UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Greenville First Bancshares, Inc.
                        ---------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share
                     --------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    39607Y100
                                    ---------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Leighton M. Cubbage
                                112 Haywood Road
                        Greenville, South Carolina 29606
                            Telephone: (864) 679-9000
                            -------------------------
          (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
                      Receive Notices and Communications)

                                September 1, 2002
                                -----------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Sections 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.1313d-1(g), check
the following box |X|.

Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall  include a signed  original and
five copies of the  schedule,  including all exhibits.  See Section 240.13d-7
for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).










CUSIP No. 39607Y100                                                  Page 2 of 5

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1     NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
      I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

      Leighton M. Cubbage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*                  (a) |_|
                                                                         (b) |_|

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3     SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4     SOURCE OF FUNDS*

      PF, OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5     CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS
      REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                |_|

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

      South Carolina, United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  7     SOLE VOTING POWER
  NUMBER OF             83,800 - shares of common stock owned directly.
                        26,667 - shares that the filer has the right to acquire
  SHARES                  pursuant to a warrant agreement
                  ------------------------------------------------------------
  BENEFICIALLY    8     SHARED VOTING POWER

  OWNED BY        ------------------------------------------------------------
                  9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
  EACH                  83,800 - shares of common stock owned directly.
                        26,667 - shares that the filer has the right to acquire
  REPORTING               pursuant to a warrant agreement
                  ------------------------------------------------------------
  PERSON WITH     10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

      110,467
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* |_|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

         9.39%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

         IN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------








CUSIP No. 39607Y100                                                  Page 3 of 5

Item 1.  Security and Issuer

         This statement relates to the Common Stock, par value $.01, of
Greenville First Bancshares, Inc. (the "Issuer"), the principal executive
offices of which are located at 112 Haywood Road, Greenville, South Carolina
29606.


Item 2.  Identify and Background

         This statement is being filed by Leighton M. Cubbage (the
"Shareholder"), a director of the Issuer, who is a citizen of the United States.

         Shareholder's principal occupation is serving as the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Ionosphere, Inc. Shareholder's address at
Shareholder's principal place of business is 130 Industrial Boulevard,
Greenville, South Carolina 29607.

         During the last five years, Shareholder has not been (i) convicted in
a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
(ii) a party to a civil proceeding or a judicial or administrative body of
competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a
judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation
of such laws.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds and Other Consideration

         The Shareholder became the beneficial owner of shares of common stock
through the following transactions:

        (a) The purchase of 80,000 Shares with personal funds in the Issuer's
            initial  offering in 1999 which have been placed in the Leighton M.
            Cubbage Charitable Remainder Trust for which Shareholder serves as
            Trustee;
        (b) Pursuant to a warrant  agreement issued in consideration of his
            efforts as an organizer of the Issuer's subsidiary bank.  The
            warrants cover 40,000 shares and vest ratably over three years
            beginning on January 10, 2001;
        (c) Purchase of 3,800 Shares in a private transaction with personal
            funds in September 2000 which have been placed in the Leighton M.
            Cubbage Charitable Remainder Trust for which Shareholder serves as
            Trustee.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

         The Shareholder acquired his shares for investment purposes. In the
future, the Shareholder may acquire additional shares or dispose of some or all
of the securities of the Issuer that he now owns. The Shareholder has no current
plans to acquire more than 10% of the total number of shares outstanding.








CUSIP No. 39607Y100                                                  Page 4 of 5

Item 5.  Interest in the Securities of the Issuer

         (a) Purchaser beneficially owns 110,467 shares of the Company, or
             approximately 9.39% of the outstanding Shares, consisting of 83,800
             Shares and a Warrant to purchase 26,667 Shares at a price of $10.00
             per share.

         (b) Purchaser has the sole power to vote and direct the disposition of
             83,800 Shares and has the right to acquire 26,667 Shares at an
             exercise price of $10.00 per share.

         (c) Purchaser acquired 80,000 of the Shares he beneficially owns
             October 29, 1999 at a price of $10.00 per share, and purchased
             3,800 Shares at a price of $9.63 in a private placement on
             September 29, 2000.


         (d) Not applicable.

         (e) Not applicable.


Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect
         to Securities of the Issuer.


The Shareholder is not a party to any contract, arrangement, understandings or
relationships other than those listed herein.


Item 7.  Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

         None.



                         (Signature on subsequent page.)




CUSIP No. 39607Y100                                                  Page 5 of 5

                                   SIGNATURES

         After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  September 9, 2002

                                       Leighton M. Cubbage:


                                        /s/ Leighton M. Cubbage
                                       --------------------------------