Our Mission
The mission of SERCO is to create partnerships within the Lower Richland Community to provide charitable, educational and scientific programs to strengthen and expand the capacity of the community for a better quality of life for its residents.
History of SERCO and the Harriet Barber House
The Harriet Barber House, built around 1880 and expanded in the early twentieth century, stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and progress in the Lower Richland community. Its roots trace back to 1872, when Samuel Barber, a former slave, purchased forty-two and a half acres through the South Carolina Land Commission, an unprecedented program aimed at helping freedmen become landowners. In 1879, his wife Harriet completed the final payment, securing the family’s claim to the property.
For generations, the Barber family cultivated the land, growing corn and cotton, and contributing to the spiritual and educational life of the area. Samuel Barber founded St. John’s Baptist Church, while his son John Barber served as a teacher for over four decades and a Baptist preacher for more than sixty years. The property has remained in the Barber family since its purchase, a rare and enduring testament to African American landownership and heritage in the post-Civil War South. Today, the Harriet Barber House is a cornerstone of the Lower Richland Heritage Corridor and a living reminder of the community’s rich history.