EXHIBIT 99.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Joe K. McArthur, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Janice Browning, Controller and Treasurer of the Company, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of our knowledge:

     (1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

By:	/s/ Joe K. McArthur
	Joe K. McArthur
	Chief Executive Officer
	August 14, 2002
	/s/ Janice Browning
	Janice Browning
	Controller, Treasurer
	August 14, 2002