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TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE BRIDGE AND INTERCHANGE TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE PROPOSED EXIT 3 ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 95 IN JASPER COUNTY THE "SENATOR CLEMENTA C. PINCKNEY MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND INTERCHANGE" IN HONOR OF THIS DISTINGUISHED SON OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly were deeply saddened by the untimely death of the Honorable Clementa Carlos Pinckney of Ridgeland, senior pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and member of the South Carolina Senate. Attacked by a gunman while leading a prayer meeting and Bible study at Emanuel AME, he and eight of his fellow church members were slain on June 17, 2015; and
Whereas, Clem Pinckney was born the son of John Pinckney and the late Theopia Stevenson Pinckney on July 30, 1973. Early showing his commitment to the Christian roots implanted in him, he began preaching at the age of thirteen and was first appointed pastor at eighteen. A fourth-generation minister, he was named pastor of Emanuel AME in 2010; and
Whereas, just one year after graduating magna cum laude from Allen University in 1995, this Princeton University Research Fellow (summer 1994) was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and became, at the age of twenty-three, the youngest African American elected to this great state's legislature. In furtherance of his education, he earned his master's degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina in 1999 and later his master of divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. In 2000, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate; and
Whereas, during his years in the Senate, Clem Pinckney, a nineteen-year state legislator, proved his worth as a member of the Banking and Insurance, Corrections and Penology, Education, Finance, and Medical Affairs committees and championed causes important to him; and
Whereas, Clem Pinckney focused on using the pulpit in his church and the floor in the state Senate to advocate for the least among us: those struggling to find jobs, those sick and in need of health care, and the schoolchildren in Jasper County. He wasn't overbearing about it; the booming baritone voice that matched his tall stature was always kept at an even keel, and his approach was always humble as he gave voice to some of the state's poorest residents without seeking personal credit; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly believe that it would be a fitting tribute to this distinguished son of South Carolina to name the bridge and interchange to be constructed at the proposed Exit 3 along Interstate Highway 95 in Jasper County in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That members of the General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the bridge and interchange to be constructed at the proposed Exit 3 along Interstate Highway 95 in Jasper County the "Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Memorial Bridge and Interchange" in honor of this distinguished son of South Carolina and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing this designation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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