Althea Loraine McClellan was the eldest daughter of Annie McClellan and the late LeRoy McClellan. After attending primary and secondary school in Florence, she attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina where she received a BA in Early Childhood Education. She received an MA in Elementary Education at UNA and earned additional credits in counseling and administration. Althea was a certified parenting educator, a certified Accelerated Reader consultant, and a certified Mother Read presentator.
Hired by the Lauderdale County School System in 1976, she served as an elementary teacher at Lauderdale County High School. In 1996 she was appointed to Lauderdale County Federal Parent Involvement Coordinator. In addition to her job in the Lauderdale County School System, she worked at Safeplace for more than 15 years and at the UNA Girls’ Group Home retiring in February of 2007.
Althea McClellan was active in her church and several social, civic, and political organizations.
One of Althea’s greatest joys was the children God placed in her life. She often said that she was the “old woman in the shoe with so many children she didn’t know what to do.”
Better known as “Miss Al”, Althea described herself as “the most blessed person in the world!”
She leaves to cherish her memories her mother, Mrs. Annie J. McClellan; brother, LeRoy E. McClellan; two sisters, Marilyn E. McClellan and Eleanor L. McClellan; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation with the family will be held today, 6-7 p.m., at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, Alabama.
Funeral services for Ms. McClellan will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at Tennessee Valley Community Church, Florence, Alabama, with the Rev. F. W. Perkins officiating.
Burial is in Greenview Memorial Garden, Florence, Alabama.
The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m.
Public viewing will be today, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, is directing.
