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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn Honor of the Victims
Last edited Fri Jun 19, 2015, 09:43 AM - Edit history (2)
Pinckney was a pastor at Emanuel AME and began preaching in the church in his teens. The 41-year-old married father of two also served in the South Carolina Senate and was at one time the youngest member of the state House when he was first elected at 23.
State Senator Clementa C. Pinckney was among the nine victims of a shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17. Allen University
"Senator Pinckney was a brilliant young pastor and leader who always possessed an empowering and healing message," his alma mater, Allen University in Columbia, said in a statement.
Several witnesses remembered Pinckney for his dedication to helping others.
"He was a sweet person," said community member Lisa Doctor. "He was just a kind-hearted man."
Tywanza Sanders
Sanders, 26, was also a graduate of Allen University. He earned a degree in business administration last year.
The university remembered him as "a quiet, well known student who was committed to his education. He presented a warm and helpful spirit as he interacted with his colleagues."
Nai Chaganty, a college friend of Sanders, said she first met him when she dropped her wallet on the street and chased her to return it.
After they became friends, Chaganty said Sanders was there for her when she had a car accident driving from Virginia to see her husband. He helped her "hold onto faith" as she questioned God about what happened, she told NBC News.
"He would give you the clothes off his back," Chaganty said as she teared up. "He is a great person."
Cynthia Hurd
Hurd, 54, was an employee of the Charleston County Public Library for three decades, most recently working as the manager at St. Andrews Regional Library.
Cynthia Hurd was among the nine victims of a shooting a church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17. Charleston County Public Library
"It is unimaginable that she would walk into church and not return," Hurd's brother, former North Carolina state Sen. Malcolm Graham, said in a statement. "But that's who she was a woman of faith. This is a very difficult time for our family, and Cynthia will be sorely missed."
All of the county's 16 branches were closed Thursday in her honor, and Charleston County Council member Elliott Summey said the St. Andrews library would be renamed the Cynthia Hurd Regional Library.
"We think that's a fitting honor for her, for someone who spent 31 years in our community, and it's the very least we can do for someone who was a true public servant," he said.
Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
Coleman-Singleton, 49, was a speech therapist and girls' track and field coach at Goose Creek High School in suburban Charlotte.
Her son, Chris Singleton, is a sophomore at Charleston Southern University, the school said in a statement.
"Chris's mother was just that parent that as a coach you are proud to have as part of your program," head coach Stuart Lake said. "What she brought to our team is immeasurable.".
The Rev. Depayne Middleton Doctor
Doctor, 49, was a church singer and former Charleston County community development block grant employee, retiring in 2005.
Doctor was a big part of the county's services for the poor, Summey said, helping to "fix roofs, and we help them with septic tanks and we do the human things that government's supposed to do."
"So in a very big way, she was doing very human, kindly things in our government for others," Summey said.
Susie Jackson, 87, a longtime church member.
My grandma was very involved in the church, said Tim Jackson, grandson of Susie Jackson.
Susie Jackson was one of the nine people shot and killed at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina Wednesday night.
She was just a very caring, loving person, Tim Jackson said, as he sat on his front porch clinging tight to a picture of his grandmother.
He said she had just visited his home here two weeks ago.
She left birthday cards for my kids saying she wanted them to have them just in case she didnt see them again, Jackson recalled.
http://fox8.com/2015/06/18/local-family-mourns-87-year-old-woman-killed-in-charleston-church-shooting/
Ethel Lance, 70, a sexton at the church.
Ethel Lance loved to dress up and take her family to see performances at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium when she wasnt on duty there as a custodian.
She started working at the venue in 1968 when it first opened, and she stayed until retirement in 2002, according to Cam Patterson, director of special facilities for the city of Charleston, who worked with Lance at the Gaillard for many years.
Patterson said Lance was not only a co-worker, but a friend.
She was funny and a pleasure to be around. And she was a wonderful mother and grandmother, Patterson said. She would have her children and grandchildren come to the Gaillard from time to time. She was like me, a no-nonsense grandmother and I know they are going to miss her terribly.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150618/PC16/150619365
Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, a member of the church's ministerial staff, who died in the operating room at the hospital
(Not the clearest picture but the only one I can find so far)
Myra Thompson, 59, wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church.
Most of the above came from this story http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/charleston-church-shooting/charleston-church-shooting-tributes-paid-kind-hearted-victims-n377551
The victims that didn't have any real tribute in that link, I added what I was able to find. Unfortunately, not much is out there yet on a couple.
My heartfelt sympathy to each family member and friend of these martyrs. They truly are martyrs.
End racism
Black Lives MATTER (Why does this even need to be said? !)
On a personal note, the thing I cannot stop thinking about is the 5 year old child, playing dead, among the dead, so that s/he could live. What kind of monster does this to peace loving people and a 5 year old child?
We cannot allow this to ever happen again.
Added - ways to donate:
Thanks to Jefferson23 for this information I'm reply#43
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
C/O City of Charleston
P.O. Box 304
Charleston, SC 29402
Click here (still being set up)
Directly to the Church
Click here
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)Real people, real lives.
Bright lights, snuffed suddenly and terribly.
So awful.
marym625
(17,997 posts)Real people.
Peace
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)livetohike
(22,154 posts)It's the absolute least I can do. Just can't even wrap my head around it. Those poor families.
vankuria
(904 posts)Prayers and healing thoughts to the Charleston community. Thank-you for posting this moving tribute.
marym625
(17,997 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)We need to remember THEM! It all gets clouded over in the "Mainstream Corporate Owned Media" whose only focus is on whatever their preconceived view is of the Killer to monetize, create controversy out of... to bring in "eyeball views, click bait and Tweets" ...thatwill whip up their Celebrity Focus...thereby, forgetting the Lives and the Message of those whose lives were inspiration.
THEIR INSPIRATION is what should live and not be clouded over by whatever terrible (still unknown) circumstances lead their killer to do what he did. We still need to know what motivated that 21 year old to do what he did... But, to focus on that doesn't give those he killed their rightful place in how THEY LIVED THEIR LIVES....and OVERCAME the PREJUDICE they dealt with in their lives to work for the Common Good and not the Dark and Evil of the forces that would be against them going forward allowed to drown out their works.
marym625
(17,997 posts)I will try to post more information here when I can find it. Especially a picture of Myra Thompson.
a million times
.....I'm struck speechless.....thank you, you put it into words.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,228 posts)So so sad.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Thanks for posting this Mary, you are the best.
marym625
(17,997 posts)I'm kinda of lost right now. Didn't know what else to do.
polly7
(20,582 posts)Nine wonderful human lives lost and all those devastated by it left to suffer forever - just so senseless and horrific. I'm so sorry.
Omaha Steve
(99,678 posts)K&R!
OS
marym625
(17,997 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)What a waste, what a tragedy.
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)These were some very good people.
marym625
(17,997 posts)stage left
(2,964 posts)Yes, they do.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(14,018 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)These wonderful people deserve to have their lives celebrated and remembered.
marym625
(17,997 posts)calimary
(81,383 posts)Very nice digging, marym625. You introduced us to all nine of the victims.
You should know I'm watching "The Last Word" on MSNBC, which is their last show of the night before the reruns start, and they don't have photos of all nine. GREAT work you did there, my friend.
But I wonder how many more there'll be. Remember when Tom Hanks wept upon receiving his first Oscar for "Philadelphia"? He played an AIDS patient, back when too many Americans were still not willing to confront AIDS (thank you ronald reagan). And he stood there on that stage clutching his shiny new Best Actor Academy Award with tears streaming down his cheeks and in his acceptance speech, struggled to point out that "the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. We know their names."
Here, too.
marym625
(17,997 posts)My cousin was among those in the "first wave" of deaths from "the gay plague" and his name is on the quilt.
Yes, I fear there will be many more. Especially when people refuse to report the reality of the hate crime against people because of the color of their skin, and try to usurp the anger by using the false meme that this was an attack on Christianity.
Just too much to take.
Spazito
(50,404 posts)Thank you for doing the work to put this together, it is both moving and so very sad.
marym625
(17,997 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts).
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)Unfortunately, it will happen again and again until we all stand up and say "enough is enough". That is everyone in the nation that's against gun violence, which is the majority of Americans, left and right.
As long as we have right wing extremists in both houses of congress, Faux Noose, hate radio, the NRA, neo-nazis and white supremacists, plus the tea-bag party, guns violence will continue to proliferate. If that seems like a lot of people involved in the aforementioned sentence, they're actually a minority. It's the likes of Faux and hate radio that are screaming they're the majority. We need to shut them down in order to make this country a more peaceful place.
What happened yesterday in Charleston is a travesty of the highest degree. A hate crime committed by a terrorist.
--------------------------------------
May they all Rest in Peace.
marym625
(17,997 posts)Which is why we have to get mad. It's why we have to stand in solidarity against racism and for gun control. Why we have to insist, demand, prosecution of LEO that murder people of color in the streets. We must remove people in power who allow such atrocities to happen with impunity. We must honor each and every soul taken because of bigotry and racism and celebrate their lives I'm the face of the racist monsters.
Rhiannon12866
(205,715 posts)We need to see these people and learn who they were to truly understand what we've lost. Important and precious lives, each and every one...
marym625
(17,997 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)snip* Charleston Mayor Joe Riley announced the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund Thursday and said the city has already pledged $5,000. The fund will help the victims relatives pay for funerals for their loved ones, counseling services and other needs as they heal from the tragedy.
The website for contributions to this fund is expected to be functioning by noon on Friday. Those wishing to contribute will also be able to do so at any Wells Fargo branch by specifying that theyd like to donate to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund.
In the meantime, the fund will be accepting checks made out to Mother Emanuel Hope Fund at the following address:
Mother Emanuel Hope Fund
C/O City of Charleston
P.O. Box 304
Charleston, SC 29402
http://time.com/3926610/charleston-shooting-victims-help/
marym625
(17,997 posts)I appreciate the information and the link. I have emailed the church, asking which place is the best way to donate, this fund you posted or directly to the church. I assume that both would be tax deductible, if that is important to someone. For me, the little I can give wouldn't make a difference.
I will add both to the OP. I posted the link to donate to the church yesterday in a separate OP.
Thank you again
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)beautiful...in memory of thread.
It is a sad time, again and if people can help financially in some way...it will do some good.
marym625
(17,997 posts)City Lights
(25,171 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)malaise
(269,103 posts)destroyed the stereotype of lazy black people.
Meanwhile the racist punk failed 9th grade.
How does anyone look in the eye of an 87 year old woman and kill her.
Shakes head
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)historylovr
(1,557 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)ancianita
(36,126 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)I'm an atheist but that doesn't mean I can't see how deeply these beautiful people believed in peace and love. I deeply respect that
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Such beautiful lives taken out by such a hateful waste of space. It is beyond tragic.
MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)The families of the victims have taught me so much about grace, love and forgiveness. I am a reluctant agnostic, but their faith leaves me in awe.
Peace and healing to them all.
marym625
(17,997 posts)Grace and ability to love is awe inspiring.