The Late Rev. Dr. Grant Sneed Shockley

“Professor of Many Firsts”

Grant Sneed Shockley, Professor Emeritus of Christian Education, The Divinity School, Duke University, Durham, NC was born in Philadelphia, PA, September 3, 1919, the son of Andrew Caleb Shockley and Mattile Blanche Sneed Shockley. He graduated from Lincoln University, PA in 1942, the Theological School, Drew University, 1945, and received his Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees from Columbia University, NY, NY in 1946 and 1952. Dr. Shockley served as Associate Pastor of St. Marks UMC in New York City, Pastor at Whatcoat Memorial UMC in Dover, DE, and Janes Memorial UMC in Brooklyn, NY. He began his illustrious career at the former Clarke College in Atlanta in 1946 and coming full circle as Visiting Professor at Clark Atlanta University immediately prior to his death. He served the major portion of his career as Professor of Religious Education in Theological Seminaries across the nation: Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA, Garret Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA and Duke University, The Divinity School, Durham, NC from which he retired in 1989 as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Shockley was the first tenured Black professor to be elected to the faculty at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in 1970. Additionally, he was the first Black tenured professor to be elected to the faculty at Garret Theological Seminary, Northwestern University in 1959.

While at Garrett, he was the first Black elected to the Board of Education for the public schools of Evanston, IL Grant Sneed Shockley married the Love of his life, Doris Taylor on September 7, 1946 and were devoted for 49 glorious years together. God smiled down on them and blessed them with a lovely daughter, Dr. Muriel Elizabeth Shockley, who followed her parents’ educational path. Dr. Shockley traveled extensively world-wide in his position as consultant and administrator in Christian Education for the World Division, Board of Ministries, The United Methodist Church. He continued his career in higher education serving as president of two institutions: the International Theological Center, the Atlanta University Center, Atlanta, GA, and Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR. Dr. Shockley was a contributor to several major publications, including the Encyclopedia of World Methodism, An Introduction to Christian Education, A History of American Methodism, and the Westminster Dictionary of Christian Education. He wrote several books with the last one published before his death; Heritage and Hope: The African-American Presence in United Methodism. Some of his memberships have included the Board of Trustees, Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC; University Senate, The United Methodist Church; Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education; Religious Education Association; North Carolina Annual Conference; the Board of Visitors, The Divinity School, Duke University; and the NAACP. His fraternal memberships were Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Kappa Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.  Dr. Shockley was greatly loved and revered by family, colleagues, and former students around the world. He was truly an Unsung Hero and a “Professor of Many Firsts”.