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Veteran service officer Paige Sawyer outlines expanded outreach and burial assistance in Georgetown County
Summary
Paige Sawyer, Georgetown County’s veteran service officer, said he has refurbished the veterans office, is helping residents appeal VA decisions, and will assist families with burial expenses and VA-provided tombstones; he also promoted the March 7 Francis Marion Living History Day.
Paige Sawyer, Georgetown County’s veteran service officer, said he has spent months refurbishing the county Veterans Affairs office and expanding direct help for veterans and their families.
"It's an honor," Sawyer said of serving in the role since August 2025, adding the office now presents a more welcoming space and has staff changes meant to improve response to veterans’ needs. He estimated, "Georgetown County probably has just under 5,000 veterans."
Sawyer described recent client work to illustrate services the office provides: he said staff are assisting a veteran who is appealing a decision made by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and will meet with a widow to help with burial expenses and a VA-provided tombstone. "The Veterans Affairs offers a free... tombstone for the veteran and the veteran's family," Sawyer said, noting families may choose an upright or flat marker.
The county is also promoting public events tied to veterans and local history. Sawyer and the host urged listeners to attend the Francis Marion Living History Day at Francis Marion Park on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information about that event, the program listed Ken Beesler (704-617-5045) and Paige Sawyer (843-546-3745) as contacts.
Why it matters: Georgetown County’s veterans office acts as a local navigator for federal benefits, appeals and burial support, and the office’s outreach can affect veterans’ access to compensation, healthcare and memorial services. Sawyer encouraged veterans and family members to contact the county office for help with claims and benefits.
The office plans ongoing outreach tied to the state’s 250th-commemoration events through summer; residents seeking services or questions were directed to the county website at gtcounty.org for details and phone contacts.
