Polly Sheppard is one of five survivors of the June 17, 2015 church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina, during which nine African-Americans were killed by a white supremacist. She was friends with all of the victims who were attending a weekly Bible study. The shooter allowed Polly to live so that she could “tell the story” of his rampage. Polly has indeed shared her story, though not in the way the perpetrator intended – instead, she has been sharing a story of healing and forgiveness. She has appeared on major media outlets including CNN, ABC, and The Today Show.