Charleston, S.C. – Chris Singleton, the son of Rev. Sharonda Coleman Singleton, who was tragically killed in the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting on June 17, 2015, reflects on how he has grown in the years following the devastating tragedy. Ten years later, Singleton is not only a motivational speaker but also a children’s author, and he continues to honor his mother’s memory through his message of love, forgiveness, and unity.
A Personal Loss That Led to a Legacy of Love
On that fateful night, Chris Singleton was a college freshman at Charleston Southern University, playing baseball when he received a call from his mother, Rev. Sharonda Coleman Singleton, during her Bible study session at Mother Emanuel AME Church. He was looking for something his younger brother needed, and she took a moment away from the study to answer his call. It was the last time he would ever hear her voice.
Rev. Singleton, one of the nine parishioners murdered by Dylann Roof, was just 45 years old at the time of her death. In her memory, Singleton has become a passionate speaker, traveling across the country to share a message of love, unity, and understanding.
“I’ve got three beautiful kids, and I’m a husband to my high school sweetheart,” Singleton says, speaking about his own family today. “I have a message to share, especially with kids — about loving people no matter their differences.”
A Mission of Forgiveness and Healing
Singleton’s message of forgiveness comes from a deep place of personal strength. In the immediate aftermath of his mother’s death, he found the ability to forgive Dylann Roof, the man who murdered his mother and eight others. “The day after it happened, I said, ‘We already forgive him,’” Singleton recalls. “I don’t know where it came from, but there was something out of this world that made it possible.”
Though forgiveness came quickly, understanding the root cause of Roof’s actions has been a long journey. Singleton reached out to Roof in an attempt to understand the hatred that drove him to commit such a crime. “I want to get to the root of where that evil came from,” Singleton explains. “What would have changed his heart? What could have made him different?”
Roof’s Apology: A Hope Yet Unfulfilled
While Singleton has made peace with the tragedy, he still hopes for one thing from Roof — an apology. “I want him to denounce what he did and say how wrong it was,” Singleton says. “But if it never happens, I still have peace because I believe my mom is at peace.”
In Singleton’s mind, Rev. Sharonda Coleman Singleton is in heaven, “rejoicing and cheering me on from the stands.” This belief brings him comfort and peace, knowing that his mother’s legacy lives on through the lives she touched.
A Life Built on Legacy
Today, Singleton uses his platform to teach the next generation the values of respect, kindness, and compassion. He is a sought-after motivational speaker and the author of five books, including his most recent, “Love Your Neighbor,” which teaches children about these values.
Along with his wife, Singleton has raised his younger brother and sister, both of whom graduated from high school and college. Reflecting on his family’s journey, he acknowledges that he might have handled things differently, especially when it came to giving his siblings the space to grieve in their own way. “I told them to be strong,” he says, “but I wish I would have let them grieve in their own way.”
Continuing the Work of Unity
Though the pain of that night still lingers, Singleton has channeled it into building bridges instead of walls. His story is one of profound resilience, and through his work, he continues to encourage people to love one another, regardless of their differences.
With each speech and book, Singleton carries forward his mother’s legacy — a legacy of love, strength, and compassion that refuses to be diminished by hatred.
