James C. McLemore Sr.

James Clarence "Mac" McLemore Sr., of Columbia, died June 14, 2008, of a heart attack, at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. He was 80.

He was born June 27, 1927, in Eutaw, Ala., to James and Mary Hicks.

In 1945, Mr. McLemore enlisted in the U.S. Army and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division. During his service, he reached the rank of sergeant first class and was stationed in Korea and Germany, where he worked as an engineer in covert operations. He was discharged in 1965.

He married Janie Mae Thompson in 1948.

Mr. McLemore opened his own trucking and janitorial business, called James C. McLemore and Sons Trucking and Janitorial, in 1967. Originally located in Baltimore, he moved the business to Silver Spring when he and his family relocated to that area. In 1992, family members turned the company into a landscaping business, until it was closed in 2002. During that time, he helped to run the company and acted as an adviser for friends who had similar businesses. He retired in 2006.

Family members recall that Mr. McLemore, who was loved and respected by everyone he knew, was always involved in helping people and taught many who now have businesses how to run them.

He was predeceased by his parents, James and Mary Hicks; and a daughter, Angelena Eaddy.

In addition to his wife of 60 years, Mr. McLemore is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Kathryn McLemore, of Columbia and Jerome Eaddy, of Baltimore, and Jocelyn and Michael McEachern, of Columbia; six sons and six daughters-in-law, James Clarence Jr. and Lorraine McLemore, of Winston, N.C., Sean and Donna McLemore, of Germantown, David and Leslie McLemore, of Columbia, Ivory McLemore and Kim Guibone, of Rockville, Joel and Marshay McLemore, of Florida, and Jacy and Nicole McLemore, of Sykesville; a sister, Willie Rice, of Bessemer, Ala.; two cousins, S.J. Turman and Henry Turman, both of Detroit; as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were slated for Thursday, June 19, 2008, noon, at Witzke Funeral Home Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia.

Interment is slated to follow at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, in Crownsville.

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