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They married three years later in July of 1958. A few years ago, he related that before the wedding, with funds a bit tight while at Duke Divinity, he wanted something more than what the occasional preaching could bring in. So he submitted to a medical experiment involving catheterization. Mary Duffie says that for that, he got $30 and a lesson that, “it probably wasn’t worth it.”

Honeymooners George & Mary Duffie.

George and Mary lived in South Carolina where he worked as a minister, and she as a school teacher. They had three children, Sommers, Luther and Alyson.

Fellow minister, Bob Clyburn says that in the 1960’s George was “one of the leading lights” in getting black Methodist churches and white Methodist churches in South Carolina to merge in to one conference of churches. It didn’t come without resistance.

Greg Piner says George told him that he’d alienated some people “because of his stands.” At one gathering where civil rights issues were debated, George’s own father addressed the crowd, cautioning against making changes too quickly. He was followed at the podium by George, the preacher and preacher’s kid, who countered his father’s position.

In 1969, George was tapped to be the chaplain for Methodist students at the University of South Carolina. Bob Clyburn says George “stood with the students, but also with the administration. He could talk and listen to both.” He says that George counseled that “there must be order.. and right ways to protest.”

George Duffie, at left, during his years as chaplain at USC.

Mary Duffie recalled another incident when the comedian and activist Dick Gregory was to come to the USC campus and an organization of black students wanted him to meet only with black students. George said no on the grounds that there shouldn’t be a separation by race. A lay-in ensued, and for three days, Mary recalled, George stepped over the bodies of protesters on his way to his office, not relenting on the issue.

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Posted Saturday June 25, 2011 by Melinda Penkava