialties because it takes so long,” she says. The training and child bearing years inconveniently coincide. There is nothing convenient about going to medical school or being a doctor. She found herself working 80-100 hour weeks. She admits that she chose medicine over having children. She saw women in medicine having to pay other people to raise their children. “I felt like I couldn’t do a good job if I tried to do everything,” she says. She now has two step daughters.

Boone grew up in Kingstree. Her mother, Ruth Boatwright worked as a sales clerk for Drucker Drugs, the local drug store. Her dad, Zeke Boatwright, was a Clemson graduate and was in timber procurement with Georgia Pacific. Boone graduated from Kingstree High School in 1975.

“I grew up in the low country in a quiet, simple, middle-class family. I got my diplomas from major universities, but the biggest lessons that served me most were the ones I learned in Kingstree,” she says.

Bruce Floyd, an English teacher, taught her to love words and language. Her history teacher, Beth Cottingham taught her critical thinking. They were skills she used throughout her career.

Boone’s interest in medicine came from her years in high school working in the office of Doctor Homer Gamble. She went to the College of Charleston and then went on to the Medical University of South Carolina. She also attended Tulane University and the University of California-Davis Medical Center. She continued her education in academic medicine at Ochsner, Louisiana State University and The Medical College of Georgia, before starting her private practice. Medicine took her to Atlanta where she practiced for 25 years, 22 of which as a solo practitioner. She was named TOP DOC in Atlanta by her peers for 13 years.

Though retired for two years now, she continues to be a recognized expert in her field. She has written two additional novels, The Big Free (2018), which she has been told equates to a little bit of humor like M.A.S.H., a little drama like ER, and a little bit of House, if you are up on your medical pop culture.

The first in her Big Free series, the novel is loosely based on the first six months as a surgical resident at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Charity Hospital was one of the free hospitals in Louisiana that were destroyed during Katrina. “That was the reason I wrote the book, I wanted them to be memorialized,” she says. The second book in the series, Mother Charity, comes out March 5, 2024.

“I’m just a small-town girl with small town values and a small-town education who has done well,” she says.

Boone’s books can be purchased online at Amazon. Signed copies can be purchased from bookmiser.net. Follow Dr. Martha Boone on Facebook: @marthabboone.

Mullins baseball ends season with 17-2 win over Kingstree

Auctioneers infielder Sy’Ree Livingston (2) bats for Mullins during game against Kingstree on April 25, 2023.Pitcher Adam Shaw and the Mullins Auctioneers defense allowed just two runs in their 17-2 win over Kingstree to ...

Auctioneers infielder Sy’Ree Livingston (2) bats for Mullins during game against Kingstree on April 25, 2023.

Pitcher Adam Shaw and the Mullins Auctioneers defense allowed just two runs in their 17-2 win over Kingstree to end the season.

The Mullins Auctioneers hit the field for the season finale at home against Kingstree on April 25, 2023.

Auctioneers slugger Lonnie Alston (25) bats for Mullins during game against Kingstree on April 25, 2023.

Mykell Rayson (5) reaches base for Mullins during game against Kingstree on April 25,

Dorian Smith (1) and the Mullins Auctioneers baseball team hits the field against Kingstree on April 25, 2023.

Coach Johnathan Elliott and the Mullins Auctioneers baseball team host Kingstree in the season finale on April 25, 2023. Mullins won 17-2.

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Staff Reports

MULLINS, S.C. – Coach Johnathan Elliott and the Mullins Auctioneers baseball teams closed-out the regular season with a 17-2 win over Kingstree on Tuesday night.

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