From a homeless teen to a history-making elected official Naida Rutherford is thankful for the gift she has been given- to serve the living and give a voice to the dead. The voters in Richland County, South Carolina, the state’s capital, chose her as their Coroner in 2020, making her the first woman, first medical professional, and first African-American to hold the title in the 173-year history of the office.

In a short time, Naida has made her mark as a locally and nationally recognized Coroner and motivational speaker. Featured in USA Today, she has a strong social media following, especially after launching creative youth programs, introducing young people to a non-traditional career path- certifying cause and manner of death. She loves bringing TV shows like CSI “Crime Scene Investigators” to life for students and the community through her innovative Coroner Cadet program. This historical program is the first of its kind in the state and allows high school students hands-on experiences in STEM categories. She actively serves on several boards and committees that address health disparities and domestic violence fatalities.

Based in Columbia, SC, Naida maintains her national certification as a nurse practitioner,  using her medical experience to help those in medically underserved areas. She connects medical professionals to community groups through her ASK A DOCTOR series truly meeting the community needs in their own neighborhoods. Coroner Rutherford uses her platform to address controversial health concerns and safety matters in the community.

From natural to unnatural deaths, Coroner Naida Rutherford helps families navigate through the shock and sorrow of losing a loved one. “Regardless of the circumstance, everyone’s story around their death is their truth, and their truth deserves to be told- with compassion and justice for all.”