Jordan Douglas Young

Independent-minded by nature, Jordan Douglas Young, faced many trials and obstacles, which his questing soul and faith led him to overcome.

Young's parents were Anna Stone Young and Allen Maurice Young. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1930 and his was the first generation of the family born in the United States. He became a professional boxer largely because he was confronted with anti-Semitism and poverty in early life.

During the Korean War, Young enlisted and served in the 8th Army, 25th Divisioninfantry. He rose in rank to first Sergeant, beginning his military career at age 19. Young was the only one of six men in a foxhole who survived a grenade attack. He was highly decorated and later sent back to the front to run an officers club.

While his injuries plagued him for the rest of his life, it was as a result of his Korean War service that Young made his two most important life discoveries. While in the service, Young discovered his new religion and his profession.

When paralyzed after the grenade attack in Korea, chiropractic care served to return use of the left side of his body. As a result, in 1953, Young began his studies of chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating in 1956.

While at Palmer, Dr. Young met and married his wife, Dr. Annette McNeely Young. Together they embarked on their study of the Baha'i Faith, which Dr. Young had discovered during his military service. Studying with a group that gathered at Hugh and Margaret Chance's in Davenport, Iowa, the Youngs became devoted Baha'is.

Drs. Jordan and Annette Young moved their family to Florence, South Carolina, serving as Baha'i pioneers (akin to Christian missionaries). They practiced chiropractic for 50 years in Florence and later in Easley, South Carolina.

In the 1960s, Dr. Young's adherence to the Baha'i principle of the oneness of mankind, led to a stand on race unity which was then unpopular; nevertheless he continued to uphold Baha'i principles in the face of opposition.

Dr. Young was the first chiropractor in the State to treat African American patients. He had the first integrated waiting room. Dr. Young would say: "There's one heaven and one hell and y'all can sit in the same waitin' room!"

Dr. Young was a member of the Sertoma club in Florence, a Big Brother, on the Florence County Airport Commission and served on the Board of Directors of the Easley Post Office.

Over the years, Dr. Young helped to establish and served as an elected member of three Baha'i Local Spiritual Assemblies in Davenport, Iowa, and Florence County and Pickens County, South Carolina. Dr. Young traveled to Australia, Samoa and Belize to help teach the Baha'i Faith.

Dr. Young participated in chiropractic education, helping train interns in his office as well as setting up several doctors in private practice. He was instrumental in chiropractic professional policy changes in South Carolina.

At home, on the afternoon of October 4th, Dr. Jordan Young passed away gently while Dr. Annette Young and their sons held him and prayed. Surviving are his wife and children: Dennis Young, April Y. Crenshaw, Jennifer Young-Cott, Amy Cornelius and Jay Young, their spouses and his thirteen grandchildren.

Dr. Young leaves behind his sisters, June Leibowitz of Enfield, Connecticut, and Dorothy Engle of Charleston, South Carolina and a brother, Robert Young of Dallas, Texas. His brother, Gerald Young of Tempe, Arizona, predeceased Dr. Young.

Two days after his passing, over a hundred of his family and friends gathered for his Baha'i funeral which included military honors.

A celebration of Dr. Jordan Young's life will be held on November 5 at 2 PM at the residence in Easley.