Charleston shooting: First two funerals held as city says goodbye to victims of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church massacre
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Version 0 of 1. A week after a gunman shot dead nine people and left the US reeling, the city of Charleston is readying itself for the first of a series of funerals. The services for Ethel Lee Lance and Sharonda Coleman-Singleton are to take place on Thursday, after viewings at Baptist churches in North Charleston. Ms Lance, 70, worked for the church for 30 years and was a mother of five. Clementa Pinckney, 41, the pastor killed in Wednesday’s shootings, was a rising star in South Carolina politics (EPA) Ms Coleman-Singleton, 45, was a speech therapist, pastor and high school athletics coach, as well as a mother of three. “She was always trying to do the best for people,” Arriel Sands, who knew Mrs Coleman-Singleton in her capacity as an athletics coach, told The Independent. “She was a very positive person.” Their funerals will be the first of nine, with five more to take place on Friday and Saturday. The families of two of those who died have not yet released details. President Barack Obama is on Friday due to deliver the eulogy at a service for Rev Clementa Pinckney, 41, who was the pastor at the Emanuel AME church. Vice-President Joe Biden will also attend the service. Both Mr Obama and Mr Biden were friends of Mr Pinckney, who was also a state senator in South Carolina. Mr Pinckney had bee an early supporter of Mr Obama in 2008. Mr Pinckney’s remains were taken to South Carolina's State House in Columbia on Wednesday, where his coffin will lie in state until Friday’s service. |