John Gary McClam was born August 26, 1939 in Lake City, South Carolina to Woodrow McClain and Lizzie Dickey McClam. John was proud to tell you of his upbringing, his father's strong hands, and how his father would tell him, "Boy, if you see something you want, you bet not steal it, and you bet not take it". He spoke of his mother as the wise protector, who when he was getting his "beating for doing something wrong" and would intervene and say "Woodrow what you trying to do, kill the boy?" Despite the hardship of sharecropping or the stern correction, he attributed his 'not having a police record' to the love that fostered the correction.

John left  farm life in 1957 taking with him the words "What I got to say to a mule, l'll go to his head and say it". He moved to Washington, DC, reuniting with his grandmother. He worked for DC Public Schools, drove a cab, and cut hair to provide for his family. He would tell anyone (for he never met a stranger), I worked three jobs and people ask me "Man what was wrong with you, you a workaholic?" His passion was to provide for his family and that was a responsibility he NEVER took lightly.

In 2012, he moved to Virginia and would get excited at seeing a deer or herd of deer grazing in the yard. He also enjoyed the peace of seeing the rabbits grazing.

John often told the story of his conversion and being filled with the Holy Ghost... "Those old missionaries must have seen that I was about to break through, they took me to a room downstairs and stayed with me. When I started shouting and praising around the room, they said son, what are you thanking God for? I said, THE HOLY GHOST!" Following his conversion, John began to serve in the church. As he grew in the love and knowledge of God, he was called into church leadership and eventually served as the assistant pastor at Evergreen Bible Way under the leadership of Pastor Grooms, was assigned the Pastor of Gordonsville Bible Way Church; making the trip from DC to Gordonsville for several years. He also supported the work of the Fellowship Bible Way, in Washington DC before opening the New Millenium Bible Way Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Lizzie; his first wife, Alice Grier and one daughter, (baby girl McClam); four sisters, Carrie, Evelyn, Doris, and Carolyn.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Gonzalee; two uncles, Eddie Cooper and Louis J. McClam; two daughters, Alice Bradley and Maria McClam; four sons, John Jr., Gary, and Harold; two sisters, Helen Green-Lee and Ruby Marrow ('fony); three brothers, Bishop Johnny McClam, Louis, and Randolph; 15 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.