James McCarver Jr. never met Elaine Allen. If he did, he no doubt would have approached the Richmond woman the way he approached most other people with compassion and respect.

  "James impacted a lot of people in his life because of his tremendous love for people," said   McCarver's widow, Georgia. "He was one of those people who never met a stranger or who was ever without words. He would go to a grocery store for a couple of items and end up for hours because he would start conversations."

  McCarver, a man so close to his church he was called "The Rev," died Jan 30, 2002 of leukemia. But the 55 year old Vallejoian managed to not only overcome drug addiction, but graduate from the Alcohol & Drug Studies Program at Diablo Valley College and work as a counselor at the House of Acts drug treatment program in Vallejo.

  Because of what he accomplished, the James McCaver Jr. Memorial Scholarship became the first scholarship available for Alcohol and Drug Studies. And a stunned Allen received the $500 to further her education at the school's Scholarship Award Celebration on May 14. "I didn't find out about it until I was on stage," said Allen. "It was a surprise and a great experience.

  " Allen, 42 had kicked her own drug problem four years ago and wants to earn the certificate so she can assist other women with substance abuse problems.
  "Since I've been able to go past that hurdle and accelerate into other things. I want to go back and help other women." Allen said.

  Allen was worthy of the honor, said Donna Wapner, her DVC instructor and program coordinator.
  "She's worked really hard," Wapner said, grateful that Georgia McCarver and Hattie Smith Miles of the House of Acts worked diligently to raise money for the scholarship.

  McCarver was unique. Wapner said, and deserved a scholarship in his honor.
 "He was just really committed to giving back to the community, helping others and providing support and encouragement to those who were struggling with substance abuse problems," Wapner said.

   When McCarver graduated in 1997, "he wrote a beautiful essay about how he makes a difference in the community and what goals were. After he died, I spoke with Hattie and James' wife about setting up the memorial scholarship in his name. We all decided we should to it."
  Georgia McCarver said she was "honored and proud" of the perpetual scholarship fund.   Married to James for nearly 36 years. The two met at Vallejo Senior High School. "We grew up together, "Georgia said. "And I think the decision he made to finally go back to school was one of his proudest moments."
   James attended Solano Community College after High School, but his grade point average was less than 2.0 his wife said.
   "By the time he finished his studies at DVC, he was on the dean's list with a 4.0. That tells you about his accomplishments right there," Georgia said, "Just changing his life and turning it around was one of the steps he took in becoming a man."

   McCarver crusaded to get people to realize "that it was possible to become and all that they can become and that no matter where they are, they haven't gone so far down they can't achieve."
   Smith Miles knew McCarver for nearly 30 years and the two worked together the last seven years of his life. "He was a very kind, unique person," Miles said. "He cared about people. He was a big man with a big heart who wanted to make a difference because he had been there.   He wanted to make a difference in someone's life and give back. "McCarver looked forward to his counseling job "every day," Miles said, "Even when he tested positive for leukemia, he kept coming to work.
   Even while in the hospital, he looked forward to coming back to work because he missed the guys so much."
   McCarver never did mention how painful his illness was, said his wife. "He just didn't complain. He wasn't a complainer," Georgia said, "When people went to see him in the hospital, he was one to cheer and encourage everybody else.
   He seemed to forget about himself. His love and passion was his ministry. He truly loved what he was doing.
  " Ten months after the diagnosis, McCarver died. "I don't think he ever realized his last day was his last day," Georgia said. "He never gave up. That was the way he lived.
   " In addition to the $500 scholarship, Allen received chocolate chip cookies, a McCarver trademark.
   "James would bring them to people in the community, to people in the church and share them with students," Wapner said.
   "So we decided that any student who was given the scholarship would also receive a dozen chocolate chip cookies."
   McCarver, said Wapner, "was one of those really charismatic people who was doing great work. It's a real shame he died so young."