Pianist MaryGail Douglas, S.C. House Representative (Dist. 41), confers with Ernest Owens during the first choir practice for a memorial and worship service in remembrance of the Charleston 9 on Sept. 6 at St. Paul Baptist Church in Winnsboro. Choir members include, from left, Fairfield County Chief Deputy Rick Gibson, Carolyn Hemphill, Sheila Corbin, Pastor Victoria Owens, Rev. T. O. Corbin, Bobbie Dove and Mamie Gibson.
WINNSBORO – St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Winnsboro will host a community memorial and worship service for the Charleston Emmanuel A.M.E. and Charleston Nine as part of a state-wide day of observation and remembrance on Sunday, Sept. 6. And the community is already preparing for the service.
After an organizational meeting arranged by S.C. Rep. MaryGail Douglas and hosted by Jimmy Burroughs at Mission Ridge, the first choir rehearsal for the event was held at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church last week.
“This is not a political event,” Douglas said. “It is an event to remember the victims and family members of the Charleston 9.”
As part of the healing process for the state, each county has been asked to hold a memorial service on Sept. 6 throughout the state, Douglas said.
“This service will be a community worship/memorial service,” Douglas added, “Pastor T.O. Corbin of St. Paul Church has agreed to take the lead role for planning this event, and we are expecting a lot of community participation.”
The service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 6. The church is located at 207 N. Garden Street in Winnsboro. Anyone interested in singing with the special community-wide chorus for the event is asked to contact Douglas at 635-9292 or Rick Gibson at 718-2904.
