A diverse crowd of about 70 people attended a memorial service Thursday night in Greenwood for the nine victims of the June 17 shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
The service honoring the “Emanuel Nine,” held at Greater Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, included prayers of love, peace, unity, faith, healing and hope.
Church member Gladys Flaggs said the purpose of the service was to “unite as a community to show our love and compassion” as Christians.
“We pray that each family will find comfort in knowing that we feel their pain,” she said.
Ten candles were lit at the service. Nine candles, representing each life lost, surrounded a large center candle that represented Jesus Christ, said the Rev. Ray Jackson, pastor of Greater Turner Chapel.
With each candle lit for a victim, a short passage about that person was read. The slain men and women ranged greatly in age, personalities and careers, but what they did have in common was their commitment to God.
Many of the pastors who spoke had the same message about Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old white man charged in the shootings: His efforts to start a race war could be used to unit the races instead.
“The truth is, they in Charleston are us,” the Rev. Peter Gray of The Episcopal Church of the Nativity said before his prayer of unity. If it could happen there, it could happen here, and we shouldn’t allow it, he said.
“That young man believed in a lie,” he said.
One after another, the pastors rose to pray for Charleston and everyone in the nation.
“This has caused America to stop and take a look at itself,” the Rev. William Morris of Locust Grove M.B. Church said before delivering his prayer.
All in attendance recited hymns together and joined in singing with the choir. In closing, everyone was asked to repeat the Lord’s Prayer.
Before dismissing the crowd, the Rev. Ray Jackson told everyone that no matter what the race or denomination, “people of God will come together for a just cause.”
• Contact Chloe Ricks at 581-7124 or cricks@gwcommonwealth.com.
