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2014 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 180
Celebrating the life of Dr. James Finnemore McClellan, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 20, 2014
Agreed to by the Senate, January 20, 2014

 

WHEREAS, Dr. James Finnemore McClellan, Jr., of Chesterfield County, a loving family man, retired pastor and professor, and respected community leader departed this life on January 16, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan was born on September 24, 1925; he was the oldest child of James F. McClellan, Sr., and Robbie Bell McClellan of Nashville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan earned a bachelor’s degree in history and social studies from Tennessee State University in 1944, a bachelor’s degree in divinity from Howard University in 1947, a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1949, and a doctorate in student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1956; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan began his professional career by serving as a minister of Harlem Church of Christ and Washington Heights Church of Christ, both in New York City, and Faith Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan later became a professional educator, serving as director of Cook Hall at Howard University, professor of education and director of student personnel services at Arkansas AM & N College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), and professor of education and dean of students at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan moved to Chesterfield County in 1969 to become a professor of guidance and director of testing at Virginia State University, retiring as distinguished professor emeritus in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan served the community for many years as a minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Petersburg; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan held memberships in many professional organizations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Professionals, the American Personnel and Guidance Association, the Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education, the American Association for Higher Education, the Southern College Personnel Association, the American Association of University Professors, and the Virginia Guidance Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan provided his leadership and experience to many civic organizations; he was a member of the Civic and Progressive Action Association of the Matoaca Magisterial District, a secretary and treasurer of the Petersburg Pilots Association, a life member of the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Chesterfield Democratic Committee, and the Southside Area Democratic Women’s and Associates’ Club; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McClellan was presented the Chesterfield County Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service to the county as a member and chair of the Committee on the Future, the Airport Advisory Board, the Community Development Block Grant Citizen Committee, and the Electoral Board; and

WHEREAS, in his final years, Dr. McClellan donated his time as the volunteer office manager for the Downtown Churches United HOPE Center; and

WHEREAS, throughout his over 40 years as an educator, minister, and community leader, Dr. McClellan touched countless lives with his quiet wisdom, humor, and kindness; and

WHEREAS, a devoted family man, Dr. McClellan will be greatly missed by his wife of 54 years, Lois; their daughters, Jean, Julie, and Jennifer, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, former students, parishioners, and admirers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a fine Virginia gentleman, Dr. James Finnemore McClellan, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Dr. James Finnemore McClellan, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.