<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001243354</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001090009</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-27719</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>6 VERDAE BOULEVARD</com:street1>
        <com:city>GREENVILLE</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>SC</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>29607</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8646799000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>ELLEFSON ANNE S</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab &amp; Co.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>600</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>17400.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>8156109</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>04/23/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ Global Market</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/15/2015</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>N/A</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>600</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/15/2015</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Shares to be sold were open market purchases made between 04/15/2015 and 03/14/2023</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>04/23/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Anne Ellefson</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2830}]
144
0001243354
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001090009
SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC
000-27719
6 VERDAE BOULEVARD
GREENVILLE
SC
29607
8646799000
ELLEFSON ANNE S
Director
Common Stock
Charles Schwab & Co.
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
600
17400.00
8156109
04/23/2024
NASDAQ Global Market
Common Stock
04/15/2015
Open Market Purchase
N/A
N
600
04/15/2015
Cash
Y
Shares to be sold were open market purchases made between 04/15/2015 and 03/14/2023
04/23/2024
Anne Ellefson