Calendar honorees are chosen for their accomplishments and profound impacts African American history and culture has had in the past, present, and future of our state and nation. The 2024 honorees have helped shape South Carolina and its citizens in extraordinary ways – through business, education, medicine, and public service. We thank the honorees for the achievements and advancements they have made in our society and look to their success to guide us forward.
After nine parishioners of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston were murdered at the hands of a stranger they had welcomed into Bible study on the evening of June 17, 2015, police quickly apprehended the shooter. He appeared in front of Chief Magistrate James Gosnell two days later for his bond hearing. “Charleston is a very strong community,” Gosnell began. “We have big hearts. We’re a very loving community and we’re going to reach out to everyone—all victims—and we will touch them.”
The hearing continued with Magistrate Gosnell reading aloud the charges and the shooter’s upcoming court dates. He confirmed the shooter’s address, age, employment status, and previous criminal history – all standard procedure for a bond hearing. What happened next shook the world.
As Magistrate Gosnell asked, one-by-one, if there were representatives of the victims who would like to give statements, Ethel Lance’s daughter spoke first, facing the man who murdered her mother. “I just wanted everybody to know, to you, I forgive you. You took something very precious from me. I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul. You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. But God forgives you, and I forgive you.”
Next, Myra Thompson’s husband came forward. “I’m saying the same thing that was just said. I forgive you and my family forgives you. But we would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Repent, confess, and give your life to the one who matters the most—Christ—so that he can change you and change your ways so that no matter what happens to you, you’ll be okay. Through that, you’ll be better off than what you are right now.”
Then, Tywanza Sanders’ mother spoke. “We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautiful people I know. Every fiber in my body hurts and I’ll never be the same. Tywanza Sanders is my son, but Tywanza was my hero […] may God have mercy on your soul.”
Daniel Simmons’ granddaughter spoke next. “Although my grandfather and the other victims died at the hands of hate, this is proof—everyone’s plea for your soul is proof that they lived in love. Their legacies will live in love. So, hate won’t win. And I just want to thank the courts for making sure hate doesn’t win.”
DePayne Middleton-Doctor’s sister was the last family member to offer comments to the Magistrate. “DePayne Doctor was my sister, and I too thank you on behalf of my family for not allowing hate to win. For me, I’m a work in progress, and I acknowledge that I am very angry. But one thing DePayne always enjoined, in our family, is that she taught me that we are the family that love built. We have no room for hate, so we have to forgive. And I pray God on your soul, and I also thank God that I won’t be around when your judgment day comes with Him.”
The entire hearing lasted just less than 13 minutes, seven of which the families spent offering forgiveness, asking God for mercy, and living out their values under the most painful circumstances imaginable. In the presence of hate and under the weight of immense grief, those who spoke that day chose something else. They chose hope.