Dr. Clarence William Jairrels

Dr. Clarence William Jairrels, 96, transitioned from his earthly existence on Sunday, December 5, in Anniston, Alabama. Dr. Jairrels was born on August 1, 1925 in Randolph County, Alabama to William Jack and Lizzie Jairrels.

Dr. Jairrels received his elementary education at the Oak Grove School and his secondary education at the Randolph County Training School. He received his B.S. from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, his M.S. from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and his Ed.D. from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During World War II, Dr. Jairrels was proud of the fact that he served our country in the Navy stationed in Hawaii. He was honorably discharged after the war ended.

During his lifetime Dr. Jairrels was dedicated to the advancement of education throughout the state. He was Assistant Principal of Gordo Colored High; Principal of Cluster Junior High; and Principal of Flint Hill Junior High. Prior to his employment in Calhoun County, he also coached football, basketball, and track. In Calhoun County he was a social studies teacher at Cobb Avenue High School; Assistant Principal at Cobb High; Principal of Twelfth Street Elementary School; and Principal of Cobb Avenue High School. He served as President of the Lee County Teachers Association; President of the Anniston City Teachers Association; President of the District Elementary Principal Association; and President of the Alabama State Elementary Principal Association.

He was a member of the Freedom Riders Park Board. The Board and the Theta Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity played a pivotal role in providing a marker for the site, which is now a National Monument. His other community work included: President of the Calhoun County Emancipation League; Board of Directors of United Appeal; the Calhoun County Library Development Board; Calhoun County Board of Directors for Crippled Children and Adults; member of the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board; Anniston Charter Member of the Anniston/Talladega Theta Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; Master Mason; member of the Committee of Unified Leadership Anniston, Alabama (COUL); President NAACP, Anniston, Alabama; and establishing with his wife, the Dr. Clarence W. and Mrs. Juanita Harris Jairrels Scholarship Fund as well as the Seventeenth Street Missionary Baptist Church Fund with the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama. A man of deep and abiding faith, Dr. Jairrels was a member of the Seventeenth Street Missionary Baptist Church for over 60 years. He was a Deacon and Trustee for over 50 years.

Dr. Jairrels is survived by his loving wife of almost 72 years, Juanita Jairrels of Anniston, Alabama; son, Attorney William H. Jairrels of Shaker Heights, OH; daughter, Attorney Veda Jairrels PhD, of Lithia Springs, GA; grandson, Attorney Henry Robinson of Arlington, VA; his nephews, Stanley Bass and Orvelt Bass of Randolph County AL; Adolphus Jairrels of Tampa, FL; Garfield Jairrels of Smiths Station, AL.; his cousins, Jacqueline Patterson and Dale Stephens of McDonough, GA; and his godson, William Burnett of West Bloomfield Township, MI.

 Honorary pallbearers will be Anthony Burdell, Willie Duncan, Joe Harrington, Raynard Lawler, Thedolphus Pogue, and Joe Steele. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the Dr. Clarence W. and Mrs. Juanita Harris Jairrels Scholarship Fund or to your favorite charity. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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