Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc.

Matthews provides more than 27 years non-profit experience with SMHA with program focus on housing and human development. She obtained her Louisiana Mortgage Loan Originators license in September 2012. She has worked with Southern Mutual Financial Services Inc. since 2000 managing more than $20.5 million in mortgage, consumer and business loans. Matthews has significant experience with credit counseling, loan origination, loan packaging, mortgage financing and loan closing. She also has worked as a consultant with rural communities and school boards. She was a finalist for the McAuley Institute’s 2002 Courage in Community award.

Contact Me

• Phone: (337) 367-3277
• Email: smfs@southernmutualhelp.org

Following a long and successful career as a professor of Communicative Disorders and as Dean of the College of General Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dr. Hayes has emerged an important voice in Louisiana Studies and in the Acadiana community as the Founder and President of the Iberia African American Historical Society (IAAHS). Dr. Hayes is a life-long resident of Iberia Parish, retired from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette after 26 years of service (Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders, 1986-2013; and Dean of the College of General Studies, 1998-2013). Dr. Hayes is the descendant of West African ancestors who were enslaved on local plantations. Four of her ancestral grandfathers fought for their freedom as members of the United States Colored Infantry (USCI) formerly, the Corps d’Afrique, and one fought as a member of the Union Navy. Following retirement, Dr. Hayes began researching the history of African Americans of Iberia Parish from the pre-colonial Louisiana period to the end of the Jim Crow era of segregation. What she found was exciting and demanded to be shared with the Iberia Parish community. Read more about Dr. Phebe Hayes

Sr. Helen is a rural specialist with 40 years’ experience in rural organizing. She manages $2 million in program-related investments from religious congregations. She is a member of the Sisters of Providence, founding member of the 13-state Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG), former President of Rural Advancement Foundation, U.S.A., served as the national editor for Rural Catholic Life magazine and was the first woman named to the State Pesticide Commission in Louisiana. She received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Diocese of Lafayette in 2015 and is featured in Women Pioneers of the Louisiana Environmental Movement by Peggy Frankland (2013). Portfolio of Service: Expertise on environmental issues, fisher families and reports on conditions of fisheries and agriculture issues; maintains corporate relationships with Congregations of Women Religious, equity issues, Corporate Responsibility, Investment advisor, Nominations Committee service.

Mr. Metz was a former staff member of Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. recruiting for GED,  packaging rental property through HUD/FmHA, securing jobs for clients.  From 2006 to present Asst. Vice President and Consumer Loan Officer/Security Officer of First National Bank of Jeanerette and a St. Mary Parish Councilman from 1992-2000 and 2011-2015.  He was a 1992 Member of “100 Black Men of St. Mary”.

Lorna is co-founder of SMHA with 50 years’ experience organizing in Louisiana’s rural communities. She is a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Louisiana Advisory Committee, MacArthur Foundation Fellow, Fannie Mae Foundation James A. Johnson Fellow, a graduate of the J. F. Kennedy School of Government’s program for Senior Leaders at Harvard University and is featured in the Women Pioneers of the Louisiana Environmental Movement by Peggy Frankland (2013). Lorna co-founded the Sustained Excellence Alliance Corporation Inc. (SEACorp), founded and serves as Treasurer of Southern Mutual Financial Services, Inc. (SMFS), the first rural not-for-profit U. S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in rural Louisiana. She has extensive experience in investments, fund development, management, budgeting and rural community development program design and implementation. Portfolio of Service: President, appoints Board committees, reports on alignment of programs and activities to core mission, responsible for corporate well-being and risk mitigation, serves as corporate voice to media.

Martha Moore is an Edward Jones Financial Advisor in New Iberia, Louisiana. She holds AAMS® (Accredited Asset Management Specialist) and ChFc® (Chartered Financial Consultant) designations, General Securities Representative (Series 7), State Registered Agent (Series 63), and Uniform Combined State Law Examination (Series 66) registrations, and an insurance license. Martha is married to Wayne Moore, and they have three children and four grandchildren.

Scott Sutton retired from the banking industry in January 2015 following 41 years of experience. Mr. Sutton was Chief Operations Office at Home Bank, Lafayette, LA from August 2008 – January 2015. From August 1999 – August 2008, Mr. Sutton was Chief Operations Officer at Teche Federal Bank. Mr. Sutton was employed by IberiaBank from March 1992 – July 1999. At each of these institutions, he was a member of the Executive Management team. Mr. Sutton’s responsibilities have included Data Processing, Deposit Services, Electronic Banking, Facilities, Loan Servicing, Human Resources, Investment Services, Marketing, Retail Operations, and Training. While at Home Bank, the bank grew from $450 million in assets to $1.2 billion which included acquisition of 3 financial institutions. In addition to being actively involved in the United Way of Acadiana, the United Way of Iberia, Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sutton was President of Southern Financial Services (SMFS), a subsidiary of Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc. from 2004 to 2021, when he retired.