Their names and faces are still fresh in our minds.
Clementa Pinckney, 41, the senior pastor at the church
Sharonda Coleman Singleton, 45, an assistant pastor
Tywanza Sanders, 26
Ethel Lance, 70
Susie Jackson, 87
Cynthia Hurd, 54
Myra Thompson, 59
Daniel Simmons Sr., 74
DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49
Pastor Pinckney has been described as an over-achiever because of this many accomplishments throughout his life. You can read his entire bio on the church’s website Emanuel Church. He was called to preach at the age of 13 and was appointed Pastor at the age of 18. Pastor Pinckney graduated magna cum laude from Allen University in Columbia, SC and had even been featured in Ebony Magazine as one of the “Top College Students in America.”
At the age of 23 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Rep and was the youngest black person to win this seat. At the age of 27 he was elevated to the State Senate.
State Senator Pinckney worked on several major causes during is run, including a more recent issue of making police wear body cameras, which he believed would protect and save many lives.
The close friends, family and politicians spoke so kindly of Pastor Pinckney. They have used words such as “gentle”, “a man of character”, “a God fearing man”, “family man” and they stated, “he had a passion for helping the poor”. Pastor Pinckney left behind his wife, Jennifer and 2 children, Eliana and Malana.
Cynthia Hurd was the Regional Branch Manager of the Charleston County Public Library system. Library official described her loss as “imcomprehensible, and asked for prayers for her family, coworkers and church.” Hurd worked at the library for 31 years.
Singleton was the Assistant Pastor to Senator Pinckney at Emanuel AME Church. She was also the Athletics Girls Track Coach and Speech Pathologist at Goose Creek high School. Coleman-Singleton was employed by Berkeley County for eight years. She was the mother of Chris Singleton, standout baseball and basketball star at Goose Creek High who just completed his freshman year playing baseball at Charleston Southern. She also had two other children. Coach Pond told the Gazette that Coleman-Singleton was “one of the best baseball fans you could have for your team, she loved baseball and loved Chris. She will be greatly missed.”
Daniel Simmons Sr. was a retired Pastor in Charleston who attended Emanuel AME Church, according to his daughter-in-law, every Sunday. He was also listed as a part of Emanuel’s Ministerial Staff.
DePayne Middleton-Doctor, according to city officials, was a retired government employee. She was the Director in Charge of Community Development Grants.
Tywanza 26 years old and he was a part of the 2014 graduating class of Allen University in Columbia, SC where he majored in Business Admin. He was living in Columbia, but originally from Charleston, SC. He was also an aspiring rapper who went by the stage name Fresh Wanza. Allen University President described him as “quiet and well-known, and committed to his education. According to sources, Tywanza was the first to step and ask the shooter, “why are you doing this.” His mother Felicia Sanders survived the attack by pretending to be dead.
Myra Thompson was described, according to the Post and Courier, as “a woman with a clear sense of purpose.” She, along with Pastor Pinckney, led the force to restoring and preserving Emanuel’s historic building. Thompson was a major leading in preserving the historic church and spent long hours on the project. She was 59 years old and was also the wife of a Pastor. On the Wednesday night that she was killed she had received her license to the ministry before being gunned down. Her friend described her as “a very energized, serving-God type of person.”
Ethel Lance started working at the Gaillard Auditorium in 1968 when they first opened and stayed until retirement in 2002. Cam Patterson, the Director of the facility said, she was not only a co-worker, but a friend.” She was also a custodian at the Church for 30 years. Ms. Ethel Lance was 70 years old and raised five children in west Ashley.
Susie Jackson, a long-time member of Emanuel had two children, but family members credit her for raising more than 50 of their families children. Family member say Sunday dinners began at Jackson’s house, often with dozens of guests. Her nephew says, “you come from out of town, this is where you come, she opened her arms to us.”
Source: WLTX, Post & Courier
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