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About Antioch Educational Center
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AEC is governed by a Board of Directors. Among our highly qualified Board Members are former state legislators, educators, bank managers, auditors, and more. AEC works with a small programming and administrative staff, including an Executive Director, a legal clerk, an administrative assistant, and two medical training instructors. In addition to its regular staff, AEC continues to attract dedicated volunteers who have chosen to help on a one-time project or continue their valuable contribution of time throughout the year. Currently, AEC benefits from 117 regular volunteers. Please contact our office for additional information and volunteer opportunities.
Message from the Executive Director
It is with great honor that I address you as the new Executive Director of Antioch Educational Center (AEC). Having been engaged in various capacities within AEC since 2009, I now have the privilege of serving as the new Executive Director.
Today, I wish to formally share my journey with AEC, beginning as a volunteer, progressing to Board member, Executive Officer, and ultimately to my current role. My introduction to AEC was as a community spokesperson for the Tarboro Community Center. At the time, AEC had been established for two years and aimed to develop programs for the Tarboro Community. I continue to be deeply impressed by the commitment and dedication demonstrated by AEC’s grassroots initiatives and its founding members, both of which are truly exceptional.
Surenda Burrison Executive Director
​Over the years, I have contributed as a long-standing volunteer and served six years on AEC’s Advisory Council. Subsequently, I accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors. After stepping away for one term in 2018 to focus on managing gifts and in-kind donations as a volunteer, I rejoined the Board in 2021. In my capacity as Vice Chairperson, I was unanimously elected to AEC’s Executive Committee, a position I held until June 2025, when I was unanimously appointed as AEC’s second Executive Director.
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My tenure with AEC has been marked by meaningful experiences and opportunities to collaborate with many outstanding individuals. Notably, AEC’s founder and first Executive Director, Jackie O’Bannon, has set an extraordinary precedent of commitment and service. Her unwavering dedication is complemented by her strong sense of purpose. Throughout AEC’s first eighteen years, I supported Ms. O’Bannon in all her efforts that served thousands of low-income residents across Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton Counties. These experiences taught me the value of partnerships, collaborations, and mutual respect, proving that significant challenges can indeed be overcome.
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Guided by these principles, I accepted the invitation to serve as Executive Director of Antioch Educational Center. I am committed to fostering a collaborative approach involving faith-based institutions, nonprofits, businesses, individuals, foundations, and service groups—all working together to support those in greatest need.
As I have accepted this new position in leading our organization into the future, I recognize that new challenges and opportunities lie ahead. I am confident that we will achieve numerous successes, further enhancing the services and programs we provide to our communities.
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I encourage each of you to partner with AEC as we broaden our programs and outreach, especially for seniors and children who require our support most. I look forward to meeting and working with you all in the years ahead. Together, we have made a significant impact on the lives of many in our community.
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Surenda Burrison
Executive Director
Antioch Educational Center