In 1961, Cleland was named president of Belhaven University (then Belhaven College) and served until 1978. He strengthened Belhaven’s commitment to academic excellence based on strong Christian principles. He also expanded its facilities, increased enrollment and broadened its number of degrees.

Howard Jonathan Cleland, 95, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went home to be with his Lord on October 13, 2013. A memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss, on Ocotber 16, 2013.

He served as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America at both First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

Cleland was born in Buffalo, Missouri, on July 5, 1918. He received a Bachelor of Science in English from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and a Master of Arts in school administration and psychology from Peabody College in Nashville. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in law from Mississippi College and an Honorary Doctorate of Christian Ministries from Belhaven University.

During World War II he served as lieutenant in the United States Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation. In the Atlantic, his ship, the USS Humbolt, participated in the capture and return of the German U-boat, U-505. It was the only German U-boat seized intact during World War II.

In the Pacific, he was involved in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. At Iwo Jima, he witnessed and recorded in his ship’s log the raising of the United States flag on Mount Suribachi.

After World War II his entire professional career was devoted to education administration. One of his greatest pleasures was his association with young people of all ages, and he took great pride in their achievements, both as students and later as graduates. He served as principal of Bailey Junior High School in Jackson, Miss., from 1947 to 1955. When Jackson’s Murrah High School opened in 1955, he was selected as its first principal and served until 1961. During this time, Murrah excelled in both academics and athletics and was named by Time and Newsweek magazines as one of the top high schools in the nation. Later, Murrah’s athletic field house was named in his honor.

In 1961, Cleland was named president of Belhaven University (then Belhaven College) and served until 1978. He strengthened Belhaven’s commitment to academic excellence based on strong Christian principles. He also expanded its facilities, increased enrollment and broadened its number of degrees.

For many years Cleland organized and directed the Mississippi Youth Tour, which later became Belhaven College Teen Tour. This tour provided hundreds of teenagers the opportunity to travel throughout the United States.

Cleland was past-president of the Mississippi Association of Colleges, the Mississippi Foundation of Independent Colleges and the Mississippi Association of Private Colleges. He served on the board of directors of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Economic Council and was a member of the Mississippi Congress of Parents and Teachers, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Phi and the National Association of School Administrators.

Dr. Cleland was also inducted into the Belhaven University Sports Hall of Fame. He had a love for art and gardening, painting countless landscapes and still life paintings in oil and growing beautiful roses and other colorful flowers for his family to enjoy.

Dr. Cleland was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Floral Cleland; two sisters, Inez Rhea and Marie Wattles; brother, William Cleland; and daughter, Jane O’Mara. He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Gustava Barksdale Cleland; three children, Beth Cleland Harper and her husband, Eddie, of DeBary, Fla., Dr. William Howard Cleland and his wife, Gyanne, of Brandon, Miss., and Charles David Cleland and his wife, Rebecca, of Madison, Miss.

Howard was the proud grandfather of Charlie Harper and his wife, Charlotte; Stephen Harper and his wife, Kimberly; Cheryl Harper Poole and her husband, Cameron, Meredith Cleland Johnson and her husband, Chad; Drew Cleland and his wife, Kimberly; Kate O’Mara Chandler and her husband, Martin; Mandy Brownlee and her husband, Derrick; and Michelle Smith and her husband, Clayton. He was blessed with nine great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or First Presbyterian Day School, 1390 North State Street, Jackson, Miss., 39202, or a memorial of your choice. Comments may be made on the online guestbook.