Rev. Dr. Claudie Grant Jr.
REV. DR. CLAUDIE GRANT, JR.
Dr. Claudie Grant, Jr. is the son of the late Claudie Sr. and Julia Grant. He is a native of Branchville, VA.
Dr. Grant entered Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA, in 1965 after graduating from high school. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1969 after earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science. In August of 1970, he entered the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, where he earned a Juris Doctor Degree and became the first blind law graduate in the 75-year history of the law school. He passed the Virginia Bar and was licensed to practice law in both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar and a number of Federal Court Bars.
After graduating from law school, he served in the following capacities: Assistant to Dean of Students, the University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC; Legal Advisor, Department of Health and Human Services; Trial Attorney and Attorney-Advisor, Department of Justice (Civil Rights and Antitrust Divisions) Washington, DC; Personnel Staff Officer, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army-Pentagon, Washington, DC; Employment Advisor/Program Manager, President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Washington, DC; Diversity Manager/Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Counselor/Facilitator, Defense Commissary Agency, Department of Defense, Fort Lee, VA. In his capacity as Diversity Manager, he has taught Diversity Management and Reasonable Accommodation on various military installations in the U.S. and Europe. Also, he has served as counselor to employees.
He served as the Selective Placement Coordinator for the recruitment and placement
Of people with disabilities in the agency.
Dr. Grant was assigned to the DeCA Human Resources Directorate as a Human
Resources Specialist and has since retired. In this capacity, he recruited people with disabilities and in particular those with targeted (severe) disabilities for employment
in the agency. He was featured in a video by the Department of Defense (DoD) discussing the challenges of a disabled person in the work place.
In 1980, Dr. Grant received his call to the Ministry and entered the Howard University School of Divinity. He completed his studies and received a Master’s of Divinity Degree. On June 1, 1980, he was licensed to preach the Gospel at Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington, DC. In June of 1981, he joined the ministerial staff of the Zion Baptist Church, Blagden Avenue NW Washington, DC, and was ordained on June 20, 1982.
Dr. Claudie Grant has served in numerous ministerial capacities and is the former Pastor of Pine Level Baptist Church, Capron, and was the pass president of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Petersburg and Vicinity. He has served as the interim Pastor at Unity Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA. Currently Dr. Grant is an Associate Minister at Gillfield Baptist Church in Petersburg, VA and is the Church School Superintendent.
Professionally, he has served as a member and Board of Director of the American Blind Lawyers Association; Board of Director of the Washington Volunteer Readers for the Blind. He has also served in positions as: Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Independence Center of Northern Virginia. He also served as treasurer and president and board member of the Washington Volunteer Readers for the Blind.
Dr. Grant is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Blacks in Government, National Office. He is a life member of D.C Association of Workers for the Blind, and is a member of the National Action Network.
He received a commission appointment by Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine to the State Vocational Rehabilitation Council for the Blind in May, 2009 and was re-appointed by Gov. McAuliffe in October, 2015. He received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg in October, 2010.
His life story was featured on the initial “Hometown” news series of WRC TV (Channel 4 Washington, DC) on September 23, 1991. He is a recipient of the NAACP prestigious Dr. Benjamin Lawson Hook’s “Keeper of the Flame Award” which is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in civil rights. The United Auto Workers (UAW) International Civil Rights Department has recognized him on several occasions for his accomplishments in civil rights and the advancement of better opportunities for auto-workers in the United States and other countries.
Dr. Grant is a member of Delta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Petersburg, VA Chapter, and a life member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
In October 2009, Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. presented him an
appreciation award for Leadership and Advocacy. He was awarded the Citizen of the
Year by Delta Omega Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in November 12, 2016,
Founders Award, in November 15, 2020 and Lifetime Achievement Founders Award,
November 20, 2021. He has been the recipient of numerous other outstanding service
awards.
He resides in Chester, Virginia with his wife, Rev. Patricia Grant.
