Shaw, Clyde Thomas
12/10/1986
| Reverend Clyde Thomas Shaw was born April 22, 1922 in Winnfield, Louisiana and died December 10, 1986 in Sonora, California. Reverend Shaw left a legacy of music appreciation and senior activism in Tuolumne County, California. He went to California as an Elder in the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, in which he served as a pastor for thirty-one years, and also held the post of Conference Organist. Reverend Shaw was best known for his considerable musical talent. He gave numerous piano and organ recitals, many of them benefits for local churches or charitable organizations. In addition to this, he had also had the privilege of doing concert work with Dr. John Zenter as duo pianist, and had been a teacher of organ and piano for many years. Reverend Shaw had studied at University of Northwestern Louisiana, Iliff School of Theology, Southern Methodist University and Yale University, where he served for a time as organist for Yale Divinity School. While in Tuolumne County, he served for a time as teacher and principal of Chinese Camp Elementary School. He was also Pastor of Jamestown United Methodist Church for a while, as well as Minister of Music at Sonora United Methodist Church. He was also a brother in the Order of St. Luke. Even after retirement, Reverend Shaw continued to be active in church and community affairs. He was a guest preacher in local United Methodist churches and also participated in local Lutheran churches. He continued sharpening his keen mind, even writing a scholarly paper on leprosy which now serves as a reference work at the Columbia College Library. Near his home in Columbia, Reverend Shaw devoted many hours of his time to serving as a docent for visitors to Columbia State Park. Active in senior citizen activities, Reverend Shaw was on the Board of Directors of the Tuolumne County Senior Services. He was the founder of the Call-A-Day program for seniors, which still operates in Tuolumne County today. He received citations from his Congressman and the Governor of California for his senior advocacy. Many still remember “Brother Shaw” as a familiar figure in his black suit and clerical collar, often seen walking in Sonora or Columbia. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1987; p. 323-324 By Richard Thompson | |
