After high school, Sonia attended Bethune Cookman University. In 1998, Sonia took a temporary position at a local bank where she quickly realized her passion for helping others and banking went hand in hand. Sonia joined SouthState Bank as a head teller in 2008 and was promoted to Branch Manager three years later. In 2017, Sonia graduated Bankers School at Lander University. She earned herself a Vice President title at SouthState the same year. “I thoroughly enjoy my banking career,” Sonia said. Moreover, as a service leader, giving back to her community gives her purpose beyond her career.

Sonia is a philanthropist. She organizes community service projects through her church, serves the homeless, and engages in local fund raisers. Trident United Way captured her heart almost 20 years ago and for the last ten years, Sonia has actively campaigned for them. Moreover, she has been bestowed with the honor of serving on the board of Trident United Way as Chair for the African American Leadership Council. She currently aids the Campaign Cabinet with raising community funds. The Charleston Redevelopment and Preservation Committee appointed her commissioner in 2019.

Bringing hope to others through an ethic of care is a virtue that Sonia learned from her mother, father, and grandmother. It's a virtue she and her husband Kirk have instilled in their three children. Sunflowers of HOPE Inc. began as a direct result of the vision Sonia had to bring HOPE to the most vulnerable. She is humbled and honored to realize her mission to educate and elevate those from all walks of life.