Celebration of Life for Irene McCollom

Irene Westbrooks McCollom

NEW MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH 1785 Amelia Street ▪ Orangeburg, SC 29115 The Reverend Dr. Eddie C. Williams, Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church

Irene Westbrooks McCollom

“A Beautiful Life, A Beautiful Soul”

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31 (KJV)

Mrs. Irene Westbrooks McCollom was the fifth child of seven and third daughter born to the late Mr. James Franklin and Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks Westbrooks. She was born in Elmore County, Alabama on October 8, 1933. She departed this earthly life on March 28, 2023. She was married to James Earl “Hank” McCollom, and together they had one daughter, Janice Elaine.

She attended public schools in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated in 1950 at the age of sixteen from Alexander City Colored High School in Alexander City, Alabama. She graduated from Allen University in Columbia, SC with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She received a Master of Education degree in School Administration from South Carolina State College (University) in 1975, and did further study at the University of South Carolina in Educational Administration.

After graduating from Allen in 1954, she moved to Orangeburg and began a thirty-five-year career in the field of education. She taught English at Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg and G.W. Carver High School in Cordova. She also taught at Whittaker Elementary and Marshall Elementary Schools. She was named principal of Mellichamp Elementary School in 1975, and retired as principal from Nix Elementary School in 1988, but continued her work with children by establishing and directing the first Artistically Gifted and Talented Consortium program for students in Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties. She also worked as a consultant to many school districts, and mentored first-year principals as a member of the South Carolina Department of Education’s Leadership Academy.

“She was beautiful, not because of something as fleeting as her looks, she was beautiful deep down to her soul.” (Unknown)

Mrs. McCollom was recognized for her outstanding civic and professional contributions on numerous occasions by a variety of organizations. She was the first African-American woman to be elected president of the South Carolina Elementary and Middle School Principals Association. Governor James Hodges appointed her to the Lowcountry Citizens Advisory Committee for the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission. In 1986, she received the “Good Neighbor Award” from The Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce for rescuing five children under age nine from a burning mobile home adjacent to Nix Elementary.

Taken from the poem, “Myself,” by Edgar A. Guest, Mrs. McCollom’s philosophy was simple:

I have to live with myself and so I want to be fit for myself to know. whatever happens, I want to be self respecting and conscience free.

Like the author, she tried to be fair and just with everyone, a characteristic that led many to call her a “great leader.” Mrs. McCollom was a strong, independent, honest, dependable, warm, loving, hardworking person who spoke her mind, because she was secure in who she was and in Whose she was.

Because Mrs. McCollom was the granddaughter of a Methodist Minister, and had a devoutly Christian mother, she joined the church, and started participating in its activities at an early age, continuing throughout her life.

After she married in 1956, she joined Trinity United Methodist Church. Through more than six decades of membership, she served on the Administrative Board and the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, taught Sunday School, was president of the United Methodist Women’s Unit, and was chairman of the Child Care Learning Center Board of Directors.

She coordinated the local UMC Families Helping Families Program, and volunteered many hours in the Women’s Pre-Natal Mission Project, “Hold Out the Life Line,” The Childcare Learning Center, and Trinity’s Soup and Clothing Ministries. She was named the United Methodist Women’s “Woman of the Year” in 1992. In 2013, she wrote, directed, and produced a well-received play with The United Methodist Women, “Women of the Bible.”

Mrs. McCollom was a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. She was elected to serve on the Sorority’s International Board of Directors as the 15th South Atlantic Regional Director from 2002 to 2006. The Region’s annual “Outstanding Golden Soror” award is named in her honor. Active in the Beta Zeta Omega Chapter in Orangeburg for more than 65 consecutive years, she originated the chapter’s highly regarded annual fundraiser, the “Miss Calendar Doll” Benefit Pageant, now in its 38th year. Mrs. McCollom served the chapter in many capacities, including four terms as president. She was recognized in the Sorority’s national magazine, “The Ivy Leaf,” for 500 hours of volunteer community service.

Mrs. McCollom enjoyed playing and teaching bridge, and was a member of the “BridgeA-Dears” Bridge Club for more than sixty years. She was a member of The Brookdale Civic Association. In her later years, due to increasingly limited mobility, she was not able to be as active in the church, sorority, and community as she would have liked; however, she attended church regularly prior to the pandemic, and continued her involvement in these and other activities by way of virtual platforms.

Mrs. McCollom was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, for whom she selflessly cared for nine years without regret or complaint; two sisters, Mrs. Frankie Elizabeth Perry and Mrs. Earnestine Amelia Hawse; and three brothers, Mr. Willie B. Ferguson, Mr. John W. Westbrooks, and Mr. James Franklin Westbrooks, II.

She is survived by her loving, devoted daughter and caregiver, Ms. Janice Elaine McCollom of Orangeburg; a cherished granddaughter, Ms. Kristen D. Barr of Hanover, MD; a brother, Mr. Eugene Harold (Shirley) Westbrook, of Burke, Virginia; a beloved cousin, Ms. Charlotte Jones of Columbia, SC; and many nieces, nephews, other cousins, and friends. Her impact as a Christian servant, family matriarch, educator, mentor, and humanitarian will long be remembered.

“Be to others what you loved most about those who have moved on.” (jem)

Order of Service

Trinity United Methodist Church

Processional………………………………………………………………………………………..…Mr. Myron Brooker

Scriptures…………………………………………………………………......….……...Reverend Larry D. McCutcheon

Old Testament Lesson…………………………………………………………………………..Psalm 121 New Testament Lesson………………………………………………………………………..John 14:1-7

Solo………………………………………….“That Name” Smallwood………………………........…Ms. Ashley Jordan

Prayer of Comfort………………………………………………………………….......……………...Reverend Williams

Reflections (Kindly limit to two minutes.)

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Dr. Glenda S. Glover 30th International President

Dr. Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson 29th International President

Mrs. Barbara Elliott Kirkland

President, Beta Zeta Omega Chapter

Selection…………………….……..“Help Somebody” Androzzo, arr. Hawkins…….……The Beta Zeta Omega Choir

Mrs. Sheneice D. Smith, Director

Mrs. Christia Murdaugh, Soloist Reverend William Smith, Accompanist

Trinity United Methodist Church United Women in Faith………………..Mrs. Sylvia B. Robinson, President

Education…………………………………………………………………………………….Mrs. Karyn A. Moss Teacher, Orangeburg-Calhoun Summer Arts Consortium

Family………………………………………………………..US Army Sergeant Eugene H. Westbrook, Retired Solo………………………..…….“May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me” Pugh…………………Mr. Myron Brooker

Resolutions

South Carolina House of Representatives City of Orangeburg

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®

Solo………………………………...…….“It is Well” Bliss, Spafford………………………………Dr. Yvette McDaniel

Eulogy…………………………………………………………..……………………………Reverend Mack C. McClam

Selection…………………………..………….“Stand”McClurkin…………………..Mr. Myron Brooker and Ensemble

Commendation…………………………………………………...…………………………………...Reverend Williams

Benediction……………………………………………………..……………………………………..Reverend Williams

Recessional……………………“Soon and Very Soon” Medley Crouch, et. al…………..……….Dr. Rosemary Griffin

INTERMENT

Belleville Memorial Gardens

2900 Belleville Road, Orangeburg, SC

Grateful for the rich impact of her life, the kindness of her heart, the love and support of her family, and the admiration and care of her many sisters and friends, the family of Mrs. Irene Westbrooks McCollom thanks you for your loving concern. Your ardent prayers, visits, calls, cards, flowers, food, and every act of kindness have fortified and ministered to us for the facing of this hour.

May the good and gracious Lord who has welcomed our Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Soror, Mentor, and Friend richly bless you, and sustain love in your hearts and peace within your souls.

The McCollom, Westbrooks, and Hicks Families

Mr. Kenneth Middleton, Chief PallBearer

Mr. Terrance Arnett

Mr. Michael Jarvis

Mr. Ernest C. McCollom

Mr. Carey B. Robinson

Dr. Ronald Speight

Mr. Elton V. Shuler

Trinity United Methodist Church United Methodist Men

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® - Beta Zeta Omega Chapter