Funeral services for The Honorable Roger Cleckley, 71, immediate past auditor of Orangeburg County, will be held at 11 AM, Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 at Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1040 Carver School Road, Cope, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Reverend Dr. Georgianna T. Pringle is officiating.

Mr. Cleckley will be placed in the church one hour before the service.

Roger Cleckley was born on March 4, 1947 in Cope, SC. He is the son of the late Solomon and Celia Mae (Huggins) Cleckley of Cordova, SC. At an early age he accepted Christ and joined Good Hope AME Church, where he faithfully served for more than sixty years. He was a graduate of G.W. Carver High School of Cope and Voorhees College of Denmark, SC.

Mr. Cleckley was the first African American elected official in Orangeburg County since Reconstruction. He served as our auditor for 33 years. He was immediate past president of the Seventh Episcopal District Lay Organization of the AME Church; he also served on the Board of Trustees for Allen University and various other organizations.

Roger leaves to cherish his memory: A loving and devoted wife of fifty years; Bessie Berry Cleckley. Three adult sons; Roger “Al” (Melba Tucker) Cleckley of Atlanta, GA; Adrian (Ashley Bellamy) Cleckley of Dubai, UAE; Kendrick (Tarsha Lorick) Cleckley of Columbia, SC. Five grandchildren; Justin, Kennedi, Janna, Kendra and Jordan. Two brothers; Rev. Robert (Lula Shaw) Cleckley of Columbia, SC; Dr. Watson (Cassandra Mitchell) Cleckley of Orangeburg, SC. One sister; Dr. Gwendolyn LC (Rev. Dr. St. Julian Snider) Snider of Orangeburg, SC. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sacred arrangements are entrusted to Simmons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Good Hope AME building fund.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 from noon – 7:00pm. The family will also receive friends from 4-6 PM at Simmons Funeral Home & Crematory of Orangeburg.

Friends may call at the residence of his wife, Mrs. Bessie Cleckley, 1528 Gordon Drive, Rowesville or Simmons Funeral Home & Crematory of Orangeburg.