James Leo Clyburn

A memorial service will be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Raleigh on Wednesday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m.

The family will greet friends after the service.

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, he came to North Carolina to attend Elon College.

He graduated in 1953 with a major in both piano and organ. After graduating from Elon College, he attended the Julliard School of Music. After one year at Julliard, he was drafted and served in the United States Army for two years in Orleans, France. He returned to Julliard and completed the Masters Degree in 1958. He joined the faculty at Meredith College that fall where he taught for forty-two years. He also served as organist at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church. He retired from both positions in 2000. During his tenure he performed many recitals, both solo and with other musicians. One of his favorite professional activities was judging auditions and contests throughout the state. He was a much-loved and much-admired musician and a wonderful teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their three children and their families: Rev. Claire Clyburn McKeown and her daughter, Catherine, of Carrboro, NC; J. Albert Clyburn, his wife, Marty, and their children Anna Margaret and James Albert, of Wilmington, NC; Lee Clyburn, his wife Tina, and their children Aubrey, Ellie, and Natalie, of Raleigh, NC. He is also survived by two sisters and their husbands and one brother: Mary and Bruce Bloomingburg of Charleston, SC; Ruth and Tom Greene of Enterprise, AL; and Billy Clyburn of Morgan Hill, CA. He is also survived by several nephews and nieces.

At his request, his ashes will be scattered on his parents’ grave in Charleston.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Save the Children Foundation, Zoe Ministry, or the Music Ministry at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.