Rev. George H. McClain, Obituary (1940

"The Lord is my Life and my salvation, whom shall I Fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 On August 10, 1941, four months before the Bombing of Peral Harbor in the Philipians, Edward A. McClain Sr., and Mary Margaret Sanders McClain were blessed with the brith of a son, George Herman McClain-a spunky little lad he was. He received his education in the Charleston County Public Schools, graduating with honors from Lincoln High School in McClellanville, South Carolina in 1959. He gave his life to our Lord at a very early age and served the Union A.M.E. Church with his family. He established a very early bonding with his big brother Ed that lasted throughout the duration of his life on earth. Thier lives mirrored a devoted brotherly commitment to each other. Reverend George McClain was united in holy matrimony to Ruth Lee White on November 14, 1964. This union was blessed with three children: George Jr., Marketta, and Todd. They shared a beautiful life together in love and harmony for 43 years. Reverend George was a master construction tradesman. He work in Washington, D.C. where he served as construction manager for three building complexes. He reared his children and served the Lord in this church and community there until he returned home in 1990-91. Upon returning home he continued to serve the Lord by joining his big brother at Calvary African Methodist Episcopal Church in Union Heights. He began work with the City of Charleston soon after returning home and worked his way to supervisory position. He loved his work and the people he worked for and with. Reverend George was a man with outstanding leadership ability and a rock steady demeanor with an appreciative personal appeal. He knew how to bring out the best in people. He kept his head when all about him somtimes lost theirs and blamed it on him but like Rudyard Kipling he made allowances for their doubting. He was a great bowler who bowled with two teams. He and Ruth loved these wonderful people who shared so much of the fun side of them. They developed a comradeship-a commitment entwined in outreach services to the 'least among them' in the community. He loved to bovwl and loved his bowiling friends. He answered the call to ministry in 2002, and entered the Palmetto Conference as a local candidate. He was ordained a local deacon in 2005 at ther seat of the District Conference. He completed his requirements for the local Elder's orders and at the behest of the Bishop would have received those orders at the next District Conference. Reverend George served the church in many capacities. He was a steward, trustee pro tem., Chairman of the Sons of Allen, Superintendent of the Sunday School, Bible Study Teacher, Directed the Male Choir, and sang with te Senior and combined Choirs. Reverend George will be remembered as a loving and compassionate preacher, a caring and committed husband and father, great humantarian and an untiring public servant. His generous heart, his loving spirit, and service to his fellowmen best exemplify this man of God. He has left a powerful legacy for his family and the church to build upon. He was steadfast and unmovable always abounding in the works of the Lord and his labor was not in vain in the Lord. On Monday morning, July 23, 2007, he slipped way from the mirror of lfe into the heavenly enbrace of Jesus. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 43 years, Ruth Lee McClain; children: George Jr. (Donna), Marketta, and Todd; 11 grandchildren; brother, Reverend Edward McClain Jr. (Sallie), brother/cousin, Steve Sanders (Delores), sister, Margaret Barnett; aunts: Thelma Thompson, Francena Thompson, Odessa Ford, Susie Sanders, Lyla Smith; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.