Faces of a Tragedy: Details Emerge of US Hate Crime Victims

As Charleston struggles to comprehend the mass murder of nine black Christians at a Bible study class, details have begun to emerge about the victims of the senseless hate crime. 

Three men and six women were shot dead at a historic African-American South Carolina church Wednesday. Reports suggest that the perpetrator is Dylann Roof, and that he reloaded his weapon fives times in the prolonged, calculated attack.

RELATED: UPDATES: Charleston Hate Crime Shooting

According to Charleston county coroner, Rae Wooton, all nine died of gunshot wounds.

Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, a 45-year-old mother of three was a high school track coach at Goose Creek High School.

Her cousin, Constance Kinder, told BuzzFeed News that she was a “beautiful spirit.”

“Sharonda was pretty on the outside and just as beautiful on the inside — the one thing I know for sure she loved the Lord so she was where she enjoyed being. She was only 45 years old, she still has three kids to raise.”

Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41, was a state senator for Carolina. He had a long record of political work and intimate community involvement. By age 23 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and at 27 he became South Carolina’s youngest state senator. Pinckney had been a practising pastor since he was 18 years old.

HE HAS A NAME: Rev Clementa Pinckney, a State Senator + Pastor of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Killed last night pic.twitter.com/hkDgCdlobc

— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015

Another victim, Tywnanza Sanders was just 26 and had graduated from Allen University in Columbia last year with a business degree. His friends called him “quiet” and “committed to his education,” as well as a “warm and helpful spirit.”

54-year-old Cynthia Hurd managed Charleston Public Library.

"We have staff members who have worked with her before on various projects. She had 31 years of service at the library in Charleston,"Kurtis Rogers, the libary’s communications director, told Huffington Post. "All CCPL branches have closed today." The library also posted a statement that called Hurd "a tireless servant of the community who spent her life helping residents, making sure they had every opportunity for an education and personal growth."

The library where Hurd worked will be named after her.

Myra Thompson, 59, was married to Reverend Anthony Thompson, Vicar of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Pray for the Rev. Anthony Thompson, Vicar, Holy Trinity REC (ACNA) with the killing of his wife, Myra, in the #CharlestonShooting #Anglican

— ACNA (@The_ACNA) June 18, 2015

"Please pray for all undergoing pain and suffering in this unspeakable crime," said Carl Lund, rector at the church.

Ethel Lee Lance was 70 and had worked in the church for more than 30 years.

“I’m lost, I’m lost,” her grandson Jon Quil Lance told the Post and Courier, describing his granny as “the heart of the family.”

“She’s a Christian, hardworking; I could call my granny for anything. I don’t have anyone else like that,” he said to the local newspaper.

Daniel L. Simmons, 74, attended Bible study every Wednesday, his daughter told ABC News.

His son, Daniel Simmons Jr., told BuzzFeed News, “I’m doing very well with the grace and peace that God has planted.”

Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, 49, who sang in the church, leaves behind four children.

“My beautiful songbird. This is a hard one to swallow,” a family member, Laurie Middleton, wrote on Facebook.

The oldest victim of the massacre, Susie Jackson, was 87. The Post and Courier reports that she was Lance’s cousin and a longtime church member.

SHE HAS A NAME: Susie Jackson, a longtime church member was killed at AME Church last night. pic.twitter.com/oUL7n1DGBw

— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) June 18, 2015