EXHIBIT 99.1


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                   AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
                           SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the Quarterly Report of SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
(the "Company") on Form 10-QSB, for the quarter-ended December 31, 2002, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), the undersigned, Joe K. McArthur, Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, and Janice R. Browning, Controller (principal financial officer) of
the Company, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of
our knowledge:

1.       The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.       The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.


Date: February 14, 2003                   By:  /s/ Joe K. McArthur
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Joe K. McArthur
                                             Chief Executive Officer


Date: February 14, 2003                   By:  /s/ Janice R. Browning
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Janice R. Browning
                                             Controller