George A. Seymour, Jr.'s Obituary
George Albert Seymour, Jr. died on October 2nd of complications of pneumonia. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 70 years, Betty Seymour, and by his son, Reverend David Seymour. He is survived by his son, Chris Seymour, and by extended family and his many friends. He was almost 97 years old.
George was born November 4, 1926 in St. Michaels, Maryland, the only child of George Albert Seymour Sr. and Thelma Krill Seymour. He attended public schools in St. Michaels and in Baltimore, and then joined the army in the closing days of World War II. He served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps, 1st Recon Squadron, 8th Air Force, at Kadena, Okinawa, from1945 to 1946, first as an aviation mechanic, then in the Information and Education Office, where he edited a newspaper called "Recon Roundup," managed the radio station, KRW, and originated and led island history tours for squadron personnel.
Returning to civilian life, George graduated cum laude with a BA in Literature from Western Maryland College in 1950, and then earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952. The same year, he married Betty Radcliffe, a nurse, also from St. Michaels. Their first son, David, was born in 1955, followed ten and a half months later by Chris. The family lived in Baltimore and Annapolis through the end of the 1960s, moving frequently within that area so that Dave could attend schools suited to his cerebral palsy, before returning to St. Michaels in 1971.
Professionally, George served 37 years in various public and private non-profit programs in mental health, juvenile delinquency services, and other services for children. He was the Executive Director of Big Brothers of Baltimore for nine years and of Big Brothers of the National Capital Area for two years. He retired as Chief of Social Work at Eastern Shore Hospital Center, at Cambridge, Maryland, in 1987. He spent his retirement with Betty sailing, traveling, and volunteering. George served as a member of the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners for three years and as its chairman for one year. He was the co-founder and first president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Upper Eastern Shore, and he volunteered in a variety of capacities for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the Talbot County Historical Society, and the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary's Square.
George not only developed the popular walking tour of sites in St. Michaels related to Frederick Douglass, he was also part of the committee that arranged for the statue of Frederick Douglas now in Easton, and he was the driving force behind the successful effort to dedicate State Route 33 to Frederick Douglass.
Over the years, George earned multiple honors, including Social Worker of the Year for 1987; the Heritage Initiative Award, in 2011, for his work on Frederick Douglass' legacy; and, with Betty, the Heritage Award, in 2012, for "lifetime achievement in research and documentation of local history and volunteerism." This past spring, he was able to attend the dedication of the George and Betty Seymour Room at the St. Michael's Museum. Though by then of failing health, he spent the day flirting with the docents and promising to come help at the museum if they should need anything.
George did not talk very much-he was convinced that Betty was better at talking than he-but when he did speak in the last few years of his long life, his concerns were for Betty's safety and happiness and that his family be able to enjoy his legacy to them, the beautiful house on the river. He did what he had to do to make all that happen. Also, he wanted a beer and some bacon. We made that happen for him.
Services will be held at Frampton's Funeral Home, Ostrowski Chapel, 312 S. Talbot Street, in St. Michaels at 11 AM, Saturday, November 4th. Interment will be at Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Talbot County Hospice, 586 Cynwood Dr. Easton, Maryland, 21601, or St. Michaels Museum, PO Box 714, St. Michaels, Maryland, 21601.
What’s your fondest memory of George?
What’s a lesson you learned from George?
Share a story where George's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with George you’ll never forget.
How did George make you smile?
