Clementa C. Pinckney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reverend Clementa Carlos Pinckney (July 30, 1973 – June 17, 2015) was a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District since 2000. He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1997 through 2000.[1]

Pinckney was a senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. in Charleston.[2][3] On June 17, 2015, Pinckney was killed in a mass shooting at an evening Bible study at his church.[4][5][6]

Early life and education[edit]

Pinckney was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, the son of Theopia (née Brooms 1945-2005), an early childhood development educator, and John Pinckney.[7][8][9]

Pinckney began preaching at his church at age 13, and by age 18, he was appointed pastor.

He graduated with a B.A. from Allen University in 1995 and went on to obtain a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of South Carolina in 1999.[1][10] Rev. Pinckney was a student at Wesley Theological Seminary pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in the Church Leadership Excellence tract.

Religious career[edit]

Pinckney preached in Beaufort, Charleston, and Columbia, South Carolina.

Pinckney became pastor of Emanuel A.M.E Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2010.[11]

He was among several South Carolina pastors to hold rallies after the shooting of Walter Scott in 2015, attracting some local controversy.[1]

Legislative career[edit]

Pinckney was first elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 1996 at the age of 23, becoming the youngest African American elected as a South Carolina state legislator.[13] He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives until being elected to the South Carolina Senate in 2000.

As a state senator, Pinckney pushed for laws to require police and other law enforcement officials to wear body cameras after Walter Scott, an unarmed black man was shot eight times in the back by police in North Charleston.[1]

Personal life[edit]

In 1999, Pinckney married Jennifer Benjamin in Augusta, Georgia, whom he met while he was at Allen University and she was at the University of South Carolina. [14] The couple, who lived in Ridgeland, South Carolina, has two children, daughters Eliana and Malana.[9]

Sen. Pinckney spent much of his last day, June 17, 2015, campaigning with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Charleston.[15] That evening, he led a Bible study and prayer session at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was senior pastor. A white gunman tentatively identified as Dylann Roof opened fire on the congregation, killing nine black church-goers. Pinckney was among the dead, as was his sister.[16] Officials were quick to term the shooting a hate crime.[17][1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ abcdeCleary, Tom (18 June 2015). "Clementa Pinckney Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 17 June 2015. 
  2. ^Pinckney, Reverend Honorable Clementa C. (20 February 2015). "Civil Rights Ride 2013 – Clementa C. Pinckney, SC Senate, Pastor Mother Emanuel A.M.E.". Mullikin Law Firm. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  3. ^Pinckney, Clementa. "SC Blue Jamboree 2013 Part 4: Clementa Pinckney". South Carolina Blue Jamboree 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  4. ^Johnson, M. Alex (17 June 2015). "'This Was a Hate Crime': Nine People Killed at Historic South Carolina Church". NBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  5. ^Staff (18 June 2015). "Nine shot, multiple fatalities reported in downtown church shooting". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  6. ^Bruton, F. Brinley (18 June 2015). "Charleston Church Shooting: Rev. Clementa Pinckney Among the Victims". NBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  7. ^"Theopia Aikens Obituary". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  8. ^"Theopia Stevenson Aikens - United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  9. ^ ab"Senator Clementa C. Pinckney - Member Biography". South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  10. ^"Clementa Pinckney's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  11. ^Parker, Adam (28 November 2010). "Leading from the pulpit". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  12. ^"Local News - 20 Under 40: Clementa Pinckney 12/29/99". Savannah Morning News. 29 December 1999. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  13. ^"Wedding bells don't signal end of Pinckney's political career". Savannah Morning News. 20 October 1999. 
  14. ^Drury, Shawn (17 June 2015). "BREAKING: Mass Shooting In Historic Black SC Church, 9 Dead". Blue Nation Review. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 
  15. ^"Charleston Church Shooting Leaves 9 Dead; Gunman Is Sought". The New York Times. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015. 
  16. ^MSNBC Staff (18 June 2015). "Tragedy strikes Charleston, South Carolina". MSNBC. Retrieved 18 June 2015. 

External links[edit]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementa_C._Pinckney