Thousands to gather for service today on anniversary of Emanuel shooting
It started rather softly, the notes rather startling after a long, silent moment of thought. The president’s voice rose, gaining confidence, until the arena-sized congregation was rejoicing over the all-out chorus of praise.
“Amazing grace. How sweet the sound!”
The beloved hymn capped off President Barack Obama’s moving eulogy of the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney, delivered nearly a year ago at TD Arena in downtown Charleston. Days earlier, about a block away, Pinckney had been gunned down in his Emanuel AME Church along with eight parishioners – Cynthia Hurd, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, the Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, the Rev. Daniel Simmons, the Rev. Sharonda Singleton and Myra Thompson.
“Clementa Pinckney found that grace!” the president declared on the day of the pastor’s funeral.
It has been 366 days since the Emanuel Nine lost their lives on June 17, 2015.
On the one-year anniversary of one of the most tragic killings in South Carolina history, Charleston returns to TD Arena to remember the lives that were taken and to honor those left behind.
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley will be in attendance for the nondenominational service that begins at 10 a.m. Friday.
Return to www.thestate.com later for coverage of the ceremony and more from Charleston on the anniversary of the Emanuel tragedy.
Reach Ellis at (803) 771-8307.
This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Thousands to gather for service today on anniversary of Emanuel shooting."