Right Worshipful John Mason Chambliss, Jr. was born in
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, on October 6, 1950. He graduated from Central High
School in Victoria and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from
National College of Business and Technology. Brother Chambliss began his career
with the County of Roanoke, Virginia, in 1973 and assumed the position of Assistant
County Administrator in 1986, guiding Management Services until 1988, when he assumed
responsibility for the Human Services Division.
Brother Chambliss was made a Master Mason in Lakeland
Lodge No. 190 on May 2, 1977. He served as its Worshipful Master in 1989 and 1990.
He holds membership in Cave Spring Lodge No. 230. He was appointed District Deputy
Grand Master of Masonic District No. 22 in 1992 and Grand Purveyor in 1993. He was
appointed to the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance in 1992, where he served continuously
as its Chairman from 1998 to 2006 and to the Board of Governors of the Masonic Home
of Virginia from 2004 to 2006. He was elected Grand Senior Deacon in 2006. He is
the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Minas Gerais, Brazil, near Virginia.
Right Worshipful Brother Chambliss is a member of the
Valley of Roanoke, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and was invested Knight Commander
Court of Honor in 1993 and coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1999. He is
a Past High Priest of Murray Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons; Past Commander of
Bayard Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar; member of Wilderness Road York Rite College
No. 94; and a member of Kazim Shrine Center, A.A.O.N.M.S. where he is currently a member
of the Divan. He is a recipient of the John Blair, Jr. Service Medal from the Grand
Lodge of Virginia, the Knight York Cross of Honor and the Order of the Purple Cross
from the York Rite Sovereign College.
Brother Chambliss is the President and Captain of the
Cave Spring Volunteer Fire Department, Vice-Chairman of the Western Virginia
Regional Jail Authority, Past Director of the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of
Commerce, member of the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Commission and Roanoke
County member of the Advisory Board – Regional Animal Shelter and SPCA.
He is married to the former Judy Tomlinson. They are
the parents of a son, John Mason, III; and a daughter, Michelle and her husband,
Chris Allen. They have one granddaughter, Abby Nichole Allen. He is an active member
and Deacon of Rosalind Hills Baptist Church.
