SC officials posthumously pardon 2 great-uncles of talk show host who were executed in 1915

SC board pardons 2 black men executed 94 years ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina board has unanimously pardoned two great-uncles of syndicated radio host Tom Joyner who were executed for the 1913 murder of a Confederate Army veteran.

Wednesday’s decision is believed to be South Carolina’s first posthumous pardon in a capital murder case.

Black landowners Thomas and Meeks Griffin died in the electric chair 94 years ago after a jury convicted them of killing the 73-year-old white Chester County man.

Records show the brothers and two other black men were implicated by a man who testified against them to spare his life. According to sworn statements, that man later said the four were innocent.

Joyner learned of his uncles’ fate during filming of the PBS documentary “African American Lives 2,” which traced his lineage.