William Prince McLemore was born March 30th, 1931 in Savannah GA, the only child of Garfield and Rosa Mae McLemore (née Price). When Prince was just 5 years old, his father passed away; as a result, his bond with his mother was especially close.
Young Prince was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and was made a Deacon at just 21 years old. He was an avid reader and serious about education. He attended Savannah State University, but paused his studies to serve in the US Marine Corp from 1950 to 1952, including active duty in the Korean War. After being discharged, he moved to Ohio, where he resumed his education, earning a Bachelor’s at Kent State University in 1957, followed by a Master’s of Education in 1963, working all the while to cover his tuition. During this time he was married, and had a son, William Jr, in 1954. The marriage ended, but mother Rosa Mae relocated from Savannah to help; she would remain a part of Prince’s household until her death in 1996.
In Joliet, IL, Prince become the first full-time Black professor at Joliet Junior College. Later, Prince began working at Governor’s State University, where he became a tenured professor and Chairman of the Division of Education. He was the founding President of Phi Delta Kappa (a professional fraternity) at GSU, but never lost touch with his own college fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.
It was in Joliet that he read about an impressive young lady, one Elsie Thigpen, and asked around until he secured an introduction. Elsie and Prince soon became an item and Elsie encouraged him to continue his studies. With her assistance and support, Prince won a fellowship and eventually earned his doctorate from Northwestern University in 1971 (Education, with a special interest in African-American History). Dr. and Mrs. McLemore were married in October 1978, and welcomed their son, Charles Christopher, in 1981.
Prince and Elsie were busy, driven people who were both successful in their professions. They had a passion for travel, and as Prince was fond of saying, he had “been to more than 80 countries and all 7 continents, and all after my time in the Marines.”
When Prince retired from Governor’s State in 1994 after 26 years, the McLemores relocated to Memphis, TN. The family became active members of Advent Presbyterian. Prince volunteered as a storyteller with the National Civil Rights Museum and worked there for several years as a highly popular tour guide. He was active in the Poetry Society of Tennessee, and was honored as Poet Laureate in 2016. Prince & Elsie endowed scholarships in their fields at GSU, supported the National Civil Rights Museum, and funded the establishment of the Stephen Ministry at Advent.
Prince was a thrifty fellow, and a natty dresser, who enjoyed scouring resale stores for treasures that others might miss. His closets (plural!) were legendary for their abundance of suits, sport coats, and wing-tip shoes – classic professor garb, which was as much a part of the essence of Prince as his courtly manners and enduring, demonstrative adoration of his bride.
Dr. William Prince McLemore transitioned on July 9, 2022, concluding a long, well-lived life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Garfield and Rosa Mae McLemore; and the love of his life, Elsie. Prince leaves to cherish his memories, his two sons; William McLemore, Jr., and Charles “Charvey” McLemore (Elizabeth), Goddaughter Crystal Malone, Nieces Rakiyah “Krissy” Talavedra (Laurena), Geravia “Buffy” Stover (Michael), Nephew, Reuben Tapp (Ronke), Sister-in-Law, Allie Tapp (Simuel) and a host of extended family, cherished longtime friends, colleagues, students, and others whose lives he impacted.
A visitation for William will be held Friday, July 22, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, Tennessee 38133, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the McLemore family.
