Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc. Board of Directors

Scott Sutton, President

Scott T. Sutton is the President of Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc., the lending arm of Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. He is also Senior Vice President of Operations of Teche Federal Savings Bank and has been employed by Teche Federal since 1999. Mr. Sutton has been in the banking industry since 1972 and has been responsible for bank operations and retail functions in both large and small financial institutions. He is active in civic and community organizations in Iberia Parish, having served as past chairman of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the United Way of Iberia, Inc.

Lorna Bourg, Treasurer/Loan Committee Member

Co-founder, President and Executive Director of the Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc., rural development 501(c)3 organization that is over three decades old whose mission is to find fair and innovative solutions to distressed rural communities. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow. Graduate of the J.F. Kennedy School of Government’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. James A. Johnson Fellow. Created and operated SMHA’s loan origination program. Extensive experience in investments, fund development and management, budgeting and rural community development program design and implementation. Member of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights, Louisiana Committee.

Sister Helen Vinton, Secretary

Member of the Sisters of Providence congregation of women religious. Over 22 years of service on staff at the SMFS affiliate, Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. (SMHA). Assistant Executive Director of SMHA and Director of Rural Life Quality. Manages $2 million in program related investments from religious congregations for SMHA. Managed a non-profit business venture, earning nearly $2 million over eight years for SMHA’s work in non-profit institution building, staff, board and program development. Co-founder of the 13 state Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. President of Rural Advancement Foundation - U.S.A. which deals with food security, and intellectual and genetic property rights of indigenous peoples on an international level. Served as national editor for Rural Catholic Life magazine. First woman appointed to the Louisiana State Pesticide Commission.

Marion Overton White

Renowned Civil Rights Attorney in Louisiana. Chased by police dogs as a young man for attempting to desegregate the state capital restaurant and restrooms, he went on to become President of the Louisiana State NAACP and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Louisiana Committee. Filed the suit which struck down Louisiana’s Miscegenation Act that prohibited blacks and whites from marrying or cohabitating. Co-counsel with the great A.P. Tureau to desegregate schools in 13 Louisiana parishes (counties). Ran second to Attorney General William Guste of New Orleans for the seat of Attorney General in Louisiana. Known to take pro-bono cases for both white and black poor defendants especially those involving alleged police brutality.



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