Ridgeland in Jasper County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Clementa Carlos Pinckney
Clementa Carlos Pinckney (1973-2015) answered the call to preach at the age of 13 here at St. John AME Church and received his first appointment to pastor at the age of 18. As a pastor, he served innumerable parishioners in many S.C. churches, including Youngs Chapel AME, Mt. Horr AME, and Campbell Chapel AME. His last appointment was as pastor at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
Pinckney was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1996 at the age of 23, becoming the youngest African American elected to the S.C. legislature. In 2000 he was elected to the S.C. Senate. Sen. Pinckney was killed on June 17, 2015 along with 8 of his parishioners at Emanuel AME. A public viewing was held here at St. John AME. President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
Erected 2019 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by the Jasper County Hsitorical Society and those he loved and served. (Marker Number 27-27.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Disasters • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #44 Barack Obama series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 17, 2015.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St Matthews Baptist Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Tillman (approx. 2.7 miles away); Tillman Baptist Church (approx. 2.7 miles away); Great Swamp Baptist Church (approx. 3.3 miles away); St. Paul's Methodist Church (approx. 4.7 miles away); Jasper County / Jasper County Courthouse (approx. 4.7 miles away); Ridgeland (approx. 4.8 miles away); Gopher Tortoise Square (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ridgeland.
Also see . . . History Page on St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church Site.
Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney began preaching at St. John at thirteen and was appointed pastor at eighteen. In 1996, he became the youngest African American man elected to the South Carolina General Assembly at the age of twenty-three. Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney was a politician and a pastor who served as a Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from January 1997 to January 2001. He served from January 2001 to June 17, 2015, (the date of his death) as a member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District in which St. John(Submitted on May 31, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)Church Community is a part. He was the senior Pastor at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC when he was assassinated by white supremacist Dylann Roof in a racially motivated terrorist mass shooting at an evening Bible study. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama delivered the eulogy and sang Amazing Grace at Rev. Clementa C. Pinckneys funeral.
Additional keywords. domestic terrorism
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 23, 2026
7. Clementa Carlos Pinckney Memorial on the grounds of St. John's AME Church
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 31, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
