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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

             [Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P. Letterhead]



                                  July 26, 1999

Greenville First Bancshares, Inc.
1805 Laurens Road
Greenville, South Carolina  29601

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form SB-2

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Greenville First Bancshares, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 (the "Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, covering
the offering of up to 1,200,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share. In connection therewith, we have examined such
corporate records, certificates of public officials, and other documents and
records as we have considered necessary or proper for the purpose of this
opinion.

         The opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of
South Carolina and applicable federal laws.

         Based on the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which
we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and
delivered as subscribed in the Registration Statement, will be legally issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.

                                NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH



                                By: /s/ Neil E. Grayson
                                    -------------------------------
                                        Neil E. Grayson, Esq.