Mr. Luther McClellan, 83 of Bartlett, Tennessee passed away on July 12, 2024 in Bartlett, Tennessee.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Fullview Missionary Baptist Church, 7100 Memphis-Arlington Rd, Bartlett, Tennessee 38135

A viewing will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 from 10:00 am until 10:55 am, with Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 am, also at Fullview Missionary Baptist Church, 7100 Memphis-Arlington Rd, Bartlett, Tennessee 38135.

Mr. Luther McClellan was born in Halls, TN on August 12, 1940. When his parents separated four years later, he and his three brothers were sent to Neelyville, MO to stay with his grandmother. She died when he was twelve and the boys moved to Memphis, TN to live with their mother. Luther graduated from Manassas High School in 1958 and enrolled at Lemoyne College (currently Lemoyne-Owens) as a freshman.

When Memphis State University was ordered by a federal judge to integrate, Luther was one of the Eight African American students that integrated Memphis State University in September of 1959. Luther spent three tension-filled years at Memphis State earning a B.S. Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry. In May 1962 Luther McClellan became the first African American to earn an under-graduate degree from Memphis State University.  The Black Alumni Chapter of the now University of Memphis Alumni Association awards the Luther C. McClellan Scholarship annually to as many as three deserving minority students. There was also a marker placed just south of the university's Administration Building to recognize the Luther C. McClellan Alumni Mall.

After graduation from Memphis State, Luther joined the United States Air Force (USAF). He enrolled in the Officer Training School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in November 1962. He would later retire as a Major.

Luther left the Air Force after eight years and joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He was assigned to the National Aviation Facility Experimental Center (NAFEC). Luther was hired by the FAA as a Mathematician and received promotions to Section Chief, Branch Manager, Division Manager and retired as a Program Director.

Luther was recognized for his efforts to recruit minority and female employees to the FAA. He was a two time recipient of the FAA's top award, The Administrator's Award for Superior Achievement. He was also the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Award, the Dr. Henry Logan Starks Legacy Award and the Arthur S. Holman Lifetime Achievement Award.

During his time with the FAA he earned a
Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Monmouth University

Luther was active in the community and church in New Jersey: Member of Pleasantville School Board, Church Trustee Board Member and Chairman, Member of the Pleasantville Juvenile Conference Committee and Member of NAACP.

Luther moved back to the Memphis area in July 2016 and continued to be active in his church and community: Member of the Scholarship Committee of the Manassas H.S. Alumni Association, an Annual Contributor to the University of Memphis Black Alumni Chapter's Scholarship Fund and a Lifetime Member of the  University of Memphis Alumni Association.

Luther's wife Nancy died in 2013 . They were married for 49 years. His daughter Lisa Ortiz predeceased him in April of this year.  He leaves to cherish his memory: daughters Marsha (Earl) Dillard and Laverne  (Darrell) McClellan Trent; grandchildren Dedrick (Aaronetta) Moore, Dedrya Bullock-Moore, and Clarissa Nelson; great-grandchildren Dedrian, Adrianne, Winter and Dallas; brother Gregory Rufus; brother-in-law Joseph Johnson and sisters-in-law Mary Lou Reid and Dardanella Russell; son-in-law George Ortiz and too many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to name. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Jefferson Mortuary, Inc. has charge.

7788 Church Street

Millington, Tennessee 38053

Phone: (901) 872-8800

Fax: (901) 872-4722

Email: jeffersonmortuary@yahoo.com