South Carolina church shooting victims
Six women and three men were killed in the shooting the night of June 17, 2015 at historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
On the evening of June 17, 2015, authorities say Dylann Roof, 21, joined a prayer meeting inside the historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina then opened fire fatally shooting nine people.
An eyewitness told authorities that Roof stood up in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and said he was there to shoot black people. He then made a series of derogatory remarks, CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton reports.
Rev. Clementa Pinckney
Six women and three men were killed in the church rampage, including Rev. Clementa Pinckney (seen here). Pinckney, 41, served as pastor for Emanuel AME, in addition to his role as a state senator for District 45.
In 1999, Ebony Magazine named Pinckney one of the 30 African-American leaders of the future.
Pinckney, a magna cum laude graduate of Allen University, was a married father of two. In 1997, he was elected to the State House of Representatives at age 23, making him the youngest African-American legislator in South Carolina history.
Rev. Clementa Pinckney
Rev. Clementa Pinckney (R) hugs a congregation member during the Watch Night service at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on December 31, 2012.
South Carolina Rep. Alan D. Clemmons, who worked with Pincknet over the past 13 years, expressed his shock and grief over his friend's death. "His loss shakes me and I'm confused and angered and upset that we've lost a true son of South Carolina," he said.
Rev. Clementa Pinckney
Rev. Clementa Pinckney speaks during the Watch Night service at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on December 31, 2012.
"He never had anything bad to say about anybody, even when I thought he should," State House Minority leader Todd Rutherford told the Associated Press. "He was always out doing work either for his parishioners or his constituents. He touched everybody."
Cynthia Hurd
Officials with the Charleston County Public Library announced that the library manager at their facility was also killed in the shooting. CCPL identified her as 54-year-old Cynthia Hurd and released the following statement:
"Cynthia worked with Charleston County Public Library 31 years, serving as branch manager of the John L. Dart Branch from 1990-2011 before becoming manager of the St. Andrews Regional Library. Her loss is incomprehensible, and we ask for prayers for her family, her co-workers, her church and this entire community as we come together to face this tragic loss.
"To honor our co-worker and all those lost, Charleston County Public Library's 16 locations are closed today, Thursday, June 18, 2015."
Cynthia Hurd
Cynthia Hurd was the sister of former North Carolina Sen. Malcolm Graham. He released the following statement on his sisters death:
"My sister, Ms. Cynthia Marie Graham-Hurd, was a victim of the senseless hate crime at Emanuel AME Church. It is unimaginable that she would walk into church and not return. 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. Our family is close-knit, and our faith will see us through. I also extend condolences to the other families of Emanuel AME Church and the city of Charleston who have been affected by this inconceivable tragedy.
"My family and I appreciate the thoughts and prayers from people across North Carolina and South Carolina."
Tywanza Sanders
Tywanza Sanders, 26, has been reported as the third victim. Sanders worked at Smitty's Super Seven Barber in Charleston.
"I've been up all night," Michele Gray said of learning her best friend, Tywanza Sanders, was killed in the deadly rampage. "My brother called me and it was shock, disbelief. I was like 'you're lying. This cannot happen to us, cannot happen to his family'. I'm at a loss for words to even explain how I feel."
Tywanza Sanders
Church shooting victim Tywanza Sanders is seen here in a photograph, provided by his best friend Michele Gray.
Sanders was also an alum of Allen University. In a statement to CBS News, the school's president, Lady June Cole, said that 26-year-old, a 2014 graduate in business administration, was also killed.
"He was a quiet, well-known student who was committed to his education," Cole said. "He presented a warm and helpful spirit as he interacted with his colleagues. Mr. Sanders was participating in the Bible Study session at Mother Emanuel church at the time of the shooting."
On his Instagram account Sanders described himself as a businessman, college grad, poet, artist and barber. He added in his profile that he is living life where God takes him.
Sharonda Singleton
The fourth reported victim, Sharonda Singleton, 45, was the head coach of the girls' track and field at Goose Creek High School.
She also worked as a speech and language pathologist at the school.
"Mrs. Singleton was a true professional at Goose Creek High School," said Principal Jimmy Huskey. "She cared about her students and was an advocate for them, always willing to listen to and talk with them. She was always there with a smile and ready to help. Mrs. Singleton will be deeply missed by the 'Gator Nation' and we can never replace her as a member of our team."
Sharonda Singleton
The Berkeley County School District released a statement on Singleton's death, which reads in part:
"Sharonda Singleton, a speech/language pathologist and the head girls' track coach at Goose Creek High School, who touched the lives of students and colleagues alike, leaves a void that is impossible to fill."
Goose Creek Principal Jimmy Huskey said she was so dedicated she was at work before 8 a.m. and typically didn't leave until 8 p.m.
"She had a big smile," Huskey said. "Her No. 1 concern was always the students. She made a difference in the lives of children. She cannot be replaced here at this school."
Sharonda Singleton
Sharonda Singleton was the mother of three and had run track herself as a student at South Carolina State University, helping lead her team to a conference championship.
According to the Post and Courier, her oldest son, Chris Singleton, is a Charleston Southern sophomore baseball player.
"She loved baseball and loved Chris," Goose Creek baseball coach Chris Pond said. "She loved everyone and always had a positive attitude about everything."
On Thursday Chris Singleton stood in front of cameras at the Charleston Southern baseball field to speak about his mother.
"We are mourning right now, but I know we will get through it," he said. "My mom was a God fearing woman. She loved everybody with all her heart."
"Love is always stronger than hate," he added.
Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor
Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49, worked as the admissions coordinator at Southern Wesleyan University's Charleston learning center. The University's President Todd Voss issued a statement about Middleton-Doctor upon news of her death:
"Always a warm and enthusiastic leader, DePayne truly believed in the mission of SWU to help students achieve their potential by connecting faith with learning... Our prayers go out to family and friends. This is a great loss for our students and the Charleston region."
Middleton-Doctor began work at SWU's Charleston learning center in December 2014. She received her BA in biology and life sciences from Columbia College and was a SWU alumna, having received her masters degree in management from SWU in 1994. She is an experienced grant writer, having worked with local school districts as a consultant.
She also worked for local and state agencies in various roles and as data manager/analyst for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Rev. Daniel Simmons
Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74, who was also shot in the historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, succumbed to his wounds at a nearby hospital.
He was a retired pastor of several Charleston churches. A parishioner at the Greater Zion AME Church in Awendaw, where Simmons served as pastor from 2004-2009, remembered him as a talented teacher and compassionate leader.
"He was a by-the-book person," said church officer and financial secretary Patricia Brown. "He said the only way you really stay out of trouble is if you go by the rules."
At Greater Zion, Brown said the 74-year-old grandfather led weekly bible studies and helped the church establish a housing ministry and a hot meal program for those in need.
She said her church is planning a memorial service for Simmons on Sunday.
"I think the whole state's in shock, and we're in shock here as well," Brown said. "It's just a very sad thing."
Susan Jackson
Susan Jackson, 87, was also among the nine victims shot to death at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 17, 2015. She was a longtime church member and sang in the choir.
Her grandson Tim Jackson, who she recently visited, told Cleveland television station WEWS that his grandmother was a loving, giving woman with a great smile.
"It's just hard to process that my grandmother had to leave Earth this way," he said. "It's real, real hard. It's challenging because I don't believe she deserved to go this way."
Jackson, who was fond of playing slot machines, was scheduled to go on a church-sponsored bus trip to Chicago on Sunday and was looking forward to going to the top of the Willis Tower, said Jean Jackson, an associate member of the church.
Ethel Lance
Ethel Lance, 70, was a Charleston native who had been a member of the church for most of her life. She and Susan Jackson were cousins. She retired after working for more than 30 years on the housekeeping staff at the city's Gaillard Auditorium.
She had served as a sexton at the church for the last five years, helping to keep the historic building clean. She was also a lover of gospel music. "She was a God-fearing woman," said granddaughter Najee Washington, 23, who lived with Lance. "She was the heart of the family, and she still is. She is a very caring, giving and loving woman. She was beautiful inside and out." Lance had five children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Myra Thompson
Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said Thursday the other victim was Myra Thompson, 59.
In a Facebook postThursday, Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America wrote, "Please join me in praying for the Rev. Anthony Thompson, Vicar of Holy Trinity REC (ACNA) Church in Charleston, his family, and their congregation, with the killing of his wife, Myra, in the Charleston shootings last night."
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., released a statementexpressing their condolences, stating Thompson was a member of the 102-year-old organization. According to the press release, she was a member of the Charleston Alumnae Chapter and was initiated into the Sorority through the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. in 1977. She was a Diamond Life Member. The statement said her daughter, Denise Quarles, and sister, Eunice Coakley-Gupton, are also members.
