Fans eager to meet �Thurmond's daughter

During her book signing Saturday, Essie Mae Washington-Williams examines Derrick Mattison's mother's degree from South Carolina State, which they attended at the same time. Williams signed his book in his mother’s memory. (Tanya Ackerman/Staff) e-mail this story print this story

It was Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the illegitimate, biracial daughter of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. And the level of adulation and acceptance was overwhelming.

"I just think she's a courageous lady," said Frances Gregory, who arrived at the Open Book an hour before Washington-Williams' scheduled arrival time. "I think she should be honored for being that courageous."

The crowd was so dense at the table where she was signing copies of her new autobiography, "Dear Senator," her attorney put a temporary halt to the signing to restore order.

Eventually, things calmed down, and the 79-year-old retired teacher was able to greet the fans — and even meet a first cousin she'd never seen before.

"She's a sweet lady, and we have nothing but kind things to say about her," said Dr. Barry Bishop, a Greenville physician who is a nephew of the late senator.

Like many people, Bishop had heard rumors for years about her but didn't know for certain until she made her announcement two years ago. Thurmond's immediate family has acknowledged her as his daughter.

Her book details the story of her life as the secret child of a young white lawyer, destined to become governor and then the longest-serving U.S. senator, by a black servant.

"We here in South Carolina knew the story all along," said Mollie Lowe, who was in college about the same time Washington-Williams was.

She doesn't blame her for not telling her story sooner.

"Why you gonna go bite the hand that feeds you?" she said. "I respect the lady for what she did."

Greenville County Councilwoman Xanthene Norris, a central figure in the county's recent move to create a holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., said she wouldn't "pass judgment" on her for not speaking out at a time when it might have removed one of the nation's most resolute segregationists from power.

"I might not have done it the same way," she said. "But it was a matter of choice."

Washington-Williams arrived at the bookstore nearly three hours late, after being held over in Columbia to sign more books. She had autographed more than 1,100 books Friday and went back to the store Saturday morning to sign more before coming to Greenville, said her attorney, Frank Wheaton.

The Greenville store had sold out of the book long before she arrived, but only a few people got tired of waiting and left without getting their copy signed.

"This is a great, historical event," said Angelo Brannon, who came, she said, for her sons, Justin and Isaac, ages 14 and 7.

Washington-Williams said it was her first trip to Greenville, even though she was born in South Carolina and went to college at what is now South Carolina State University.

"When I was in school I knew many students from Greenville, but I hadn't actually been here," she said. "It's a beautiful place."

In spite of the warm reception, she doesn't wish she had revealed her secret sooner, she said in an interview.

"I didn't even consider it, because if I had wanted to I could have done this years ago, when I was a senior in college," she said. She said she didn't want to hurt her father and that there was "no advantage" to either of them in telling the story.

"He didn't ask me not to do so, I just didn't want to do it," she said.

Seeing such a turnout in Greenville made her feel "wonderful."

"I will certainly sign every one if I have to stay here until midnight," she said.

A CBS Movie of the Week on her story should be aired in late summer or early fall, she said. She's trying to get Vanessa Williams to play her in the movie. An actor to play her father hasn't been chosen.

"Dear Senator" is No. 17 on the New York Times bestsellers list for hardcover nonfiction. The book went on the market 10 days ago.