Essie Mae Washington-Williams, 78, of Los Angeles, will hold a news conference in Columbia on Wednesday to discuss her claim that Mr. Thurmond was her father. Mr. Thurmond, a one-time segregationist, died at age 100 in June and was long rumored to have fathered such a child.

"As J. Strom Thurmond has passed away and cannot speak for himself, the Thurmond family acknowledges Ms. Essie Mae Washington-Williams' claim to her heritage. We hope this acknowledgement will bring closure for Ms. Williams," J. Mark Taylor, a Thurmond family attorney, said in a prepared statement.

Betty Ellison, Mr. Taylor's executive assistant, confirmed that the West Columbia attorney released the statement on behalf of the Thurmond family but referred all other questions to her boss, who did not return telephone calls.

Mr. Taylor and fellow Columbia lawyer James R. Jones are listed as attorneys on the will filed Oct. 27 in Aiken County Probate Court on Mr. Thurmond's behalf. Ms. Washington-Williams is not mentioned in the document that details $200,000 cash disbursements to family, friends and longtime political aides of Mr. Thurmond. Attorneys have until Jan. 27 to file an inventory of Mr. Thurmond's estate.

Ms. Washington-Williams, who told The Washington Post that Mr. Thurmond privately acknowledged her as his daughter and had provided financial support since 1941, has said she previously denied his paternity to save him embarrassment. She told The Post that her mother was working as a 16-year-old maid at the home of Mr. Thurmond's parents, where he was living at age 22, before the start of his long political career.

Her attorneys have said she is now stepping forward at the urging of her family and for "closure" about an old family secret.

Reach Jim Nesbitt at (803) 648-1395 or jim.nesbitt@augustachronicle.com.

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