b'PEOPLELegacy of a Gentle GiantR ev.JamesO.McGillwasborninMt. Pleasant, TX in the community of White Oak89yearsagotoJamesandBeatrice McGill,hewasthefifthofeighteenchil-dren.Theyowned101acresoffarmland withavarietyoflargeandsmallanimals. Thechildrencutwoodandpickedcotton (on their own land), hunted small animals and caught fish (he preferred a 22 rifle to a pole). From the farm and on the roadside, the family raised and sold vegetables, fruits, meat, etc. For fun the children played ball games and swam in the creek. He accepted JesusChristashisSaviorandLordata young age and attended White Oak Baptist Church where the siblings sang in the choir while their sister played the piano. He has often reminisced about how pleasant it was to come in from the fields and practice songs for Sunday.McGillattendedWhiteOakElementaryand BookerT.WashingtonHighSchoolwherehe playedbasketball,football,andrantrack.He hadareputationofbeingafastrunner,good student,andreceivedtheGoodCitizenship Award in high school. In 1953, he married his first wife, Bettie, and three children were born; Perry,Valerie,andBiBi.HeenteredtheArmy in1954andservedinthemedicalcorpsin Stuguard and Lucasburg, Germany during the Korean War era. After completing active duty, he attended barber college and earned a bachelors degree in Education from Prairie View College. Upon graduating from college, McGill moved his family to Colorado and found work in a hospital and building the Airforce Academy in Colorado Springs. In 1961, he began his distinguished career as a bar-ber at New Look Barbers alongside Whitney Amerlin andBobbyThompson.In1967,McGillsBarber Shop opened in the Historic Five-Points district at 2843 Welton Street. He met his current wife, Beverly, in1990whileattendingHappyChurchandtheir marriageis31yearsstrongtoday.Inthisunion, he became a bonus father to two more daughters, Jacquie and Shellie.The McGill Tribe consists of the five children, son-in-law (Patrick), daughter-in-law,(Loretta),brother-in-law(Rick),sevengrands, seven great-grands and seven nieces and nephews. All were blended effortlessly under the love, wisdom, and godly guidance of their patriarch. Thebarbershopbustledwithactivity.Thereare somanyfondmemoriesofcustomerssupporting communitybusinesseslikeKapresfriedchicken, Zonaspigearsandwiches,Monasfishdinners, theCreamerysbeanburritosandbeanpiesfrom the Muslims, to name a few. The community bank always recognized his deposits because of his money was full of hair. Space on the other side of the Shop wasmadeavailableentrepreneurswhosoldfurs, ethnicitemsandclothing,tapes,DVDs,andpro-vided therapy for addictions, criminal behavior, fam-ilyandspiritualissues.Youngandoldcustomers were like family and benefitted from his outstanding work ethic.And they were loyal and proudly sported sharpest haircuts in Denver the Master Barber and his team. Daughter BiBi describes him as generous, kind, and compassionate always having a dollar or somewere assisted were trained, dinners were bought byily gatherings. Son Perry describes him as a great candy in his pocked for the kids.If someone neededwhatever church was selling, and the street peoplelistener who makes all with whom he comes in con-a haircut or didnt have an appointment came in ascould count on a couple of bucks. tact feel they have worth. He never seeks attention he was closing, or even if they didnt have money toBetween customers, he was often seen reading hisfor himself or tries to impress others because he is pay at the time, he would never refuse them.FolksBible and, after his ordination, writing sermons. Hetotally secure in Christ. The man is well thought of, were always coming to sell their merchandise, andwas particularly impressed with that industrious antnot just by family, but by customers who know him he supported them even if the products ended upin Proverbs 6. And he was purposeful not to gossipto be a compassionate, non-judgmental listener who being stored in the back; he just wanted to help peo- nor to allow his team to do so. That just is not hiscreated a safe environment for his family and for his ple succeed. When religious organizations droppedstyle, and he is the same integrous man in privatecustomers. McGill truly was in his elements bringing offmaterial,heactuallyreadthematerial.Youngin public. understanding, empathy and tolerance to his cus-people, like daughter Shellie, got their first job thereHelovesairplanes,goodgospelmusicandfam-sweeping floors and cleaning cabinets, new barbersContinued on Page 42 JANUARY 2022 BOCNEWS.com'