Thurmond's family acknowledges black woman's claim as daughter Monday December 15, 2003 7:05pm    Posted By: Angela May Has Saddam Hussein's capture changed your view on the situation in Iraq?  Yes  No  Not sure disclaimer  |  results  |  more polls ___  ABC News 4 Interact  ___    • Signup for eNews Alerts    • ABC News 4 Pulse Poll    • Whats Your Opinion?    • Printable Version    • E-Mail This Story ___  Related Stories  ___ Woman Claims To Be Strom Thurmond's Bi-Racial Daughter Columbia, SC - The family of the late Strom Thurmond says it acknowledges a California woman's claim that she is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of the former US senator from South Carolina.  The family's lawyer, J Mark Taylor, said in a statement that the family hopes this acknowledgment will bring closure for Essie Mae Washington-Williams.  Taylor confirmed he was speaking for the Thurmond family but would not give more information.  He would not answer whether the family was in fact verifying Williams' claims.  Williams' lawyer, Frank K Wheaton, had said Saturday that his client was coming forward to claim the nation's oldest and longest-serving senator, and one-time segregationist, was her father.  Thurmond died in June at age 100.  Wheaton says Williams is grateful the Thurmond family acknowledged her claim.  He says Williams may not release all her alleged evidence supporting the claim because of the family's announcement.  Wheaton say attorneys for both parties are discussing what information to make available.  Williams is a retired schoolteacher who lives in Los Angeles.  She has been long rumored to be Thurmond's child and plans to tell her story in Columbia on Wednesday.  Williams claims Thurmond fathered her when he was 22 and living in his parents' home.  Williams' mother was a maid in the Thurmond home » Find More Articles Related To This One » Search The Internet For More On This Topic Copyright 2003 WCIV, LLC.

HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS STORY? TELL US ABOUT IT BELOW!  Viewer Comments on Thurmond's family acknowledges black woman's claim as daughter DMON IP: Logged Posted: 12/17 9:38a i wonder if she will be invited to the family reunion or will she be turned away like thomas jefferson mixed relatives. i also wonder if this will get posted. Che Guevara IP: Logged Posted: 12/16 11:18a Jerry Springer is looking for South Carolina Republicans to be guess on his Show. Opinions and Feedback You need to be a registered member of ABC News 4 to leave comments on news stories. Not A Member Yet? Click Here To Signup...Takes Just Two Minutes Lost Your Password? Click Here ABC News 4 Member Name or Email:   Password:    Your Feedback/Opinion: Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privledges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.