Jennifer Pinckney is the wife of the late Senator Clementa Pinckney. Their daughter Eliana is attending college in Philadelphia, while their daughter Malana attends high school in the Midlands. Jennifer works in the education field while also supporting the philanthropic efforts of the Clementa Pinckney Foundation.
What do you wish everyone knew about Senator Pinckney? How have you sought to continue his legacy?
Jennifer: He was a loving, caring, and attentive husband. He always remembered important events and made everyone feel comfortable. He was an easygoing, settled guy who did not delight in confrontation. He listened and talked with everyone and would try to help with any problem brought to his attention. We work to continue his legacy through the Clementa Pinckney Foundation, though it’s a challenge to touch nearly half the things he did while alive. His passion was helping youth and families, so to that end, we offer scholarships to further educational opportunities (an effort headed up by the Coastal Community Foundation). And, we have the 4H Pinckney Leadership Program based in the Clemson area. His impact is still felt, from the Upstate to the Lowcountry.
Eliana: I wish more people understood the magnitude and strength he had in silence. He was big on being present but not always using his voice. He believed that sometimes just one’s presence was enough to change the feeling of a situation, which he certainly impressed upon my sister and me. While many will keenly remember his booming bass voice, he carefully considered when and how to use it.
Malana: I wish people knew more about his sense of community. Your age nor your level of power never mattered to him. He would put the same amount of trust in you no matter the amount of influence you had.
What words of encouragement or advice would you give students who are faced with struggle and tough times?
Eliana: It’s easy as a student to feel discouraged, because you’ve only had so many life experiences. And, you only know what you know. Once you grow up and get outside the bubble, you start to understand how to use the bad and turn those experiences into fuel and energy instead of being trapped by the negative. You have to find patience for the season that you’re in and the hope that the next will be brighter.
Malana: Surround yourself with people who uplift you and do not treat you differently. Surround yourself with examples of who you want to be and strive to be better every day.