Reverend Reginald D. McClain
March 25, 1929 to August 11, 2011
The Reverend Reginald D.
McClain, Sr., retired pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of Scranton died
peacefully in the Lord on Thursday, August 11, 2011, at Moses Taylor Memorial
Hospital, Scranton, PA. He was 86
years old. He was the only son of
the late Zion and Lena Marie Jackson McClain.
He enlisted in the United
Sates Naval Reserves. attended Pharmacist Mate School, USNR, Chicago, IL and
Field Medical School, Camp Lejeune, New River, NC with the rank of Pharmacist
Mate 3/C. He then served in the
Pacific Theater of War with the first colored replacements until honorably
discharged in 1945. Reverend McClain
then attended Baptist Christian College, receiving a B.A., M.A. in Biblical
Studies and later Shaw Divinity School, Raleigh, NC, graduating Magna Cum Laude
with a Master of Divinity in 1993.
He served in various
positions throughout his lifetime including, Executive Director of the Fayette
County CETA Program, Uniontown, PA and Chaplain/Counselor to Minority Students,
Cornell United Religious Work (CURW), Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY. He was involved with
multiple boards and organizations here in Scranton, and throughout the city
including the Scranton Civil Service Commission.
Reverend McClain has led
six churches in his sixty years of ministry; Zion Hill Baptist Church,
Jeannette, PA; Mount Zion Baptist Church, West Newton, PA; Mount Rose Baptist
Church, Uniontown, PA; Calvary Baptist Church, Ithaca, NY; Mount Sinai Baptist
Church, Eden, NC; Shiloh Baptist Church, Scranton, PA.
Reverend McClain preached the Word of God in a very down to earth,
practical style, often intermingled with great humor from his own life.
His generous heart was expressed throughout the community and state.
He was a man of passion and integrity with a “no compromise” view of the
Word of God. He was dedicated to
spreading the good news of the Gospel to everyone he met.
He demonstrated a model of integrity among Christian leaders, managed to
live out his convictions and stay committed to his family over the long haul of
his life in ministry while remaining humble and down to earth.
His ministries transcended both racial and gender barriers, enabling a
diverse audience to understand and apply the teachings of Christ in their lives.
As a 2010 recipient of The
Governor Robert P. Casey Medal for a Lifetime of Service award, Reverend McClain
was a humble man of strong values shaped by faith in God and love of family and
friends. He was truly a gift from
God.
He leaves to cherish his
precious memory, his wife of sixty-four years, the former, Tresia Marie Gantt,
whom were married February 27th, 1947.
To this union seven children were born with the addition of one adopted
daughter; Lawrence C. McClain and wife Goodie, NJ, Coleman D. McClain and wife
Evalin, MO, Kevin P. McClain and wife Chan, NY, Simeon C. McClain, PA, Darlana
L. Gonzalez and husband Bruce, NJ Zionette Y. Davis and husband Michael, NJ, and
Carole G. Harrington and husband Ulysses, PA.
He was blessed with 27grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 4
great-great-grandchildren; a niece Lena Doubt, PA, two nephews Robert McClain,
PA, and William McClain, MD, a host of cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his eldest
son Reginald D. McClain Jr. and Sister Rosalee Reynolds.
Visitation will be held Monday from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm in Miller Bean Funeral Home, Inc., 436 Cedar Avenue, Scranton. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday at 1:00 pm following a viewing from 9:00am – 1:00pm in the Shiloh Baptist church, 1926 Wayne Avenue, Scranton.
A separate service will be held Friday, August 19, 2011 at Zion Hill Baptist Church, 102 Clay Avenue, Jeannette, PA at 1 pm following a viewing from 9 am 1 pm in the church. Interment with Military Honors will follow in the St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Reverend McClain’s memory can be made to the Shiloh Baptist Church, 1936 Wayne Avenue, Scranton, PA 18504 for installation of an elevator.
