Clementa Pinckney

Bio:
Rev. Clementa Pinckney (born Clementa Carlos Pickney on July 30, 1973 in Beaufort, South Carolina) was a senior pastor and a South Carolina state senator. Born in South Carolina, Clementa grew up in Beaufort and discovered early on that he had a passion for working with the church. He began preaching at 13, and by the time he was 18, Clementa was an appointed pastor. In 1995, Celementa enrolled in Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Business Administration. He would attain his Master of Public Administration degree from the University of South Carolina in 1999. In addition to his work with the church, Clementa was active in politics. He was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 1996. At 23, he was the youngest African American ever elected as a South Carolina state legislator. He worked in the South Carolina House of Representatives before being elected to the South Carolina Senate in 2000. After the shooting of Walter Scott, Clementa pushed for more police to wear body cameras. Clementa was killed, along with eight others, were killed when a gunman opened fire on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17. Prior to his death, Clementa was campaigning with Hillary Clinton. Clementa was leading a Bible study and prayer session at the time of the shooting.

Best Known For:
Clementa C. Pickney is best known as a pastor and South Carolina state senator, one who was tragically killed in the June 17 Charleston Church Shooting.

Personal Life:  
Clementa met Jennifer Benajmin during college. The two were married, and they had two children together – daughter Eliana and Malana.