Mayor Barbara Jo Blain is a Conway native whose assigned work is to serve others. She began a social work career before completing her undergraduate studies, and later centered her law career on relief for the underserved. Sworn in as Conway’s first Black mayor on January 4, 2016, and winning re-election, on January 6, 2020, Barbara’s contributions as a member of the Conway City Council began two decades ago. She twice served as Mayor-Pro-Tempore, and was the city’s deputy administrator in the early 2000’s. Barbara has also served on a dozen or so boards and commissions over the past 25 years. She is currently a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, president of the Horry County League of Cities, executive board member of the Myrtle Beach Regional Council of Governments, and board member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.
Keeping Conway in the spotlight, Mayor Barbara Blain is the former president of the Association of South Carolina Mayors, Chair of the Waccamaw Region Council of Governments, and first Vice President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Barbara earned an associate’s degree from Coastal Carolina University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of South Carolina. She also graduated from the University of South Carolina’s School of Law, and has since practiced criminal and domestic law. Barbara was awarded an honorary doctorate in public service by Coastal Carolina University in 2018. Her leadership skills were honed through Leadership Grand Strand, Leadership South Carolina, the American Leadership Forum, and the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government. In 2019, Barbara was named ‘Citizen of the Year’ by the Upsilon Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Through substitute-parenting and step-parenting, Barbara is the mother of seven and grandmother of eight. She and her husband Bobby are active members of the Friendship Baptist Church. They enjoy travel (foreign and domestic), bargain-hunting, and cherish every moment spent with granddaughter, Kennedy. Barbara also enjoys writing, reading, and Sudoku puzzles. She plans to study art history and philosophy in the near future as well.
