Here is information on their marriage, children, and more.
Born:
James (Jim) Enos Clyburn: July 21, 1940 in Sumter, South Carolina.
Emily England: Moncks Corner, South Carolina.
How James and Emily Met:
Emily and James met in 1959 after he and approximately 380 other college students were arrested for civil disobedience.
Jim on how he met Emily: “We had been in jail all night, and they hadn’t fed us all day. I was standing there and I said to nobody in particular `boy am I hungry.’ There was this little 95-pound person standing nearby. Next thing she is back with a hamburger. She offered it to me, then pulled it back. She tore it in half, gave me one half and kept the other half for herself. We were married a year later.”
Source: Howard Fineman. "Jim Clyburn sets the stage in South Carolina." Msnbc.msn.com. 4/17/2007.
Wedding Date:
Jim and Emily were married on June 24, 1961. Emily wore a white dress with a mid-calf length. The dress had a scalloped lace neckline and 3/4 length lace sleeves. She also wore white gloves, a short veil, and white heels.
Jim wore a dark suit with a white boutonniere. One of the last pictures in this slide show is their wedding photo.
Children:
Emily and Jim have three daughters and two grandchildren.
- Mignon Clyburn:
- Jennifer Clyburn Reed:
- Angela Clyburn:
Occupations:
James: Sixth District Congressman from South Carolina and House Majority Whip, author.
Before entering politics, Jim worked as a public school history teacher, an employment counselor, director of youth and community development programs, director of a migrant and seasonal farm workers program, and held several state government positions.
Emily: Former librarian in public schools, a naval hospital library, and a veterans administration hospital library. Emily is also a co-founder of the James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Endowment for the Archives and History at South Carolina State University.
Quotes About the Marriage of Emily and Jim Clyburn:
Robert Behre: "He [Jim] keeps in touch with his wife regularly via e-mail, but she is no fan of the limelight and travels from their home in Columbia to Washington only when necessary."
Source: "Mr. Clout." Democraticwhip.house.gov
Jason Darby: "If you ask him, however, about his most important, most lasting SC State memory, he will very quickly tell you that “it was the day in 1959 that I met my wife, Emily. Following their graduation from SC State, the couple began their professional careers in the Charleston County public schools. Clyburn became a history teacher, and his wife became a librarian."
Source: SCSU.edu
Carol B. Barker in an interview with Jim: "I tell people I came cheap. Emily got me for half a hamburger,” said Clyburn, whose frequent references to his wife during the interview seemed to underscore the major role she plays in every aspect of his life. While Emily stays in the background, Clyburn said she supports him and gives him her take on various situations and issues. She also faithfully peruses the obituary pages of newspapers, clipping those of constituents and their family members to which she knows he will want to respond with condolence cards, Clyburn said."
Source: Carol B. Barker. "Meet Jim Clyburn." SCState.blogspot.com. 1/2007.
Craig Melvin: "It's much like Clyburn's political legend, from Low country school teacher to staffer for Governor John West to State Human Affairs Commissioner to powerful Congressman. The achievements didn't come without sacrifice. Emily says, "He has made a habit being away from home a lot. I was then left with the girls to go to school, to go to ballet, to go to piano, music, and orchestra to sit through all that screeching as they practiced." But [Jim] Clyburn doesn't regret the time away, "No, not at all. I think a lot of my being away has been very beneficial to my family, especially my children. We are but the sum total of our experiences."
Source: Craig Melvin. "Jim Clyburn's family speaks about the Congressman." WISTV.com. 1/3/2007.