Roland Carter song to be used at Charleston service

File photoRoland M. Carter

During today’s memorial service for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, the pastor killed in the church shooting in Charleston, S.C., a bit of Chattanooga will be heard.

The family of Pinckney, who served as a state senator in South Carolina, has selected an old spiritual in an arrangement by retired University of Tennessee at Chattanooga music professor Roland Carter as part of the ceremony. The song, “In Bright Mansions Above,” will be performed by the Low Country Voices, a choir that Carter has conducted several times over the years.

“In fact, I was just down there conducting them in March,” Carter said. He will not be attending today’s service.

President Barack Obama will give the eulogy at the service, which will also be attended by first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Pinckney was one of nine people fatally shot June 24 during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal in Charleston. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at TD Arena at the College of Charleston.