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Bishop Meadors Obituary
ANDERSON, SC - Marshall L. (Jack) Meadors, Jr., a Bishop of the United Methodist Church, died May 25, 2023.
Bishop Meadors was born in Kingstree, SC, January 1, 1933, son of Sarah Lucius and Marshall L. (Jack) Meadors. He was reared in Florence.
He was a graduate of Wofford College (Phi Beta Kappa), and Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
He received honorary degrees from Wofford, Columbia, Rust, Millsaps, and Rocky Mountain Colleges.
He was ordained elder of The United Methodist Church, August 16, 1958. He served Union Church, Stockbridge, GA; the McBee Charge; Trinity, North Myrtle Beach; Berea Friendship, Greenville; First Church, Marion; St. John's, Anderson; the Columbia District; and Buncombe Street, Greenville.
In 1992, he was elected bishop and assigned to the Mississippi area. He retired in 2000.
His civic involvement included membership on the Anderson County District 5 School Board, a position for which he was twice elected in general elections. Governor Richard Riley appointed him to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging and then to the SC Commission on Aging, which he chaired for five years. Gov. Riley awarded him "The Order of the Palmetto."
He was president of the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, an organization of religious leaders who worked to promote tolerance and understanding in diversity.
He was a director of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, a director of the General Board of Church and Society, a member of the University Senate, and a trustee of Emory University.
He chaired the Council of Bishop's Initiative on Children and Poverty, 1995-2000.
In 1999 he was a member of the delegation to Belgrade, led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, that secured the release of three American prisoners of war during the NATO bombing.
He and his wife Hannah then led a delegation to Macedonia to visit refugee camps, and to visit Kosovo to assess the war damage in Pristina and the outlying villages.
He was twice arrested for non-violent acts of civil disobedience; once for protesting the Iraq war; again for demanding more humane immigration deportation policies, especially for children.
In retirement he served as Bishop-in-Residence at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; he chaired the Independent Panel for the Review of Child Abuse in Mission Settings of the General Board of Global Ministries; he was a trustee of Wofford College and trustee emeritus of Emory.
He was married to Hannah Campbell who predeceased him.
He is survived by four children: Jane M. Cromley (George) of Pawleys Island, Marshall, III, (Jennifer) of Anderson, James (Anne) of Charleston, and John (Tricia) of Columbia; a sister, Sarah M. (Sissie) Stokes, a niece, Sarah L. (Sallie) Stokes of Murrells Inlet; ten grandchildren: Hannah Cromley, Mary C. Tibbetts (Robert), Parker Cromley, Weatherly, James, Jr., and Jack Meadors, Blakely, Maggie, John, Jr. (Salley), and Perry Meadors; and eight great-grandchildren: Marshall, Henry, Vivianne, Benjamin, James, III, Hayes, Wilder, and Gus.
A memorial service will be held at St. John's United Methodist, Anderson, SC, June 9, 2023. The family will greet friends in the Family Activity Center building at 12:30 pm. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. A graveside service will be held June 10, 2023, 3:00 pm, at Mount Hope Cemetery, Florence, SC
Memorials may be made to the Meadors Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wofford College, 429 N Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663 or the Meadors Endowment Fund for Children at The South Carolina United Methodist Foundation, P.O. Box 5087, Columbia, SC 29250.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bishop Meadors
Sponsored by Cremation Society of SC - Westville Funerals - Greenville.
Leigh D. Soufas Wofford College Class of 1978
August 11, 2023
I am saddened to learn of Bishop Meador´s passing, and also that of his eldest son, Marshall. Wofford College reaped many blessings by its association with both of these fine gentlemen: May their memories be eternal!
Bill Graham
June 26, 2023
I was saddened to find Jack's obituary by surprise this afternoon. I grew up in Florence next door to the Campbells, Eutha and Weatherly, and Mary Lou, Hannah's sister. I got to know Jack when he and Hannah started dating. Later on, when I finished Furman and grad school with a major in organ, I was Dir. of Music/Organist at 1st Presbyterian Church in Durham, and directing the NC Boys Choir. Jack invited the Choir to sing a Sat. night concert and the Sunday Service at Buncombe ST. UMC in Greenville, SC, where he was Senior Pastor. I still remember Jack and the Campbells fondly, and always visit their graves when I visit my parents at Mt. Hope. Wonderful people! Bill Graham, Durham, NC
Becky & Henry Philpot
June 8, 2023
Jack Meadors was our minister at Berea Friendship United Methodist Church in 1968, when our son Joe was born, and he christened Joe before he left. He was with us only a short time, but we have never forgotten his wonderful sermons, his lovely wife Hannah and his children. We have followed his many accomplishments through the years since then, and we are blessed to have known him. We regret that we will not be able to attend his memorial service but our thoughts and prayers will be his family. Becky & Henry Philpot
have crossed many times over the years. We regret that we will not be able to attend his funeral service. HIs family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Becky & Henry Philpot
EA
May 31, 2023
My deepest condolences. May God's Holy Spirit be with the family. I pray that he brings comfort to you all at this difficult time.
Connie Davis Rouse
May 31, 2023
My beloved Friend, Mentor and Pastor, Bishop Jack Meadors, Jr. I have loved you, your amazing wife, Dr. Hannah, your children and grands for much of my life. You will always be one of the most profound and brilliant orators, articulators of the gospel, that I have ever witnessed. You lived every word if it. The Children´s Bishop, surely, but you were a Bishop for ALL God´s Children, " from 1 to 92.". How joyous it was when you and Marshall appeared in NYC upon our arrival there as I was so anxious and afraid of the move! You came, preached and brought your calming spirit of hope, faith and love! What a gift you gave to me! What a gift you were! Thank you for your wisdom and gentle art of caring, for picking up the phone, for listening without judgementYou are loved.... Your presence will be missed in the universe but your memory, just as Dr Hannah´s, shall live on in the many hearts you touched around this globe forever! Rest in power, Dear Bishop Meadors!
Katherine Daniels McShea
May 30, 2023
I grew up in St. Johns Church in Anderson, SC and with his children. Jack was a wonderful man and very inspirational. A dear friend of my parents for many many years. Thoughts and prayers to all his family. He is very fondly remembered.
Jonathan David Meador
May 30, 2023
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Melissa
May 30, 2023
I didn't know Bishop Meadors personally but his willingness to stand up for those too broken to stand on their own is so inspiring. He was the topic of one of my weekly assigned "current event" newspaper articles once in a high school social studies class and he's been a hero to me ever since. His courage to fight injustice with only love as ammunition is a powerful reminder that we ALL have to take care of one another; despite our differences in faith, in language, in appearance... regardless of who we love or who we vote for, etc. The world has lost a warm, beautiful beacon of light in all this darkness. My sympathy goes out to all of his heartbroken family and friends. I'm keeping you in my thoughts.
Brown
May 29, 2023
May the God of all comfort strengthen your family at this difficult time.
Vicki Ratley, Greenville SC
May 28, 2023
A very special man! So glad we connected when I joined Buncombe Street and realizes our Florence, SC connection. Both being members at one time of Central UMC Florence. Jack was outstanding in the pulpit but also one on one in counseling a distraught, scared church member! So glad to have notes from him and tapes of 2 sermons. Blesses to have known and prayers to his family. Thank you for sharing your fate with us
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