Obituary of Clyde Chesney

CHESNEY, SR., Dr. Clyde E. (Deacon of Temple Church), Nashville, departed this life on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Anita Miller Chesney; sons, Clyde Jr., Charles (Tarah Munoz); daughter, Camille Pitts (Tremayne); grandchildren, Quinton, Jajuane, Jamisha and Benjamin; mother, Irene Minter, Fayetteville, NC; four brothers, Charles (Saba), John (Tracey), Michael and Joseph; four sisters, Sherri Minter, Lilly Minter, Fanette McDuffie (Herbert), and Darlene Murphy (Robert); a host of nieces, nephews, former colleagues, other relatives and friends. He served as a Temple Church deacon and was a former deacon of Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Chesney retired as Interim Associate Dean for Extension at Tennessee State University in the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences August 31, 2009. He served as Administrator of the Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program in Nashville from August 1998 to July 2008. He was a 24-year veteran of the NC Cooperative Extension System where he served as director for the Piedmont and Northern Piedmont Districts. He earned BS and MS degrees from N.C. State University and a PhD from Michigan State University. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Chesney was a football 'walk-on' at N.C. State, eventually earning a scholarship and selection to the 1971 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic Football Team. He was the first African American to start in football at North Carolina State. He was Salutatorian of E.E. Smith High School (Fayetteville, NC) Class of 1967 and a member of the E.E. Smith Alumni Association. Public viewing Sunday, April 22, 2012, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Lewis & Wright Funeral Home, 2500 Clarksville Pk. Family visitation, Monday, April 23, 2012, 11 a.m. - 12 Noon, Temple Church, 3810 Kings Lane. Funeral to follow with Pastor Darrell Drumwright, officiating. Interment Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 10 a.m., Middle TN Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Temple Church Endowment Fund (3810 Kings Lane, Nashville, TN) and/or the NC 4H Foundation. LEWIS & WRIGHT FUNERAL DIRECTORS, (615) 255-2371.