Legislation on hold for Thurmond statue

A move to add Essie Mae Washington-Williams’ name to the monument honoring her father, the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, was delayed for at least a day Tuesday in the S.C. Senate.

The delay is mostly procedural. The legislation does not specify exactly how Washington-Williams’ name should appear on the monument, on the south side of the State House grounds. State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, said he did not know Washington-Williams’ wishes but would try to find out.

The legislation would add Washington-Williams’ name to that of Thurmond’s four children with Nancy Moore Thurmond. Washington-Williams revealed in December she was the biracial daughter of Thurmond and a black domestic worker in the Thurmond family’s Edgefield home.

-- Aaron Sheinin