POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY 191 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. SIXTEENTH FLOOR ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 (404) 572-6600 September 1, 2004 VIA EDGAR - ---------- Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Attn: Division of Corporation Finance RE: Darlington County Bancshares, Inc. Schedule 13E-3 SEC File No. 0-30001 Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of Darlington County Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company"), enclosed is a Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 relating to a reorganization in which the Company plans to reduce its number of record shareholders below 300. The reorganization and its effects are discussed in the preliminary proxy statement attached as Exhibit 1 to the Schedule 13E-3. The Company is concurrently filing the preliminary proxy statement under cover of Schedule 14A. If you have any questions or need anything else, please feel free to contact me at the above address. My direct dial is 404/572-6819; fax is 404/572-6999; email kkoops@pgfm.com. In particular, please let me know if it --------------- would be helpful to you to review word-processed versions of our filings. I'd be happy to email or overnight those materials to you for your review. Very truly yours, /s/ Katherine M. Koops For POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY Enclosures 801006