John McClellon Perry, retired school administrator for Southampton County Schools, passed to another life on April 1, 2011.

Mr. Perry was born in Almo, Kentucky, on February 16, 1927, to the late Arthur and Alynda Perry.

He was from a family of nine sisters and brothers.

His brothers who have pre-deceased him are Jewell, Ottie, Fred, Paul and Doc. His sisters, who also pre-deceased him, are Juanita, Nettie Mae and Clara Bell.

He leaves to cherish his memory a host of nephews and nieces. Mr. Perry also leaves behind his adopted family — the Artises including Roger Lee Artis, Pattie Lee Turner, Pattie Ann Turner, Ashley Turner, Henry Scott, Williams Artis, Doretha Artis, Cherrelle Artis, Williams Artis Jr., Annie Brown, James Brown Jr. and James Brown Sr.

Mr. Perry attended public school in Murray, Kentucky, graduating from Douglas High School in 1945. After graduating from Kentucky State University in 1951, Mr. Perry attended Indiana University, taking classes in Administration of Interscholastic Athletics and Physical Education Supervision.

His first teaching job was in 1956 in Tennessee. He was appointed Halls Consolidated High School’s first coach. He coached boys’ and girls’ basketball.

In the 1960s, Mr. Perry went to Farmville, Va., to serve as an Assistant Principal, Physical Education Teacher and Coach at Robert R. Morton High School. (Later the school became known as Prince Edward High School.)

In 1974, he left Farmville to come to Southampton County to serve as an Assistant Principal and coach basketball and baseball. In addition, he had the responsibility of teaching Physical Education and was in charge of the bus fleet. During his tenure with Southampton County, he served as Athletic Director and Driver’s Education lead.

In 1975, he received his Master’s Degree from Virginia State University, which is located in Petersburg.

Also, Mr. Perry was an officer at Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Department in Farmville, Va.

Mr. Perry was a truly a gifted individual and a man of many talents.

At the age of 63, Mr. Perry retired from Southampton County School as an educator; he served 36 years in this capacity. He remained with the County to direct bus operations. However, he later retired again in September 2010 before becoming ill.

Mr. Perry was a member of the Virginia Education Association, NAACP and the Baseball Scouts; he was a life-time member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Masons.