SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. (?SouthFirst?)(OTCBB: SZBI) today announced that Sandra H. Stephens, Chief Executive Officer of SouthFirst and its wholly owned bank subsidiary, SouthFirst Bank (?SouthFirst Bank?), plans to step down as Chief Executive Officer of both companies as of January 2, 2011, so that she can spend more time with her family. Additionally, SouthFirst announced that Randall L. Fields has been hired to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of SouthFirst Bank upon Ms. Stephens' departure. Ms. Stephens agreed to stay on as CEO of both companies to assist Mr. Fields in transitioning to his new role.

Mr. Fields will begin immediately as an Executive Vice President of SouthFirst Bank and will take over the reigns of SouthFirst Bank as its CEO effective January 2, 2011. Allen G. McMillan, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors has agreed to assume the role of interim CEO of SouthFirst on that date. Both companies and their Boards expressed their appreciation for Ms. Stephens' service to the companies over the prior nine years. ?While we are sad to see Ms. Stephens decide to step down,? said Mr. McMillan, ?we are excited to have located and hired Mr. Fields to lead SouthFirst Bank.?

Mr. Fields brings over 22 years of banking experience, most recently with Merchants & Farmers Bank (Kosciusko, Mississippi), where he served as its Executive Vice President - Alabama and Florida since July 2009, providing executive leadership and management for the Alabama and Florida markets, and prior to that as its Area President / Regional CEO for Birmingham and Shelby County, beginning in January 2006, responsible for the day to day operations and sales leadership of its branch network in Birmingham and Shelby County, Alabama.

Prior to that time, Mr. Fields served as Senior Vice President and Area Executive for North Central Alabama with First United Security Bank (Thomasville, Alabama) from 2000 to 2006, and prior to that time with AmSouth Bank of Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama) starting in 1988 in various positions including Vice President – Private Banking, Vice President – Branch Administration, and Vice President / Asst. Vice President.

Mr. Fields received his Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance from the University of Alabama in 1988 and his Graduate Banking Degree from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU in 1998. Mr. Fields is the Past President-Elect and a former board member of the South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Hoover Chamber of Commerce, a previous team captain for the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and a Major in the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Fields and his family are currently residents of Birmingham, Alabama.

Please contact Sandra H. Stephens or Randall L. Fields at (256) 245-4365 with any questions or requests for additional information.

About SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.

SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. (http://www.southfirst.com/) is a thrift holding company, headquartered in Sylacauga, Alabama, primarily engaged in directing, planning and coordinating the business activities of its wholly owned bank subsidiary, SouthFirst Bank, formerly known as First Federal of the South. SouthFirst Bank is a federally chartered savings association engaged in providing a variety of financial services with three full service locations in Alabama.

About Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this press release, particularly those describing the SouthFirst's strategies and future business plans, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While SouthFirst is working to achieve those goals, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including difficulties in marketing its products and services, need for capital, competition from other companies and other factors, any of which could have an adverse effect on the business plans of SouthFirst, its reputation in the industry or its expected financial return from operations. Factors such as these could have an adverse effect on SouthFirst's results of operations. In light of significant uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by SouthFirst and its subsidiaries that it will be achieved.

SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
Sandra H. Stephens or Randall L. Fields, 256-245-4365