On June 17, 2015 Charleston, SC experienced one of the most devastating nationally recognized hate crimes that the United States has ever encountered.  As a result of the tragedy, Myra Singleton Thompson, a wife, mother, grandmother, soror, and prayer warrior lost her life.

Myra was an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was the wife of the Rev. Anthony Thompson, who is Vicar of Holy Trinity REC Church in Charleston. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Benedict College, Class of 1979. She also earned two Masters in Education degrees from The Citadel graduate college. Myra graduated in 1994 with a M.ED. in Reading Education and then graduated in 1999 with a M.Ed. in Secondary Counselor of Education. She had received her license to the ministry on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, the day she was killed. Myra was the head of the property committee at Mother Emanuel AME Church, helping to restore and revitalize the church’s historic buildings.

Myra was born December 5, 1955 in Charleston, South Carolina. Her parents were Deloris Singleton and James A. Moore. Her father received a Congressional Gold Medal for being one of the first blacks to serve in the United States Marine Corps.