State Senator and Reverend Clementa Pinckney was remembered as a "..a giant...the moral compass" of the S.C. Senate by fellow South Carolina State Senator, Marlon Kimpson.
Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, who sat next to him [Pinckney] in Senate chambers, said, “He had a core not many of us have. I think of the irony that the most gentle of the 46 of us — the best of the 46 of us in this chamber — is the one who lost his life.”
Steve Skardon, president of the nonprofit Palmetto Project, and the Rev. Pinckney were friends for 18 years.
“To Clem, faith was a way of living every day,” Mr. Skardon said.
He says the Rev. Pinckney was “a quiet giant” at Emanuel. “He always paid attention to who was there, especially those who might appear uncomfortable or lost, and helped them feel at home. Apparently, he died doing exactly that.”
Today, Senator Pinckney's life is being celebrated, his loss being mourned, in Charleston. Gospel music is rising to the church rafters. Prayers rise like incense, comforting broken hearts. There are tears, and yes, laughter.
President Obama will be delivering the eulogy. The President, Mrs. Obama, and Vice President Biden will be there to honor Reverend Pinckney, his life and work. They will be there to comfort Senator Pinckney's wife, two daughters, family, friends, and community. They will be there to comfort us all.
Video of the funeral service is below. President Obama's Eulogy starts at approximately one hour and twenty two minutes into the service.
In the wake of every heartache
In the depth of every fear
There were diamonds, diamonds
Waiting to break out of here.
Don't you think I hear the whispers
Those subtle lies, those angry pleas
There just demons, demons
Wishing they were free like me.
We're the fire, from the sun
We're the light when the day is done
We are the brave, the chosen ones
We're the diamonds, diamonds
Rising about the dust.
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
All your curses will surrender
Every demon worth will kneel
They're just mountains, mountains
about to turn into fields.
We're the fire, from the sun
We're the light when the day is done
We are the brave, we're the chosen ones
We're the diamonds, diamonds
Rising about the dust.
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising, rising, rising, rising
You've taken down
So many others
Oh but you'll know my name when you see
And in these ashes I'm stronger still
You'll learn to feel my pain, yeah you will.
You've taken down
So many others
Oh but you'll know my name when you see
And in these ashes I'm stronger still
You'll learn to feel my pain, yeah you will.
You'll learn to feel my pain, yeah you will, yeah you will, yeah you will.
We're the fire, from the sun
We're the light when the day is done
We are the brave, we are the chosen ones
We're the diamonds, diamonds
We're the diamonds, diamonds
We're the diamonds, diamonds
We're the diamonds, diamonds
Rising about the dust.
Oh oh, rising out the dust
Oh oh, rising out the dust
Oh oh, rising out the dust
Oh oh
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising about the dust
Oh oh, rising, rising, rising
Oh oh
Johnnyswim - Diamonds Lyrics | MetroLyrics
The "Reverend President" just took this nation to church. It was a thing of powerful beauty. In the midst of it, the President led the congregation and the country in song, a moment that will live in American History forever.