Donald Prioleau, Sr.

Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa Community Leader | Mayor Emeritus | Civic Historian | Humanitarian

Donald Prioleau, Sr., is a devoted public servant, visionary civic leader, and tireless community advocate whose legacy of service has helped shape the cultural and civic identity of Ridgeway, South Carolina, and beyond. Over the span of more than forty-five years, Mr. Prioleau has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice, youth empowerment, historical preservation, and inclusive leadership.

Born and raised in Ridgeway, Mr. Prioleau built a successful career in the trucking industry while simultaneously emerging as a respected figure in his hometown. His career in public service began with a historic election to the Ridgeway Town Council in 2000, where he became the first African American to hold elected office in the town. His leadership deepened when he was elected Ridgeway’s first Black mayor, a position in which he brought vision, transparency, and infrastructure progress to a historically segregated municipality.

During his tenure as mayor, Mr. Prioleau championed improvements in Ridgeway’s water and fire protection systems, addressed community health needs by helping to attract the Ridgeway Family Practice medical clinic, and strengthened civic events that united the town, such as the popular “Pig on the Ridge” BBQ festival. His tenure demonstrated that progress rooted in equity, access, and inclusion is not only possible but necessary.

Deeply rooted in faith, Mr. Prioleau is a lifelong member and Elder at Lebanon Presbyterian Church (USA), where he has also served as President of the Men’s Council. His mentoring extended beyond church walls through his leadership as Boy Scout Master of Troop #173, where he shaped generations of boys into men of character, integrity, and service.

Mr. Prioleau has also been a fierce advocate for the preservation of Black educational history. As President of the Fairfield High School Alumni Association, he led the effort to save Fairfield High School—a beloved institution in the African American community—from demolition. Through tireless fundraising and advocacy, he helped transform the school into a historical museum that now educates the public and honors the legacy of Black educators and students across generations.

Among his many accolades, Mr. Prioleau was awarded the Citizen of the Year by the Town of Ridgeway, received the Rollins Edwards Living Legacy Award in 2023, and in 2024, was honored with the naming of a South Carolina state road in his name. A proud 33rd Degree Mason, he holds leadership roles in Masonic and Shriner organizations and is widely respected for his spiritual and civic influence.

A man of faith, vision, and generational impact, Donald Prioleau, Sr. has given his life to the betterment of others. His leadership has preserved sacred history, uplifted his neighbors, and demonstrated the power of quiet, enduring service.

In recognition of his extraordinary devotion to humanity, Ecumenical University proudly confers upon him the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa.

Cecil J. Williams

Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa

Civil Rights Photographer | Archivist | Museum Founder | Author

Cecil J. Williams is an acclaimed civil rights photographer, author, museum founder, and national treasure whose powerful images and storytelling have preserved South Carolina’s—and America’s—Black freedom struggle for generations. His life’s work has shaped the visual and historical memory of a transformative era in U.S. history.

Born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Williams began documenting life in the Jim Crow South as a teenager, using his camera as a courageous tool of truth. By age 15, his photographs were being published nationally. He became one of the few Black photographers credentialed to cover the White House, capturing President John F. Kennedy and other national leaders, while simultaneously chronicling grassroots activism across the Deep South.

Williams documented key moments in the civil rights movement, including sit-ins, student protests, and NAACP legal battles. His images of the Orangeburg Massacre, where three students were killed by police on the campus of South Carolina State in 1968, remain among the most iconic and haunting visuals of the era. These photographs not only bore witness to injustice but challenged the nation to confront its conscience.

Determined to preserve this vital history, Williams opened the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum in 2019. Located in Orangeburg, the museum stands as South Carolina’s first and only civil rights museum, housing thousands of photographs, artifacts, and documents collected over 60 years. It is a sanctuary of memory and a beacon of learning for future generations.

In addition to his photography and curatorial achievements, Williams is the author of several books, including Freedom & Justice, Orangeburg 1968, and Unforgettable: The Life and Legacy of Sarah Mae Flemming. His publications explore overlooked chapters in the fight for civil rights and elevate the stories of everyday heroes who helped shape the course of history.

Williams’ tireless work has earned national recognition from civil rights leaders, educators, journalists, and historians. His images are held in collections at the Library of Congress and other major institutions, and his life has been profiled in documentaries, museums, and public broadcasts. He has been honored by the South Carolina General Assembly and celebrated as a living legend in African American heritage preservation.

A man of remarkable humility and visionary impact, Cecil J. Williams has given voice to the voiceless, sight to the unseen, and dignity to the dismissed. His legacy ensures that the struggle for justice and equality will never be forgotten.

In recognition of his life’s dedication to truth, education, and cultural preservation, Ecumenical University proudly confers upon Cecil J. Williams the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa.

Brenda C. Murphy

Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa Veteran | Nurse Administrator | Civil Rights Leader | Humanitarian

Brenda C. Murphy has dedicated her life to advancing the causes of justice, health equity, and human dignity—locally, statewide, and nationally. A native of Ridgeway, South Carolina, and longtime resident of Columbia, she is a decorated U.S. Army Reserve officer, a respected nursing educator and administrator, and a pioneering civil rights advocate who has helped shape the moral and social conscience of South Carolina for over three decades.

Mrs. Murphy earned her Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. Her professional career includes distinguished service in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she rose to the rank of Associate Chief Nurse at major medical centers in Brooklyn, New York, as well as in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina. In the U.S. Army Reserves, she attained the rank of Major, receiving numerous commendations for leadership and excellence in service.

Her commitment to mentoring future nurses was evident in her adjunct faculty roles at South Carolina State University, the University of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, and South University. Across these institutions, she instilled in students the importance of cultural sensitivity, compassion, and advocacy within the healthcare profession.

Mrs. Murphy's advocacy transcends the realm of healthcare. She made history as the first female president of the NAACP South Carolina State Conference, where she continues to lead with moral clarity and visionary resolve. As a lifelong member of the NAACP, her leadership has championed the national "Game Changers" platform, advancing equity in health and well-being, education innovation, racial justice, an inclusive economy, litigation and advocacy, and next-generation leadership development. Her work has galvanized youth and college engagement and strengthened partnerships across civil society.

Among her many accolades are the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award for Legal Activism from the NAACP, the Director’s Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Palmetto Gold Nursing Award. The Columbia Urban League has also recognized her, the Racial Justice Network, and multiple local institutions for her enduring contributions to social justice and public health.

An active civic leader, Mrs. Murphy serves on the boards of the United Way of South Carolina, the SC Unitarian Universalist Justice Alliance, and the American Red Cross Regional Diversity Committee. She is also a member of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and the Prince Hall Masonic family, where she holds national leadership roles.

Brenda C. Murphy’s work is rooted in faith, compassion, and action. A dedicated member of Greenview First Baptist Church, she lives her mission to “advocate for justice and equality for all people.” Her extraordinary record of service, integrity, and impact stands as a model of public leadership in the 21st century.

In recognition of her lifelong commitment to health, justice, education, and community empowerment, Ecumenical University is honored to confer upon Brenda C. Murphy the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa.

Jannie Harriot

Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa Educator | Public Historian | Cultural Preservationist | Advocate for Equity

Jannie Harriot is a distinguished educator, cultural preservationist, and community advocate whose visionary leadership has transformed the landscape of African American historical preservation in South Carolina. For more than three decades, she has dedicated her life to ensuring that the stories, contributions, and voices of Black South Carolinians are honored, recorded, and shared with future generations.

Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, and educated in the public schools of Fair and Richland Counties, Ms. Harriot is a proud graduate of Butler High School. She began her academic career at Talladega College in Alabama and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. A dedicated educator, she spent decades teaching in public schools across North and South Carolina and served as an instructor in community colleges in New Jersey. Throughout her educational journey, she emphasized integrity, inclusion, and the importance of history in shaping students’ understanding of themselves and the world.

In 1990, Ms. Harriot returned to Hartsville and expanded her focus from classrooms to communities. She served in several local leadership roles and retired in 2005 as Executive Director of Allendale County First Steps for School Readiness. Her tireless work in early childhood education helped improve educational access and outcomes in some of the state’s most underserved areas.

Ms. Harriot is best known for her extraordinary contributions to African American historic preservation and public history. As a founding member of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC), she served as Vice Chair and Chair, becoming its most visible and enduring advocate. Under her leadership, the Commission expanded its influence, built partnerships, secured critical funding, and launched groundbreaking initiatives to uplift Black cultural heritage statewide.

As Executive Director of the South Carolina African American Heritage Foundation, Ms. Harriot led innovative projects that blended education, tourism, and preservation. These include the creation of The Green Book of South Carolina, a mobile travel guide to over 300 African American cultural sites; teacher training institutes on school desegregation history; and curriculum resources aligned with South Carolina’s academic standards that center Black voices and contributions.

Her preservation efforts extend to saving endangered landmarks, increasing the number of African American historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and spearheading public history performances such as Becoming Harriet Tubman and FREED. She is currently leading the development of a new African American history museum in Darlington County and serves as Executive Director of Development and Programs for the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, founded by civil rights photographer Cecil J. Williams.

Ms. Harriot’s impact has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Governor’s Award in the Humanities, the Order of the Palmetto, and selection as a South Carolina African American History Calendar Honoree. Her voice has become one of wisdom, truth, and advocacy in the ongoing quest for cultural equity and historical justice.

In honor of her enduring contributions to education, preservation, and civic memory, Ecumenical University proudly confers upon Jannie Harriot the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa.