President Obama to Give Eulogy at Funeral of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney
WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) — U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to travel to Charleston to attend the funeral of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of the nine people shot to death at a church there last week.
A news release issued by the office of Press Secretary Joshua Earnest said Obama will deliver the eulogy of Pinckney during his funeral Friday.
Pinckney, 41, and eight other people were shot dead Wednesday at the historic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. The victims were taking part in a Bible study group at the time of the attack.
Also killed were Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, 54; Susie Jackson, 87; Ethel Lee Lance, 70; Depayne Middleton-Doctor, 49; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Daniel Simmons, 74; Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; and Myra Thompson.
In addition to serving as the church’s pastor, Pinckney was a South Carolina state senator. He was first elected in 2001.
