Event coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Charleston church massacre; Savannah’s Rev. Thurmond Tillman will join Sack in conversation.

For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:

Susan Hancock
Abshire Public Relations
912.844.9549
pr@abshirepr.com

Maureen Bergmueller
Senior Citizens Inc.
912-236-0363
mbergmueller@seniorcitizens-inc.org

SAVANNAH, GA. (June 17, 2025)- On the tenth anniversary of the Mother Emanuel AME Church tragedy, The Learning Center of Senior Citizens Inc. will host a powerful midday lecture featuring three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kevin Sack, author of the acclaimed new history Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church (Viking, 2024).

The event takes place Wednesday, June 25, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at The Learning Center (3025 Bull Street, Savannah). Sack will be joined by Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman of First African Baptist Church for a moving conversation about the enduring legacy of Mother Emanuel-the oldest AME congregation in the South and the site where nine worshippers were murdered during Bible study on June 17, 2015.

“This event is more than a book talk-it’s a moment for reflection, learning, and healing,” said Roger Smith, Director of The Learning Center. “Kevin Sack’s work captures the extraordinary resilience of a church that has stood for justice across generations. We’re honored to host this dialogue in Savannah and to welcome Rev. Tillman, whose voice adds vital local perspective.”

Mother Emanuel has received widespread acclaim, including a Sunday cover review in The New York Times Book Review, which called it “a masterpiece” and praised Sack’s ability to “tell the story of Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston” with grace, depth, and historical insight.

Event Highlights

• Author talk & moderated dialogue with Kevin Sack and Rev. Thurmond Tillman
• Audience Q&A
• On-site book sales & signing

Registration

Seating is limited. Advance registration is encouraged at www.SeniorCitizensInc.org/The-Learning-Center or by calling 912-236-0363. General admission fee is $10.

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About Kevin Sack

A senior reporter for The New York Times, Sack has earned three Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting. Mother Emanuel is his first full-length book.

About Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman

Senior pastor of Savannah’s historic First African Baptist Church, Rev. Tillman is a noted speaker on social justice, reconciliation, and community healing.

ABOUT SCI

Senior Citizens Inc. (SCI) has been helping people in coastal Georgia age successfully since 1959 through a variety of programs including Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Health Centers, DayBreak Respite Care, The Learning Center, and much more. To learn more about SCI and its services, please visit www.seniorcitizensinc.org or call 912-236-0363.