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WELDON – Halifax Community College will pay tribute to its president, the late Dr. Michael Anthony Elam, at a service to be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr. Centre on the college’s campus.

The service begins at 10 a.m. and doors to the centre open at 9 a.m.

To view the memorial service virtually, go to halifaxcc.edu.

Elam, age 65, died January 25 following an extended illness.

Prior to becoming the president at Halifax Community College, Elam served in that same role at Roanoke-Chowan Community College.

A native of Henderson, NC, Elam graduated from high school in Philadelphia, PA. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and a Master of Education degree in Student Personnel Administration from Howard University in Washington, DC. There, he was also an outstanding athlete, setting multiple track and field records.

He found his lifelong passion in uplifting under-served communities through educational programs and servant leadership. He discovered his true calling was working within the community college system, serving in leadership roles at Florida State College in Jacksonville and Daytona State College in Daytona Beach. His doctorate in Educational Leadership was conferred in 2008 by Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Elam then ascended to presidential positions at College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and Halifax Community College.

Dr. Elam is survived by his wife, Maxine; two children, Mikaela and Matthew; a daughter-in-law, Rebecca; five grandchildren, his parents, Clarence and Ella (John); and three sisters, Shirley, Phyllis (Marcel), and Yvette.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to The Dr. Michael A. Elam Presidential Scholarship.

Checks may be made payable to the Halifax Community College Foundation, PO Drawer 809, Weldon, NC, 27890. Please place The Dr. Michael A. Elam Presidential Scholarship on the memo line.