Erminie McKnight Nave and her husband John Thomas Nave were active leaders in Republican politics from the 1960s to the early 1990s, chiefly in Greenwood County but also at the district and state levels. Mrs. Nave served as chair of the Greenwood County Republican Party and of the Third District Republican Party. Mr. Nave served as Mayor of Greenwood, Greenwood County Republican Party chair and as state executive committeeman.