Once Benedict College confers Wendell R. Estep with a honorary doctor of divinity degree at its graduation ceremony on Saturday, no one will be applauding louder than Rev. Charles Jackson.
Estep, who retired this past summer after 32 years as pastor at First Baptist Church, and Jackson, who has been pastor at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia for 48 years, have enjoyed an inspiring and close friendship that spans more than two decades during which the duo have worked to improve racial relations in the Christian community.
Jackson, an alumnus of Benedict, wrote the letter recommending that Estep be considered for the honorary degree. This past December, Jackson received a similar honorary degree from the University of South Carolina. Estep was there applauding for Jackson, and Jackson says he wouldn’t have earned the honor without his friend.
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