Georgianna Virginia Coles McLean

Georgianna Virginia Coles McLean, the first child of Eva Belle Coleman Coles and Leroy Raymond Coles, Sr., was born on April 22, 1926 in Buffalo, New York. She departed this life on April 8, 2025 in her home in Smithfield, North Carolina.

As the oldest of four daughters and one son, she was held to a very high standard by her parents, and she excelled in school, at sports, and in her church and community work. An early musical talent, she often accompanied her mother, who was a soloist at Shiloh Baptist Church in Buffalo. She grew up in a close knit, Christian home and loving family. She attended the public schools in Buffalo and recalled visiting her grandparents on their farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia and in Richmond, Virginia as a young child.

After graduating from high school with a strong academic record, Mrs. McLean entered Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. During her sophomore year, she met John Wesley McLean, Sr., who was returning from his service as a U. S. Staff Sergeant in World War II. During their senior year, they completed the music education program, gave their senior recitals – hers in piano and organ and his in voice – became engaged and graduated together in 1950. They were married in Buffalo in 1951 and were just about to celebrate their 60thwedding anniversary when Mr. McLean passed away after a brief illness on June 21, 2012 in North Carolina.

Soon after graduation, Mrs. McLean was recruited to teach in the public schools of Raleigh, NC while Mr. McLean worked in his home city, Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. McLean joined her husband in Chicago where their daughter, Rhonda Joy McLean, was born in 1952. Shortly thereafter, they settled in Smithfield, NC where Mr. McLean took a position at Johnston County Training School. Their son, John Wesley McLean, Sr., was born in 1957 in Smithfield, and he and his sister attended public schools in Smithfield, Selma and Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. McLean worked as music teachers and choral directors in various schools throughout Johnston County for nearly forty years. Among her many outstanding and historicalaccomplishments, Mrs. McLean integrated the faculties ofCorinth-Holders Union School, Smithfield Elementary School and Smithfield High School in 1966 and inaugurated the choral director post at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School (“Triple S”) in 1969. Although she and her family received death threats,her faith and fervor never waivered.

Her award-winning choirs recorded albums and performed across the state of NC throughout her career. They were often recognized for their professionalism and musical excellence. In recognition of her courage and commitment, as well as her profound impact on several generations of students, Triple S named its auditorium for Mrs. McLean in 2009. It still stands proudly today.

Although she officially retired in 1986, “Mrs. Mac” substitute taught and volunteered in her community for nearly twentyadditional years, known for her boundless energy, educational expertise and “no-nonsense” manner. At her retirement ceremony, which also noted her 35th wedding anniversary, she and Mr. McLean received the Key to the Town of Smithfield. In 2005, Mrs. McLean was honored as a “Living Legend” by the Johnston County Board of Education and the Johnston HeritageFoundation. She is also a recipient of the Johnston County Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce, an Honorarium of Service Award from Richard B. Harrison High School Alumni Association and the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Foundation and the State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board, upon which she served.

Mrs. McLean devoted her life to her family, her church work and community involvement. She served as the organist and minister of music at First Missionary Baptist Church for over sixty years, and was a charter member of the Johnston County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was alsoa past president of the Modernettes – a service club in Smithfield, and sat on the boards of directors of the Harbor (a shelter for domestic violence survivors) and the Johnston County Community College Foundation.

She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted children, Rhonda Joy McLean and John Wesley McLean, Jr.; daughter-in-law Trina McLean; grandchildren Lauren Joy, Ian Wesley and Kiri Lorraine and Asa Jeremiah Craig (Rhonda’s stepson); Foster and Jacob Henderson (Rhonda’s son in law and grandson); her sister Dr. Marie Coles Baker; her sister in law Mrs. Constance Coles; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended familymembers and friends.

May she rest in the perfect and eternal peace of God.