Tina Cook
Office Administrator

Tina M. Cook is a native of Columbus, Ohio. Her mother and 5 siblings migrated to Chester, South Carolina after many challenges. The challenges inspired her to become the best that she could be. A graduate of Chester Senior High School and King’s College in Charlotte, North Carolina, she chose a career in accounting.
Tina began working for the Chester County School District in December 1982.  The Chester County School District employment offered 32 years of exceptional experience to begin a wonderful, challenging career at the Law Office April D. Porter, P. C.
Tina began working for the Law Office April D. Porter, P.C. in February of 2015. She is the Office Administrator of the Law Office. She has a wonderful son and grandson, and many wonderful God-Children. She is a connoisseur of fine dining, and she loves having fun times with family and friends.
She loves serving God. The Lord’s Prayer has brought her thus far. Tina loves the quote, “A Day Hemmed in Prayer Seldom Unravels.”

Harriett Wood
Paralegal

Harriett Wood is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she earned a bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  Born in Chester County, she has lived in Charleston, South Carolina and Virginia Beach, Virginia.  As the daughter of a retired owner of an independent pharmacy, Harriett learned the value of hard work and customer service at a young age.  
After returning to Chester in 1997, she was employed with the County of Chester and Chester High School before joining the firm in October of 2008 as the office receptionist.  Currently, Harriett is a paralegal to Attorney Porter.
Harriett has two children who are both graduates of the University of South Carolina and are now employed in the computer industry.  She is a member of First Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  Her favorite phrase is a reminder that “there is always something to be grateful for”.

Wendy Hatcher
Paralegal

Wendy Hatcher is a native of Chester County, SC, and was raised in the small town of Lowrys, where she was an avid horse rider, participating in numerous rodeos, horse shows, and the famous Lowrys Christmas Parade. Wendy graduated from Chester Senior High School and attended York Technical College, earning her Associates Degree in Business Management and a Paralegal Degree. Wendy’s paralegal career began in 1993. She started her career with the Law Office of April D. Porter, P.C., in 2017, where she has been enabled to elevate her passion for helping others in the many fields of law.

Wendy lives in the Town of Fort Lawn, in Chester County. She currently serves as Mayor pro tempore and has been a Councilmember on the Town Council of Fort Lawn since 2016. Her passion is to help her community grow. She is an advocate for supporting her local economy. She believes in healthy communities having healthy local economies and that people that work together can help each other make a living and thrive. Wendy has three beautiful children; Jake, Bailie, and Ashley. Wendy strives to live by one of her mother’s favorite verses from the Bible, which is from the Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

Melodie Tate
Legal Assistant

Melodie Tate is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. She moved to Chester County, South Carolina after marrying her husband in January 2001. She attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte and majored in Business Administration.
In 1989, she began her career in the insurance industry, where she was employed as a property & casualty agent for 13 years. In 2002, and for the next several years, she took a step back from the working world to raise her 4 young children. In 2013, she re-entered the workforce as the Human Resources Assistant for the City of Chester. Melodie joined the Law Office of April D. Porter in September 2020 as a Legal Assistant.
Melodie currently lives on a farm in Chester where she raises cattle with her husband, Joe, and children. She also became a grandmother in December 2020. Melodie is a long-time active member of First Baptist Church Chester. She enjoys getting together with friends and family as well as relaxing with a good book. A quote that provides inspiration for her is “believe you can and you are already halfway there.”