In Memory of William Chester McCall (July 31, 1948 – November 16, 2020)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. William Chester McCall III, who died on November 16, 2020 at the age of 72.

Chester was born on July 31, 1948. A Bay Area native, he grew up and attended school in East Palo Alto, received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the California State University of San Jose in 1972, and Master of Divinity with a focus in New Testament Biblical Criticism, Counseling and Religious Education from the Pacific School of Religion, CA in 1977. He then worked as a lead counselor at the Sequoia Young Men’s Christian Association in Redwood City.

Rev. McCall III was ordained on April 29, 1979 into a specialized Ministry for Families, Youth and Seniors by the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, Bay Association at South Berkeley Community Church in Oakland, CA. From 1996 to 1998, he was interim minister at the UU Church of Restoration, Tulsa, OK, where he assisted in reinstating the “New Century Community Choir” youth diversity program. He then served as an organizing minister at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, Durham, NC (1998-2001). Thereafter, Rev. McCall III served two interim ministries at: The First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, CA (2002-2003) and the First UU Church of San Diego, CA (2003-2004). In 2004, he accepted a call from the UU Church of Restoration, Philadelphia, PA where he ministered until 2008. On July 31st, 2014 he retired from active ministry.

Rev. McCall’s denominational affiliation included serving as an anti-racism facilitator and consultant for the UUA; as co-chaplain for the African American Unitarian Universalist Minister Association (AAUUM), and Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM). He was a member of the Thomas Jefferson District’s Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Transformation Team; and consultant for the Mountain Desert District and for Interweave. He served as a Life Span Faith Development Group member of the Anti-Racism Trainer-Organizers Collective (ARTOP).

Rev. McCall’s ministry in and outside the church focused on social justice, spiritual growth of the community, serving the homeless, runaway youth, seniors, persons with HIV and their families, persons involved with the State or Federal Criminal Justice System and their families. He provided pastoral counseling in the areas and issues related to Death and Dying, Aging, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Senior Abuse, and Domestic Violence. From 1969 to 1989, Rev. McCall was Co-Director of the Street Ministry of San Jose, CA. Throughout those years, he concentrated on advocacy of human and civil rights of the citizens of San Jose. From 1983 to 1985, he functioned as a Director of Correctional Services at Service League of San Mateo County, CA. He was Public Hearing Coordinator at the Committee for Justice for Melvin Truss, CA (1985-1986) and Executive Director for the East Palo Alto Senior Center, CA (a community-based non-profit committed to the welfare of older Americans of the East Palo Alto community (1986-1989). He worked as a Midway Program Director and Contract Compliance Officer for Volunteers of America, Inc. (1989-1992), and as a Homeless Program Supervisor, for the City of Oakland, Office of Health and Human Services, CA (1993-1996). He served on the Community Advisory Board of the North Tulsa Community Development Corporation, OK and was a member of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black. Furthermore, he was on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Interagency Counsel, and for the North Carolina Youth Gay and Lesbian State Organization.

In his leisure time, Chester enjoyed walking, visiting museums, collecting religious figurines, but his first love was collecting related to butterflies. His other interests and hobbies included dancing, reading, bowling, rubber stamp art, socializing with friends and maintaining contact with family, internet surfing and listening to music.

Chester is survived by his partner Kraig Jones; his sister, Bonnie Duplessis; his brother, Joseph A. McCall; and Darryl Matkins, his longtime chosen family.

A celebration of life for Chester was held on January 16, 2021.

Condolences may be sent to Bonnie Duplessis, 4932 Norwich Pl. Newark, CA 94560 or to Darryl Matkins, 247 Daphne Way, East Palo Alto, CA 94303.

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