A Celebration of Life, Roger Allen McLean, Sr., October 24, 1949 - March 30, 2016, Elizabeth City State University, Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center, Floyd L. Robinson Fine Arts Auditorium, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 6, 2016, One O'Clock in the Afternoon, Reverend Frederick Godfrey, Officiating

A Celebration of Life

October 24) 1949

March 30) 2016

Elizabeth City State University Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center Floyd L. Robinson Fine Arts Auditorium
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Wednesday, April6, 2016 One O'clock in the Afternoon
REVEREND FREDERIC!< GODFREY, OFFICIATING

~Order of Service ~
Prelude ...... ............................................... .Ms. Brooke Alford, Niece
Processional... ........ ...... . . . ............................... . ....... Clergy and Fami!J
Scripture Readings
0 ld Testament. ................................................... Rev. Harry Ghee New Testament............... . .......... ........ . .... ...Rev. Dr. Walter L. Smith
Prqyer ofComfort............ . .. .... . ... .... ..... . . . . .......... ..Rev. Charles Sizemore
Solo ... ....................................... . ........ .Mrs. Stephanie Clqyton, Cousin
Tributes Dr. Thomas L. Conwqy- Chanr/ellor, Elizabeth Ciry State UniverJzty Dr. Diane Suber- PreJident (Retired), Saint Augustine~r Univenity Dr. Jimmy L . JenkinJ~ Sr.- PreJident, Livingstone College State Senator Dan Blue- North Carolina Senate Dr. Herman]. Felton, Jr. -Mentee
Mr. Tr:Juan MannerJ- 23rd NC Distrid Diredor, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inr,: Mr. Robert Pippen- Distrid Governor, Rotary International Mr. Johnnie Walton- Elizabeth City Fourth Ward Councilor
Mr. Reuben Gocifrey- Union Chapel Mi.uionary Baptist Church Mr. Mzlton CateJ- Bacote Fami!J
Mr. Jimmy Mcuan- MtLean Fami!J
Solo .............................. .. .....................Mr. Garion Bunn, Son-in-law
Eulogy ................ ........ . . . .. ..................... ..... .. .Rev. Frederick Godfrey
5 olo ... ............................................. . ........... ..Mr. Michael Godfrey
Closing.......................... .. ......... .. .................. Rev. Frederick Godfrey
Recessional
Final Viewing............... ........................ .Rivers Communiry Funeral Home

-Obituary-
Quietly and peacefully, on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, God, in his infinite wisdom, called home his servant, Roger Allen McLean, Sr., to dwell with him in Heaven. Roger was the son ofNealie Bacote McLean and the late Dexter A. I\!IcLean. He was born on October 24, 1949 in Shannon, NC.
Early Life and Education
Roger grew up on a farm in Rex, NC. He developed a solid work ethic through completing daily chores and meeting the high expectations of watchful parents. Roger had a strong sense of responsibility and a sharp mind, which earned him the distinction of graduating valedictorian of the 1967 class of Oak Ridge High School in Robeson County where he was also a member of the basketball team and a school bus driver.
Roger was always an avid member of the church. He joined New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Rex, NC as a young boy. He served in the Christian Training Union, as a member of the Usher Board, and was an active participant in Sunday School.
After high school, Roger attended North Carolina Central University (NCCU) where he pledged the Gamma Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in the fall of 1968. He graduated from NCCU in 1971 with a B.S. Degree in Accounting and a Minor in Economics.
A Professional for the Ages
Roger embarked on his illustrious career in accounting and finance as an internal auditor with the United States Army Auditing Agency where he received the Sustained Superior Performance Award. Two years later in 1973, he relocated to Raleigh, NC where he became an internal auditor for the North Carolina Department of State Auditors. In 1974, Roger found his calling and joined Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) as its Comptroller. It did not take long for the University to appreciate the great financial mind it had found in Roger. After less than four years, in 1980, Roger was named Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance, and served in this position as the University's top financial officer unti11996.
Countless ECSU students and staff members have enjoyed the fruits of Roger's labors. Roger was instrumental in building up ECSU and its campus. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of numerous ECSU buildings, including but not limited to the I<.E. White Graduate Center, the Marion D . Thorpe Administration Building, the Industrial Arts Building, the Campus Police Facility, Roebuck Stadium, the Education & Psychology Building, the Information Technology Building, the Student Commuter Building & Bowling Alley, the Jimmy R. Jenkins Science Building, and numerous student residence structures. Indeed, Roger facilitated the raising of the very building that was to host his final home-going, the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center.

By 1996, Roger decided it was time to spread his wings and broaden his commitment to the youth and higher education. In 1996, he departed ECSU and formed R. A. McLean & Associates (RAM & Associates), a company focused on financial, accounting and higher education counseling. Roger's focus remained on uplifting his people and his entire community, forming RAM & Associates with the goal of providing accurate, accessible and affordable tax preparation and financial planning services to persons from all walks of life, whether they were white or black, blue collar workers or multi-millionaires. During tax season, the RAM & Associates office overflowed with loyal customers who would only trust Roger McLean and his staff to handle their tax filings.
One year after launching RAM & Associates in 1997, Roger became a registered representative of the Prudential Financial Company. In addition to solving financial challenges for mdividuals, he helped businesses solve their daily challenges through continuation and executive compensation funding and key person insurance. Roger excelled at his financial advisor work, and was named to Prudential's Masters Council which represents the top Prudential Annuities representatives. Roger was so successful, that even in the last 'first quarter' of his life, he earned recognition as a Prudential top-seller, out-working every other Prudential representative in Prudential's Mid-Atlantic Financial Group.
As a result of his consultant work through RAM & Associates, Roger became a nationallyrenowned 'fixer' dedicated to rescuing historically black colleges and universities from various situations that threatened their futures. In 1997, he began serving as a consultant to Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon his arrival, the College risked loss of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As a direct result of Roger's work and expertise as the College's consulting Vice President for Business and Finance, the College's accreditation was reafflr!Iled in December 1998.
With his work at Edward Waters complete, Roger began to devote his full-time efforts to developing RAM & Associates and his financial services business. Still, it did not take long before he needed to don his financial hero's cape again. In 2001, St. Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC called upon him to serve as its consulting Vice President for Business and Finance. Between 2001 and 2004, Roger worked diligently to preserve St. Augustine's status as a fully accredited historically black university. After St. Augustine's, Roger returned to Edward Waters College, serving as its consulting Vice President for Business and Finance and Special Assistant to the President.
He continued his tireless efforts in support of historically black colleges and universities, when he joined Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC in 2006 as a consulting Special Assistant to the President addressing budget issues. In 2012, he began serving Paine College in Augusta, GA as its consulting Vice President for Fiscal and Financial Affairs and later, its Internal Auditor.

Roger worked with Paine College through 2014, but continued his work with Livingstone College until the time of his death.
A Selfless Leader and Community Servant
Roger's energy and drive was nothing short of amazing. Belying time and space, Roger consistendy found time to engage with his colleagues, family, friends and community as an active professional dedicated to helping to improve the lives of others.
In the earlier days of his time in Elizabeth City, Roger and his family attended Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church. In 1982, Roger found his church home when he joined Union Chapel11issionary Baptist Church where he served on the Men's Usher Board and as a Trustee until his death.
Roger's devotion to service did not stop at church. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #354, Elks Lodge #142, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NCCU Alumni Association, and the ECSU Alumni Association. He even served as a Past President of the PTA. Roger was also the first African American member of the Elizabeth City Morning Rotary. His fellow Rotary members showed their high esteem for Roger's humanitarianism and professionalism by naming him a Paul Harris Fellow, a distinction shared by U.S. and fore1gn presidents.
Another example of Roger's loyalty was his sustained pledge of service to and through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. that began in 1971 and continued throughout his life. He served as an Alpha Phi Alpha Regional Comptroller, a Chapter President, the 16th NC District Director, as well as Alpha Phi Alpha's National Budget Chairman. Roger's brothers honored him on numerous occasions for his tireless service to the organization and the communities it serves, bestowing upon him the A. M. Gus Witherspoon Leadership Award, the Southern Region Distinguished Service Award, as well as naming him Alpha Phi Alpha Man of the Year.
Roger's unflagging commitment to his family, friends and community also was repeatedly recognized by others who benefited from his unselfish efforts. He has been honored by countless organizations for his zealous work and service. To name a few, he was honored by the Elizabeth City Boys and Girls Club with its Man and Boy Award; with special recognition for unselfish service and dedication by the Golden Leaf Lodge #142; and by the United Way, the ECSU Alumni Association, and the Elizabeth City OIC for outstanding service. In 2012, the ECSU Foundation bestowed upon Roger the Chancellor's Legacy Award for his support of the University during and after his ECSU tenure. Roger was also awarded the General Baptist State Convention of NC, Inc. 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidential Award of Distinction.
During his tenure at ECSU, Roger not only dedicated himself to the University, but also evolved into a respected pillar of the Elizabeth City community at large. In 2009, Roger answered the call of Elizabeth City residents who were suffering from exorbitant utility bills

and the lack of job opportunities in the area. He ran for mayor and defeated two formidable opponents, including a former three-term Elizabeth City mayor. Roger's mayoral run was not one to fulflll any long-held political aspirations, but a labor of love and sacrifice for people who had come to rely on him for his guidance and leadership. He led Elizabeth City just as he led his life, always putting first the needs of his fellow citizens and neighbors.
A Man Focused on Family and Fun
One of the most beautiful things about Roger McLean was his love of family. Although his schedule was endlessly full and hectic, he was present for every major family moment and event. No deadline or meeting could make him miss a wedding, funeral or graduation. Family was so important to Roger that he spearheaded a tradition of annual family reunions for both his maternal and paten1al families. Because of Roger, his fatnilies gather each and every year to celebrate their histories, each other, and their accomplishments.
Roger played just as hard as he worked. Earlier in life, he was an avid bowler and community softball player. He also grew to love fishing at the North Carolina Outer Banks. Roger later developed a healthy addiction to the game of golf. Just as nothing could keep him from family events, he was just as serious about making a tee time. Roger golfed with his father, brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and customers. He was notorious for dragging his children to the golf course to watch him play. Each and every round was filled with laughter and lightheartedness that renewed his zeal for life and allowed him to share his fun-loving spirit. Nothing energized him more than being on the golf course laughing at his own jokes.
A Legacy ofLove and Support
Roger's legacy of love and his naturally supportive nature will forever remain in the hearts of his family and friends . Roger is survived by: his wife of 36 years, Wanda Hunt McLean of Elizabeth City, NC; his mother, Nealie B. McLean of Rex, N C; his children, Stephanie Codgell of Raleigh, NC, Tim Harrell (Kim) of Gamer, NC, K.atyna Bunn (Garion) of Fuquay Varina, NC, Rogelyn McLean (Curtis) of Washington, DC, Elaine McLean (Marvin) of Elizabeth City, NC and Roger McLean, Jr. of Queens, NY; his grandchildren, Daija, Mercede, Yvonne, Noah, Aria, Isaiah, Taylor, Curtis, Andrea, and Hailey; and his great-granddaughter, I<.yrie. He also leaves behind his sister, Dell Alford of Marietta, GA; two brothers, Ronald McLean of Atlanta, GA, and L. Conrad McLean of Rex, NC; his mother-in-law, Dr. Yvonne Parks Catchings of Detroit, MI; brothers-in-law, Attorney James A. A. Catchings, Jr. of Southfield, MI, Dr. Charles W. Hunt, Jr. of San Antonio, TX, and Dennis Hunt of Fort Lauderdale, FL; his closest and dearest friend, Laverne Jones of Elizabeth City, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews , cousins, and friends who loved him and will miss him dearly.
Most importantly, Roger A. McLean, Sr. lived as he died- peacefully.

. - -------------------------------------------
When I come to the end ofthe road
And the sun has setfor me
I want no rites in agloom-filled room
' w~ cryfor a soul setfree?
Miss me a little - butnot too long And not Withyour head bowed low. Remember the love that we once share,d
Miss me - but let me go.
For this is a;ourney that we all must take And each mustgo alone.
It's allpart ofthe Master's plan
A step on the road to home.
Whenyou are lonefy and sick ofheart
Go to the friends we know. And buryyour sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me - but let me go.

Elks Lodge Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
~{?~
Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Trustees

The Links, Incorporated Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
~~
Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Ushers
~
The McLean family wishes to thank all w~o called, visited, andprqyedfor us during this time of bereavement. Mqy God's blessingsforever be with each ofyou.
please continue to keep us inyourprqyers.
- The McLean Family

INTERMENT

Thursday, Aprill, 2016 Twelve O'clock in the Afternoon Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Shannon, North Carolina

Committal Masonic Rites................................................... .Masonic Lodge # 354

Benediction. .

-Servif:es ofLove & Care Entrusted to~ rt?J[kter-cl C@O-ffuna4lif/~leFal ~ne~ Jfe.
504 South Road Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 (252) 338-5065; (252) 426-2700
www.riverscommunityfuneralhome.com "Expressing Sympathy through Sincere Service" E. Kirk Rivers ~ Raymond R. Rivers, Sr. - Funeral Directors
Aubrey H.J. Mitchell, Funeral Director