Rev. Hubert McCleney

Rev. Hubert Chester McCleney, 92, of Chadbourn, met his Lord and Savior early Saturday morning, January 10, 2026.

Hubert was born on December 24, 1933, son of the late William Chester McCleney and Daisey Marie Carter McCleney. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Richard Franklin McCleney.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Piney Forest Baptist Church with Pastor Willard McPherson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday evening, at Worthington Funeral Home.

Hubert graduated from Wake Forest College in 1956. Upon graduation, he began his teaching and coaching career at Wake High School in Raleigh from 1957-1958, Seven Spring High School from 1958-1959, King High School from 1959-1960, and Tabor City High School from 1960-1961, later at West Columbus High School from 1968-1988, and finally at Waccamaw Academy until his retirement, closing his education career of 38 years.

Hubert was recognized as the "Coastal Plains Basketball Coach of the Year" for the 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons: this award covered both North and South Carolina. In 1970 his team at West Columbus won the NCHSAA 2A state championship; In 1973 he was selected as a coach for the North Carolina Coaches Association All-Star Basketball Game.

In 1989 his team at Waccamaw Academy was runner-up for the state championship. While at both schools he was recognized as "Conference Coach of the Year" numerous times.

Through his teaching/coaching, Hubert has helped many of his student athletes achieve athletic scholarships. Some of the athletes reached the highest level of professional sports in the NBA and Major League Baseball.

Above all, Hubert's walk with the Lord was his greatest achievement. He was a member of Gideons International for 15 years. He served as Interim Pastor of Piney Forest Baptist Church from 1995-96 and again from 1999-2001. Hubert was later ordained in May 2001 and became the full-time pastor at Piney Forest. He stated that it was quite an honor being called as pastor of his home church; He remained the full-time pastor until 2007.

For many years Hubert performed grass cutting services for many people and businesses, and most of the time he did these duties at less than market value and even free of charge.

He has received the Woodman of the World "Good Neighbor Award". To this day many of his former players and colleagues refer to him as "coach" or "Mr. Mac". These people all have glowing accounts of how Hubert McCleney has had a positive impact on their life.

Once when a stranger asked him to do a job for him Hubert replied," you don't know me." The stranger replied, "your reputation goes before you."

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Duncan McCleney; sons, Hubert Mitchell McCleney (Becky) of Evergreen, William Brian McCleney (Emily) of Chadbourn; sister, Frances Hart of Chadbourn; grandchildren, Ryan McCleney (Meagan), Joshua McCleney, Austin McCleney, Abby McCleney, Emma Grace McCleney, Daniel Britt (Morgan), Lauren Wayland (Nicholas); great-grandchildren, Harper McCleney, Eli McCleney, Luke McCleney, Mabry Britt, Jones Britt, John Noah Wayland, Leah Blake Wayland, and Mary Ella Wayland.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child or to the Piney Forest Baptist Church building fund.