SC African American Calendar

Charleston native Myra Singleton Quarles Thompson joined Mother Emanuel AME Church as a young child, beginning a lifetime of devotion to the church and its members. Her deep faith and love for the church’s members led her to study to become a minister, and just before her death, her preaching certificate was renewed. One of…

The Reverend Daniel Simmons, Sr. was a gentleman, a leader, an avid proponent of education and a servant of Christ. A fourth generation preacher who worked diligently to expand the AME Church, he was affectionately recognized as the spiritual heart of the Seventh Episcopal District, earning him the name “Super Simmons from the Super Seventh.”…

Tywanza Sanders, 26, was a young, vibrant man with many talents and interests who was willing to give his life for another. Born in Charleston, “Wanza” was known for his broad, ready smile and positive outlook on life. Sanders graduated from James Island Charter High School in 2006, where he was a member of the…

The Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, 41, lived much of his life in Ridgeland, South Carolina, but he left a positive impact as a Pastor and Statesman far beyond rural Jasper County. As Pastor, he served thousands of parishioners in many South Carolina churches, and he was a leading member of the South Carolina Senate. Born…

Rev. DePayne Vontrese Middleton, 49, of Hollywood, South Carolina, was born into a family of faith and ministers. In addition to powerful oratory skills, she also had a talent for singing and shared this gift with many congregations and choirs in the Charleston area. When she decided to become a minister, she served at Mt.…

The life of Ethel Lee Lance, 70, epitomized loyalty, consistency and dedication to serving others. Born in Charleston where she and her husband Nathaniel Lance raised their family, Lance was a lifelong member of Emanuel AME Church. She took great pride in her beloved church, working as a custodian and helping keep its facilities clean…

Susie J. Jackson, 87, lived a long life full of energy and love for her family and fellow church members. A member of Emanuel AME Church for many years, Jackson was a fixture at Sunday services and Wednesday night Bible studies. She served as a trustee and as an usher. She sang in the adult…

For over three decades, Cynthia Graham Hurd helped her community and neighbors connect with the resources and opportunity found at the public library. Children, especially, knew she was always ready to help them — whether they needed homework assistance or a new book “just right” for a beginning reader. A Charleston native, Hurd attended James…

Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, an assistant pastor at Mother Emanuel AME Church, spent her life making a lasting difference in the lives of young people. A native of Newark, NJ, where she graduated from Vailsburg High School in 1987, Coleman-Singleton enrolled at S.C. State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology. Outside the…

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wright’s commitment to education has impacted the lives of thousands of African American students for over a century. Wright founded Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina in 1897. A child of Reconstruction, she was born in Talbotton, Georgia in 1872 to parents who had been born in slavery. She was educated at St.…