Dennis Neil McLain

Reverend Dennis McLain, a transformative leader, devoted minister, and lifelong advocate for education and opportunity, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the age of 83. He was the former President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina (GIENC) and Chairman of the Board for the Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF), serving until his retirement in 2021.

Dennis was born on March 16, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, to Claud and Hedvik McLain and was raised in Plymouth, Minnesota. His faith and commitment to service shaped both his personal life and professional path. He earned his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. In 1982, he was appointed by the Bishop of the Southern Indiana Conference to lead GIENC.

Under his leadership, GIENC grew into a wide-reaching network of more than 40 employment centers across Eastern North Carolina. His visionary approach led to the creation of GCFLearnFree.org, a free online learning platform that has reached more than 24 million learners worldwide in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. In 2019, he received the Watkins Award for Mission Advancement in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to education and economic empowerment.

Dennis was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda McLain (Lowder); his brother, Gary McLain; and sister, Claudette Kitzman. He was a proud father to Celeste Paranjape (Girish), Heather Hinson (Brian Williams), Tim Thomas (Irasema), Melissa Brock (Randy), Sean Thomas, and Todd Thomas (Mayra). He was deeply loved by his 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, who brought him immense joy.

A service celebrating his life and legacy will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Asbury Church, located on 6612 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh, North Carolina. All who knew Dennis or were touched by his work are warmly invited to attend.

Reverend McLain’s legacy lives on in the millions of lives transformed through his vision, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others achieve dignity through work and learning.