Lisa and Titus Glover with daughter Amelia
Looking back over his lifespan, Titus Glover sees a historic pattern emerging: he was born and grew up in the historic district of Asheville N.C.; he now lives in Columbia’s venerable Forest Hills neighborhood, and his career is focused on Development for the Historic Columbia Foundation.
“I don’t know whether I’m following historic areas around, or they just find me,” he muses. “I do know Columbia is a city that appreciates and supports its heritage. There is a wonderful stock of historic buildings and areas here, and we are excited about preserving, protecting, and growing them all.”
Glover has been on the job less than three months, but already things are happening. He and Robin Waites, executive director of the Columbia Historic Foundation, have been immersed in planning for extensive renovations, indoors and out, of the historic properties, and for the fundraising that must succeed to make it all possible.
“We are stewards of seven important buildings downtown,” says Glover. “The Woodrow Wilson House, the Robert Mills House and Park, the Hampton- Preston Mansion, the Mann- Simons Cottage, the Modjeska Simkins House, the Seibels House, and the Big Apple. Most of these are owned by the Foundation, and we partner with the other owners to provide support.”
Titus Glover proposed to Lisa Chavis at the Roberta Flack concert at the Koger Center.
Columbia soon will be seeing and hearing more details about the plans for these historic properties. Buildings and gardens are in need of major makeovers, especially at the Woodrow Wilson House. A combination of grants, increasing membership, and donations are needed to get the project accomplished.
“We are revving the engine now,” said Glover. “Just think, all within an area of a few blocks’ in walking distance of downtown. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”
In 2011, the Historic Columbia Foundation will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. It was in 1951 that a determined group of Columbia women banded together to alert the city to the plans for demolishing the only private residence designed by renowned architect Robert Mills. Since raising the community conscience, the organization has grown steadily larger and stronger.
After his Asheville boyhood, Titus Glover graduated from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, and remained there in a successful career in banking for about four years. Then, giving in to wanderlust, he took a sabbatical to travel and do some writing, and as fate would have it, he met up with Hollywood movie director Michael Mann
the filming of the Mohicans in Asheville. The Last of He parlayed a bit part in that movie into 16 years of movie making as Mann’s executive assistant. “I was in good company,” he recalls. “Tina Turner, Steve Martin, Michael and Janet Jackson. We worked in Europe and elsewhere.”
At the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, he met Lisa Chavis. Chavis grew up in Orangeburg, then graduated from the University of South Carolina and its law school. He said it was a case of love at first sight.
They relish the romantic story which ensued. Titus narrates it as follows:
“Roberta Flack, the rhythm and blues singer, is my cousin. On February 26, 2004, when she brought her show, “Legends,” to Columbia at the Koger Center, she called me onstage to meet the audience. Then she had the house lights turned on, and asked for Lisa. Lisa came up to join us, and I proposed to her in front of the sellout crowd!” Roberta Flack then sang her platinum hit, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and dedicated it to the couple.
Lisa has served as a prosecutor and as a judge and was on the staff of Governor Jim Hodges in the 1990s. She is now general counsel for the Workman’s Compensation and Second Injury Funds in state government.
She also became the catalyst which has kept the Glovers here in Columbia. She had no interested in putting 3,000 miles between her and her family and friends in South Carolina. Now Titus and Lisa Glover are rock- ribbed Columbia residents and have added a new generation, Amelia, age two.
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