Francis David Thompson (right), a layman at Mauldin First Baptist Church, received the Order of the Palmetto Oct. 1. Rep. Garry Smith presented the award on behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster. Thompson is active in Gideons International and Habitat for Humanity. He taught 5th-grade boys Sunday school for more than six decades and was closely involved in the ministry of Greenville Baptist Association’s Camp Marietta for boys and girls. He has also served as a disaster-relief volunteer for the Red Cross in 16 major disaster zones.