[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10323-10324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING EMANUEL AME CHURCH

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last week, nine 
extraordinary men and women were killed at the Wednesday night Bible 
study at historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in

[[Page 10324]]

my birthplace of Charleston. I am grateful for their memories.
  Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Tywanza Sanders, 
Susie Jackson, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, Reverend Daniel Simmons, 
Reverend Depayne Middleton-Doctor, along with Pastor Clementa Pinckney 
were all leaders of our community and in their church. One served the 
youth as a high school track coach, one a lifelong librarian, one a 
recent college graduate with a bright future ahead of him. Many served 
their church. Each had a clear love of God and love for their fellow 
man as followers of Jesus Christ.
  The loss of Reverend Senator Clementa Pinckney has been personal, as 
he was a fellow State legislator. I was honored to host the senator, 
his wife, and daughters when they visited the Capitol a few years ago. 
He grew up in Ridgeland as a lifelong friend of my former chief of 
staff Eric Dell.
  A hate-filled, drug-crazed murderer tried to divide our citizens, but 
he failed, and South Carolinians have unified in love, prayer, and 
respect.

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