WIS and The State are reporting that Rep. Shirley Hinson (R-Berkeley), who has served in the House since 1997, will resign at the end of November.

Hinson is the first woman to serve as the Republican chief majority whip. She says she plans to take a full-time job at a Lowcountry center that helps people get graduate degrees from different schools.

Hinson has been in office for a decade. Her departure will leave just four Republican women in the House and five in the entire Legislature.

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill says his caucus is losing one of its best conservatives. Hinson is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Ethics Committee.