8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2005

SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

DELAWARE
(State of Incorporation) 1-13640
(Commission File Number) 63-1121255
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

126 North Norton Avenue, Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
(Address of Principal Executive Offices / Zip Code)

(205) 245-4365
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item  5.02  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

          (c)      Effective on July 1, 2005, Sandra H. Stephens was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant on a permanent basis. Ms. Stephens has been acting in the capacity of interim Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant since the resignation of Joe K. McArthur in March of 2005.

          Ms. Stephens was elected as director of the Registrant and of First Federal of the South, FSB, Registrant’s wholly-owned subsidiary (First Federal), in November 2002, and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Registrant and First Federal since November 2001. Prior to joining the Registrant, Ms. Stephens served as the Chief Operating Officer, from 1997 to 2001, and Chief Financial Officer, from 1992 to 1997, of First Federal Bank, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Before then, Ms. Stephens held various executive positions with Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia from 1990 until 1992, and with Pinnacle Bank, Jasper, Alabama from 1981 until 1990.

Item  9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated July 7, 2005

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
Dated: July 7, 2005	By:	/s/ Sandra H. Stephens
		Sandra H. Stephens
		Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit Page

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated July 7, 2005

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE

SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. Announces Selection of New Chief Executive Officer

Sylacauga, Alabama (July 7, 2005) — SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc., a federally chartered thrift holding company (AMEX: SZB) located in Sylacauga, Alabama, announced today that it had selected Sandra H. Stephens as its permanent Chief Executive Officer following a three-month search. Ms. Stephens had previously agreed to assume the role of interim CEO following the departure of former President and CEO, Joe K. McArthur, in March of 2005.

“Based on past experience, having worked closely with Ms. Stephens over the past many years and having observed her serving in the interim role of CEO over the last three months, I have complete confidence in her abilities to lead the company forward and to maximize returns for the company’s stockholders,” Allen Gray McMillan, III, Chairman of the Board, said. “Her expertise and knowledge of our company positions us well as we seek to move forward, focused on improving the company’s core earnings.”

Ms. Stephens was elected as director of the company and of First Federal of the South, FSB, its wholly-owned subsidiary (First Federal), in November 2002, and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the company and First Federal since November 2001. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Stephens served as the Chief Operating Officer, from 1997 to 2001, and Chief Financial Officer, from 1992 to 1997, of First Federal Bank, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Before then, Ms. Stephens held various executive positions with Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia from 1990 until 1992, and with Pinnacle Bank, Jasper, Alabama from 1981 until 1990.

“I am very grateful to the Board of Directors for placing its trust and confidence in me to manage and lead the company,” Ms. Stephens said. “I look forward to this challenge and the opportunity to substantially improve profitability for the company.”

First Federal offers a full range of consumer, mortgage, residential construction, and commercial loans, as well as savings, checking, and other commercial products in the full service offices located in Sylacauga, Talladega, and Clanton, with mortgage and residential products offered at the lending offices of its wholly-owned subsidiary, SouthFirst Mortgage.

For additional information,

Contact: Allen Gray McMillan, III, Chairman of the Board, or
Sandra H. Stephens, Chief Executive Officer
SouthFirst Bancshares Inc
(256) 245-4365