Charleston, SC

In the nearly 27 years I have had the privilege of living in Charleston, I can say the people here are some of the nicest I have ever met. In spite of the summer heat, when temp and humidity both vie for triple digits and you just want to find a nice air-conditioned room with an ice cold Coke and a good book — Charleston still gets my vote. The people have a love for life and each other.

The Civil War broke out here, so it’s packed with history. The beaches are incredible, especially the Isle of Palms, in my opinion, and it’s history is the most diverse of any American community. The people are hospitable, the cuisine to die for, and lots of celebrities own beach houses in Charleston. This great city has won Best City in America and Canada several times, is second best in the world, and our entire city is the epitome of religious and racial diversity in the South, which is why we are the Holy City.

Stories About Charleston

Everyone I come across smiles at me, and one time my daughter was missing. I was pretty scared, and I was walking around downtown, calling her name, when I saw her with this woman who had seen her wandering and calmed her down by talking kindly to her. I was pretty angry at my daughter, but was relieved that no one had harmed her, and had, in fact, made the situation better!

One of the most special things about Charleston is our library system. These pictures are from the West Ashley branch library, St. Andrews. It was renamed in the wake of the Dylann Roof shooting a few years ago. It is now the Cynthia Graham Hurd St. Andrews branch.

Ms. Hurd was the sweetest, kindest lady you could ever meet. She helped a lot of people at St. Andrews over time, including both me and my husband. Her life and the lives of eight others were cut short. But footage of the trial reveals the repeated pleas of her fellow Emanuel AME (“Mother Emanuel”) members, statements that they forgave Dylann and pleaded for him to change his ways.

Churches around the area (including my own East Cooper Baptist) have offered resources and relocation as they make #BeautyFromAshes, the hashtag they have been using on their update posts on social media. Events scheduled several months into the future have had to be relocated, at least one of which landed in our sanctuary in December. Charleston has been called “The Holy City” for its numerous historic churches on the downtown peninsula, but the niceness spreads to the entire metro. One example of the face of niceness on air is Bill Walsh, the Channel 5 chief meteorologist. I have had the privilege of knowing him since I was still in school.