2018 Speaker - Jennifer

Jennifer Benjamin Pinckney is the widow of SC State Senator, the Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, whose life was taken at historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC on June 17, 2015. She is the daughter of Frank Benjamin and the late Cleo Benjamin of Aiken, SC. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Jennifer was reared in Aiken, South Carolina.

Jennifer has always valued education. Her passion for education led her to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems. She furthered her education at USC where she received a Master of Arts degree in Library Science and a Specialist degree in Media.

Since her husband’s untimely death, Jennifer has answered God’s call to continue his work through a charitable foundation in his honor. The Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney Foundation was established by Jennifer Pinckney, S.C. Senator Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington), and the Rev. Kylon Jerome Middleton, a former high school principal and current AME Church pastor, who was Pinckney’s best friend.

Jennifer is standing on the promises of God and carries with her as a personal banner—God’s Word to Moses in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hence, she lives by the motto: Be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks!

Jennifer and the late Honorable Reverend Pinckney have two beautiful daughters, her pride and joy, Eliana and Malana.

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