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  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">UNITED STATES<BR></FONT></B><B><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549<BR></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">________________</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=5 face="Times New Roman">FORM S-8</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">________________</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=4 face="Times New Roman">Southern First Bancshares, Inc.<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></P>
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     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">South Carolina</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">58-2459561</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(State or other jurisdiction of</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(I.R.S. Employer</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Identification Number)</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100<BR>Greenville, South Carolina 29607<BR>(864) 679-9000<BR></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=4 face="Times New Roman">Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Full title of the plan)</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.<BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100<BR>Greenville, South Carolina 29607<BR>(864) 679-9000<BR></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)<BR>________________________________<BR>Copies to:</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Benjamin A. Barnhill, Esq.<BR></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Nelson Mullins Riley &amp; Scarborough LLP<BR>2 West Washington Street<BR>Suite 400<BR>Greenville, South Carolina 29601<BR>Telephone: (864) 250-2246<BR>________________________________</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</FONT></P>
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     <TD width="5%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Large accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="width: 60%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-left: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="5%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="width: 30%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-left: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9746;</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD width="5%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Non-accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="width: 60%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-left: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="5%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Smaller reporting company</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="width: 30%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-left: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9746;</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD width="5%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Emerging Growth Company</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="width: 30%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; padding-left: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. &#9744;</FONT></P>
  
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; border-left: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-top: Black 3pt double; padding-left: 4pt"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Title of securities<BR>to be registered</FONT></B></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-top: Black 3pt double; padding-left: 4pt"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amount to be<BR>Registered</FONT></B></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-top: Black 3pt double; padding-left: 4pt"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Proposed<BR>maximum<BR>offering price<BR>per Share<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></B></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-top: Black 3pt double; padding-left: 4pt"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Proposed<BR>maximum<BR>aggregate<BR>offering price<SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></B></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; border-top: Black 3pt double; padding-left: 4pt"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amount of<BR>registration fee<SUP>(2)</SUP></FONT></B></TD></TR>
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     <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4pt; border-left: Black 1pt solid; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; vertical-align: top; width: 40%; text-align: left; padding-left: 4pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; vertical-align: top; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; padding-left: 4pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">450,000<SUP>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; vertical-align: top; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; padding-left: 4pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">$38.34</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; vertical-align: top; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; padding-left: 4pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">$17,253,000</FONT></TD>
     <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4pt; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; vertical-align: top; width: 15%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center; padding-left: 4pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">$1,882.30</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(1)</FONT></TD>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low prices for Southern First Bancshares, Inc.&#8217;s common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market on January 12, 2021, which date is within five business days prior to filing this registration statement.</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(2)</FONT></TD>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amount of the Registration Fee was calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Securities Act, and was determined by multiplying the aggregate offering price by 0.0001091.</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(3)</FONT></TD>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Represents shares of common stock issuable under the Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition to such shares, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement covers an undetermined number of shares of common stock of the registrant that may become issuable to prevent dilution from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the shares registered hereunder.</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">EXPLANATORY NOTE</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The purpose of this Form S-8 Registration Statement is to register an aggregate of 450,000 shares of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (&#8220;we,&#8221; &#8220;our,&#8221; &#8220;us,&#8221; &#8220;Registrant&#8221; or the &#8220;Company&#8221;) common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), that may be offered pursuant to the Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">PART I</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS </FONT></B></P>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 1. Plan Information.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent or given by the Company to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents need not be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;) either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference into this registration statement under Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Upon written or oral request, the Company will provide, without charge, the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement. The Company will also provide, without charge, upon written or oral request, other documents required to be delivered to employees pursuant to Rule 428(b). Any such request should be directed to Michael D. Dowling at the Company&#8217;s address at 100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100, Greenville, South Carolina 29607. The telephone number for Mr. Dowling is (864) 679-9000.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">PART II</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:</FONT></P>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt; padding-left: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(a)</FONT></TD>
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     <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000670/sfb35772717-10k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">March 2, 2020</A>;</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">2</FONT></P>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and August 30,2020 filed with the SEC on <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420001363/sfb35725722-10q.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">April 28, 2020</A>, <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420002273/sfb35772727-10q.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">August 3, 2020</A> and <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420003003/sfb3823841-10q.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">November 2, 2020</A>, respectively;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt; padding-left: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(c)</FONT></TD>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000228/sfb35772714-8k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">January 23, 2020</A>, <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000527/sfb35772716-8k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">February 19, 2020</A>, <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000779/sfb35772718-8k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">March 11, 2020</A>, <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420001617/sfb35772724-8k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">May 12, 2020</A>, and <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420001999/sfb35772725-8k.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">July 2, 2020</A>; and</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 8pt; padding-left: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(d)</FONT></TD>
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     <P align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The description of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-237653) filed with the SEC on <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420001151/sfb35772720-s3.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit">April 13, 2020</A>, and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating such description.</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">All documents subsequently filed with the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement, modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement contained in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed document that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 4. Description of Securities.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Not applicable.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Not applicable.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the &#8220;bylaws&#8221;), each of our directors has the right to be indemnified by us to the maximum extent permitted by law against (i) reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding seeking to hold the director liable by reason of his or her actions in such capacity and (ii) reasonable payments made by the director in satisfaction of any judgment, money decree, fine, penalty or settlement for which he or she became liable in such action, suit or proceeding. This right to indemnification includes the right to the advancement of reasonable expenses by us, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Under our bylaws, each of our officers who are not directors is entitled to the same indemnification rights, including the right to the advancement of reasonable expenses, which are provided to our directors.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Pursuant to the South Carolina Business Corporation Act (the &#8220;Business Corporation Act&#8221;), a South Carolina corporation has the power to indemnify its directors and officers provided that they act in good faith and reasonably believe that their conduct was lawful and in the corporate interest (or not opposed thereto), as set forth in the Business Corporation Act. Under the Business Corporation Act, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation must indemnify a director or officer who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she is or was a director or officer, against reasonable expenses incurred by the director or officer in connection with the proceeding. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation do not contain any such limitations. The Business Corporation Act permits a corporation to pay for or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding only upon (i) the director&#8217;s certification that he or she acted in good faith and in the corporate interest (or not opposed thereto), (ii) the director furnishing a written undertaking to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet this standard of conduct, and (iii) a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under the Business Corporation Act.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">3</FONT></P>
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  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended (the &#8220;articles of incorporation&#8221;), no director will be liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director, to the maximum extent permitted by law.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The Business Corporation Act also empowers a corporation to provide insurance for directors and officers against liability arising out of their positions, even though the insurance coverage may be broader than the corporation&#8217;s power to indemnify. We maintain directors and officers&#8217; liability insurance for the benefit of our directors and officers.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of South Carolina law and the Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation and bylaws dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of those sections of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act referenced above and the Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation and bylaws.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Not applicable.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 8. Exhibits.</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The exhibits required to be filed as part of this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index attached hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 9. Undertakings.</FONT></B></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="margin-left: 30pt; text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="margin-left: 30pt; text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective registration statement; and</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="margin-left: 30pt; text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (1) (i) and (a) (1) (ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4</FONT></P>
  <HR align=center width="100%" noShade size="2">
  
  <DIV style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always"></DIV>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</FONT></P>
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">5</FONT></P>
  <HR align=center width="100%" noShade size="2">
  
  <DIV style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always"></DIV>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><U><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The Registrant</FONT></U><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">: Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenville, State of South Carolina, on January 15, 2021.</FONT></P>
  <TABLE style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: COLLAPSE" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=left><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></B></TD>
     <TD width="50%" colSpan=2 noWrap align=left><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.</FONT></B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="50%"></TD>
     <TD width="50%" colSpan=2>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">By:</FONT></TD>
     <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid" width="49%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Michael D. Dowling</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="49%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Michael D. Dowling</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="50%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Title:</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="49%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"><A NAME="poa"></A>POWER OF ATTORNEY</FONT></B></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael D. Dowling with full power of substitution, such person&#8217;s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for such person, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent determines may be necessary or advisable or required to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Commission in connection with this registration statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this registration statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this registration statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this registration statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that said attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.</FONT></P>
  <P STYLE="text-indent: 15pt; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:</FONT></P>
  <TABLE style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: COLLAPSE" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director, Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Principal Executive Officer)</FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Michael D. Dowling</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Michael D. Dowling</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Principal Financial and Accounting</FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Officer)</FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><I><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></I></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Andrew B. Cajka, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Andrew B. Cajka, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Mark A. Cothran</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Mark A. Cothran</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Leighton M. Cubbage</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Leighton M. Cubbage</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Anne S. Ellefson</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Anne S. Ellefson</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">David G. Ellison</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Tecumseh Hooper, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Tecumseh Hooper, Jr.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5 noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Rudolph G. Johnstone, III, M.D.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Rudolph G. Johnstone, III, M.D.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Anna T. Locke</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Anna T. Locke</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR>
  <TR>
     <TD width="100%" colSpan=5>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD STYLE="width: 40%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Director, Chairman</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">James B. Orders, III</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="40%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD width="18%" noWrap align=left></TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">6</FONT></P>
  <HR align=center width="100%" noShade size="2">
  
  <DIV style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always"></DIV>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">EXHIBIT INDEX</FONT></B></P>
  <TABLE style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: COLLAPSE" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid" width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Exhibit No.</FONT></TD>
     <TD width="1%" noWrap align=left>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
     <TD STYLE="border-bottom: #000000 1pt solid; width: 98%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Description of Exhibit</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000095014499009181/0000950144-99-009181.txt" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">3.1</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000095014499009181/0000950144-99-009181.txt" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 Filed on July 27, 1999, File No. 333-83851).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000109000909000016/exhibit3-1.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">3.2</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000109000909000016/exhibit3-1.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2009).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000109000908000023/ex3-4.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">3.3</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000109000908000023/ex3-4.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amended and Restated Bylaws dated March 18, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 24, 2008).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001090009/000120677420003003/sfb3823841-ex31.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">3.4</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001090009/000120677420003003/sfb3823841-ex31.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws dated October 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2020)</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000095014499009181/0000950144-99-009181.txt" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.1</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000095014499009181/0000950144-99-009181.txt" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 Filed on July 27, 1999, File No. 333-83851).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.2</FONT></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 for provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, which define the rights of the shareholders.</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000670/sfb35772717-ex42.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.3</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090009/000120677420000670/sfb35772717-ex42.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Description of the Company&#8217;s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchanges Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2020)</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001090009/000120677420000986/sfb35772719-def14a.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.4</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001090009/000120677420000986/sfb35772719-def14a.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company&#8217;s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on May 12, 2020).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex45.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.5</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex45.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Form of Award Agreement for Stock Options.</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex46.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.6</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex46.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock.</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">4.7</FONT></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Long-Term Debt. The registrant has outstanding long-term debt which at the time of this filing does not exceed 10% of the registrant&#8217;s total consolidated assets. The registrant agrees to furnish copies of the agreements defining the rights of holders of such long-term debt to the SEC upon request.</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex51.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">5.1</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex51.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Opinion of Nelson Mullins Riley &amp; Scarborough LLP.</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex51.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">23.1</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex51.htm" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Consent of Nelson Mullins Riley &amp; Scarborough LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex232.htm"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">23.2</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="sfb3856841-ex232.htm"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Consent of Elliott Davis, LLC.</FONT></A></TD></TR>
  <TR vAlign=bottom>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: Silver">
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left><A HREF="#poa" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">24.1</FONT></A></TD>
     <TD vAlign=top width="1%" noWrap align=left></TD>
     <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 98%; text-align: left"><A HREF="#poa" STYLE="-sec-extract: exhibit"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).</FONT></A></TD></TR></TABLE>
  
  <P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">7</FONT></P>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "sfb3856841-s8.htm", "description": "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED TO EMPLOYEES", "secsgml_size_bytes": 58258}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC", "cik": "0001090009", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "582459561", "state-of-incorporation": "SC", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-252143", "film-number": "21532183"}, "business-address": {"street1": "100 VERDAE BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "GREENVILLE", "state": "SC", "zip": "29607", "phone": "8646799000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "100 VERDAE BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "GREENVILLE", "state": "SC", "zip": "29607"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES INC", "date-changed": "19990707"}}
text: UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  ________________
  FORM S-8
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  ________________
  Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  South Carolina
  58-2459561
  (State or other jurisdiction of
  (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)
  Identification Number)
  100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100
  Greenville, South Carolina 29607
  (864) 679-9000
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
  (Full title of the plan)
  R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.
  Chief Executive Officer
  100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100
  Greenville, South Carolina 29607
  (864) 679-9000
  (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
  ________________________________
  Copies to:
  Benjamin A. Barnhill, Esq.
  Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
  2 West Washington Street
  Suite 400
  Greenville, South Carolina 29601
  Telephone: (864) 250-2246
  ________________________________
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
  Large accelerated filer
  ☐
  Accelerated filer
  ☒
  Non-accelerated filer
  ☐
  Smaller reporting company
  ☒
  Emerging Growth Company
  ☐
  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
  Title of securities
  to be registered
  Amount to be
  Registered
  Proposed
  maximum
  offering price
  per Share
  (1)
  Proposed
  maximum
  aggregate
  offering price
  (1)
  Amount of
  registration fee
  (2)
  Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
  450,000
  (3)
  $38.34
  $17,253,000
  $1,882.30
  (1)
  Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low prices for Southern First Bancshares, Inc.'s common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market on January 12, 2021, which date is within five business days prior to filing this registration statement.
  (2)
  Amount of the Registration Fee was calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Securities Act, and was determined by multiplying the aggregate offering price by 0.0001091.
  (3)
  Represents shares of common stock issuable under the Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition to such shares, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement covers an undetermined number of shares of common stock of the registrant that may become issuable to prevent dilution from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the shares registered hereunder.
  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  The purpose of this Form S-8 Registration Statement is to register an aggregate of 450,000 shares of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. ("we," "our," "us," "Registrant" or the "Company") common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), that may be offered pursuant to the Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
  PART I
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
  Item 1. Plan Information.
  The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent or given by the Company to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents need not be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference into this registration statement under Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
  Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
  Upon written or oral request, the Company will provide, without charge, the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement. The Company will also provide, without charge, upon written or oral request, other documents required to be delivered to employees pursuant to Rule 428(b). Any such request should be directed to Michael D. Dowling at the Company's address at 100 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100, Greenville, South Carolina 29607. The telephone number for Mr. Dowling is (864) 679-9000.
  PART II
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
  The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:
  (a)
  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on
  March 2, 2020
  ;
  2
  (b)
  Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and August 30,2020 filed with the SEC on
  April 28, 2020
  ,
  August 3, 2020
  and
  November 2, 2020
  , respectively;
  (c)
  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
  January 23, 2020
  ,
  February 19, 2020
  ,
  March 11, 2020
  ,
  May 12, 2020
  , and
  July 2, 2020
  ; and
  (d)
  The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-237653) filed with the SEC on
  April 13, 2020
  , and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating such description.
  All documents subsequently filed with the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement, modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement contained in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed document that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
  Item 4. Description of Securities.
  Not applicable.
  Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
  Not applicable.
  Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
  Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the "bylaws"), each of our directors has the right to be indemnified by us to the maximum extent permitted by law against (i) reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding seeking to hold the director liable by reason of his or her actions in such capacity and (ii) reasonable payments made by the director in satisfaction of any judgment, money decree, fine, penalty or settlement for which he or she became liable in such action, suit or proceeding. This right to indemnification includes the right to the advancement of reasonable expenses by us, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Under our bylaws, each of our officers who are not directors is entitled to the same indemnification rights, including the right to the advancement of reasonable expenses, which are provided to our directors.
  Pursuant to the South Carolina Business Corporation Act (the "Business Corporation Act"), a South Carolina corporation has the power to indemnify its directors and officers provided that they act in good faith and reasonably believe that their conduct was lawful and in the corporate interest (or not opposed thereto), as set forth in the Business Corporation Act. Under the Business Corporation Act, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation must indemnify a director or officer who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she is or was a director or officer, against reasonable expenses incurred by the director or officer in connection with the proceeding. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation do not contain any such limitations. The Business Corporation Act permits a corporation to pay for or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding only upon (i) the director's certification that he or she acted in good faith and in the corporate interest (or not opposed thereto), (ii) the director furnishing a written undertaking to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet this standard of conduct, and (iii) a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under the Business Corporation Act.
  3
  Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended (the "articles of incorporation"), no director will be liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
  The Business Corporation Act also empowers a corporation to provide insurance for directors and officers against liability arising out of their positions, even though the insurance coverage may be broader than the corporation's power to indemnify. We maintain directors and officers' liability insurance for the benefit of our directors and officers.
  The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of South Carolina law and the Company's articles of incorporation and bylaws dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of those sections of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act referenced above and the Company's articles of incorporation and bylaws.
  Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
  .
  Not applicable.
  Item 8. Exhibits.
  The exhibits required to be filed as part of this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index attached hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.
  Item 9. Undertakings.
  (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
  provided, however, that paragraphs (a) (1) (i) and (a) (1) (ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  4
  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
  5
  SIGNATURES
  The Registrant
  : Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenville, State of South Carolina, on January 15, 2021.
  SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
  By:
  /s/ Michael D. Dowling
  Name:
  Michael D. Dowling
  Title:
  Chief Financial Officer
  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael D. Dowling with full power of substitution, such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for such person, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent determines may be necessary or advisable or required to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Commission in connection with this registration statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this registration statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this registration statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this registration statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that said attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
  /s/ R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.
  Director, Chief Executive Officer
  January 15, 2021
  R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.
  (Principal Executive Officer)
  /s/ Michael D. Dowling
  Chief Financial Officer
  January 15, 2021
  Michael D. Dowling
  (Principal Financial and Accounting
  Officer)
  /s/ Andrew B. Cajka, Jr.
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Andrew B. Cajka, Jr.
  /s/ Mark A. Cothran
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Mark A. Cothran
  /s/ Leighton M. Cubbage
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Leighton M. Cubbage
  /s/ Anne S. Ellefson
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Anne S. Ellefson
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  David G. Ellison
  /s/ Tecumseh Hooper, Jr.
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Tecumseh Hooper, Jr.
  /s/ Rudolph G. Johnstone, III, M.D.
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Rudolph G. Johnstone, III, M.D.
  /s/ Anna T. Locke
  Director
  January 15, 2021
  Anna T. Locke
  Director, Chairman
  January 15, 2021
  James B. Orders, III
  6
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit No.
  Description of Exhibit
  3.1
  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 Filed on July 27, 1999, File No. 333-83851).
  3.2
  Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2009).
  3.3
  Amended and Restated Bylaws dated March 18, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 24, 2008).
  3.4
  Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws dated October 27, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2020)
  4.1
  Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 Filed on July 27, 1999, File No. 333-83851).
  4.2
  See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 for provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, which define the rights of the shareholders.
  4.3
  Description of the Company's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchanges Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2020)
  4.4
  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on May 12, 2020).
  4.5
  Form of Award Agreement for Stock Options.
  4.6
  Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock.
  4.7
  Long-Term Debt. The registrant has outstanding long-term debt which at the time of this filing does not exceed 10% of the registrant's total consolidated assets. The registrant agrees to furnish copies of the agreements defining the rights of holders of such long-term debt to the SEC upon request.
  5.1
  Opinion of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
  23.1
  Consent of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  23.2
  Consent of Elliott Davis, LLC.
  24.1
  Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
  7