James Clem, 82, map maker became mayor of Va. town
February 8, 2024
James Elmore Clem of Murrells Inlet died Jan. 26. He was 82.
He was born Jan. 6, 1942, in Floyd, Va., the son of Willis Covet Clem and Virginia Perrien Cannaday Clem.
A long-time resident of Leesburg, Va., Mr. Clem retired in 1996 after 37 years as a cartographer program manager at the former Defense Mapping Agency in Washington, D.C., and then became the owner of Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg until 2013. In 2010, he became vice president of business development at SCS Safety Health and Security Associates.
Mr. Clem was appointed to the Leesburg Town Council in 1987 and was subsequently elected to a four-year term in 1990. He was elected as mayor in 1992 and was re-elected to three more two-year terms. He then served as the Leesburg District representative on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors from 2003 to 2007.
He was a life member and past president with the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company, a life member of the Olive Branch Masonic Lodge 114 and a member of the Leesburg Hosts Lion Club.
After moving to Murrells Inlet in 2009, Mr. Clem became active in community and church activities. He served on the Links Brook community’s architectural review committee and for many years on the board of the property owners association.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Connie Leigh Clem; his daughter, Stacy Lynn Skinner (Douglas) of Leesburg; his granddaughter, Kiley Anne Kirkpatrick (Raymond) of Purcellville, Va.; his great-grandchildren, Savannah Rae Kirkpatrick and Raymond “Mack” Kirkpatrick; his sister, Barbara Ann Miller of Bolivia, N.C.; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Elgin (John) of Conway;
His brother, Richard Clem, and stepbrother, Herman Clem, died before him.
Every Sunday, Mr. Clem would greet people at the side door of the Surfside United Methodist Church. A celebration of his life will be held at the Church at 11 a.m. on Feb. 17. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church, 800 13th Ave. N., Surfside Beach, SC 29757 or the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Co., P.O. Box 2577, Leesburg, VA 20177.
