From hate to change
Calls for hope at vics’ rites
MOURNERS packed the Emanuel AME Church twice Saturday to celebrate the lives of three parishioners killed in the historic house of worship just 11 wrenching days before.
The sad services began with an overflow crowd first turning out for revered parishioner and librarian Cynthia Hurd, 54, followed a few hours later by a single service for Susie Jackson and her nephew Tywanza Sanders.
The trio, along with six other members of a Bible study group, died at the hands of a racist white gunman during Bible study at the church known as “Mother Emanuel.”
Hurd, a local librarian for 31 years, was fondly recalled for her constant kindness and generosity. All 16 of the county’s library branches remained closed Saturday so their staffs could attend her service.
Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, attending funerals for a third straight day, expressed his hope that the mass killing would lead to something positive.
The June 17 attack “shook an America that didn’t want to believe this kind of hate could still exist,” Riley told the full house of mourners.
“And the manner of her tragic death, leading to our country’s revulsion, her death will lead to change — and Cynthia Hurd will be helping millions.”
For Hurd, the jam-packed funeral service was a return to her roots: She and her siblings attended “Mother Emanuel” while growing up in Charleston.
Many of those who turned out to remember Hurd stuck around for the next service, which was delayed for an hour by the volume of people trying to squeeze inside.
Mourners filed past the open caskets holding the oldest and youngest victims of the attack — the 87-year-old Jackson and 26-year-old Sanders.
Tywanza’s mother Felicia survived the carnage by playing dead, but was left to watch as her son and his great aunt were executed.
The church was filled to capacity for both funerals, with the services shown via live streaming at the nearby Second Presbyterian Church for the scores who were turned away.
The large number of attendees “is important to the family,” said relative Sonian Meggett. “We do appreciate it.”
The attendees included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. “We will make this right,” promised Haley, who has called for the removal of the Confederate flag at the Statehouse.
Funerals for the three remaining victims were set for Sunday, Monday
and Tuesday.