BERLIN, Md.- James Lee Purnell Jr., who served as the first Black member, president and vice president of the Worcester County Commissioners, passed away Monday at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury. He was 84.
Born in Berlin, Purnell was the son of the late James Lee Purnell Sr. and Hulda McCray Purnell.
Purnell was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, in Berlin, where he served as a member of the United Methodist Men. He was also a member of the Lincoln Lodge No. 53 F. & A.M., Eastern Star, Worcester County Board of Health, and Worcester County NAACP, where he served as past-president and vice-president of the Maryland chapter.
In addition to his 20 years of service on the Worcester County Commissioners, Purnell was a Worcester County Public Schools bus contractor for 41 years, and past-administrative council president. He was inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2016.
Purnell is surved by his wife, Clemeth Purnell; three brothers, Osie Henry, Gerald Purnell, Sr. (Lillian), and Benjamin Purnell, Sr. (Laura); two sisters, Patricia Hingleton and Bertha C. Purnell; a special brother, James Bud Church (Allyson); four godchildren, Kimberly Chase-Longus (Ernest), Geneva Green (Stanley), Cindy Green, and Ashley Purnell Foreman (Samuel); several nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, in-laws, and friends.
Purnell will lie in repose on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Family Life & Cultural Center, 528 Booth St., Salisbury. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Paul's Cemetery, 10543 Assateague Road, Berlin.