Obituary of Grace Clark
Grace Elizabeth Collar Clark died peacefully at St. James Place, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 25, 2016, six days after her 98th birthday. She was born January 19, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri to William Franklin Collar and Virginia Fraser Collar. She was known to several generations of Clarksdale citizens as "Amazing Grace," the first kindergarten teacher and long-time principal of St. George's Day School.
She is survived by five daughters, Dr. Elisabeth O. Clark of Los Angeles, California, Susan Clark Thompson (Topper) of New Orleans, Louisiana, Emily A. Clark (Peter Polatin) of Dallas, Texas, Alida "Peachy" Clark Melancon (Charlie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dr. Dorothy Clark Van Meter (Woodford) of Lexington, Kentucky; her brother, John Lind Collar of Douglasville, Georgia; ten grandchildren, Christopher Polatin, Clark and Jeffery Thompson, Seph Melancon, Phillip Kirschen-Clark, Claire Melancon Simoneaux, Allie Polatin Chimples, Dana Polatin-Reuben, Mary and Wood Van Meter; and ten great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by husband, Charles Wesley Clark, Jr., who died in 2002, sister Virginia Collar Clark, and brothers, William F. Collar, Jr., Carleton Collar, and Henry Collar.
She was educated in Atlanta and received both bachelor and masters degrees from Emory University. She also did graduate study at Ole Miss. She married Charles Wesley Clark, Jr. in 1941 and was a Clarksdale resident from 1943 to 2009. She lived in Lexington, Kentucky for five and half years before moving to Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Clark was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, active in the work of the Women of the Church, altar guild, choir, and Sunday school program. In 1959, with the Reverend Charles Chambers, she founded St. George's Day school and continued as a kindergarten teacher and principal until her retirement in the early 70s. She saw the school grow into a kindergarten through sixth grade school and become one of the first private schools in the state to gain SACS accreditation. After retirement, she continued her interest in the school, often visiting and reading to the students.
For many years, Mrs. Clark was a member of the "Pink Ladies" at the Northwest Mississippi Medical Center. She was an active member of the Clarksdale Little Theater, serving as an officer and a board member, and appearing in numerous productions. Her favorite role was "Penny" in You Can't Take it With You, a role she performed in two seasons five years apart. She was the last surviving member of "The Sewing Club," a close group of fifteen who met weekly for years for lunch, sewing, conversation and companionship.
Visitation will be at St. George's Parish Hall, Friday, January 29, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 and funeral services will be held at St. George's, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:00 with the Reverend Jason Shelby officiating. Pallbearers will be her six grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale.
Published online Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, MS
Grace Elizabeth Collar Clark died peacefully at St. James Place, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 25, 2016, six days after her 98th birthday. She was born January 19, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri to William Franklin Collar and Virginia Fraser Collar. She was known to several generations of Clarksdale citizens as "Amazing Grace," the first kindergarten teacher and long-time principal of St. George's Day School.
She is survived by five daughters, Dr. Elisabeth O. Clark of Los Angeles, California, Susan Clark Thompson (Topper) of New Orleans, Louisiana, Emily A. Clark (Peter Polatin) of Dallas, Texas, Alida "Peachy" Clark Melancon (Charlie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dr. Dorothy Clark Van Meter (Woodford) of Lexington, Kentucky; her brother, John Lind Collar of Douglasville, Georgia; ten grandchildren, Christopher Polatin, Clark and Jeffery Thompson, Seph Melancon, Phillip Kirschen-Clark, Claire Melancon Simoneaux, Allie Polatin Chimples, Dana Polatin-Reuben, Mary and Wood Van Meter; and ten great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by husband, Charles Wesley Clark, Jr., who died in 2002, sister Virginia Collar Clark, and brothers, William F. Collar, Jr., Carleton Collar, and Henry Collar.
She was educated in Atlanta and received both bachelor and masters degrees from Emory University. She also did graduate study at Ole Miss. She married Charles Wesley Clark, Jr. in 1941 and was a Clarksdale resident from 1943 to 2009. She lived in Lexington, Kentucky for five and half years before moving to Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Clark was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, active in the work of the Women of the Church, altar guild, choir, and Sunday school program. In 1959, with the Reverend Charles Chambers, she founded St. George's Day school and continued as a kindergarten teacher and principal until her retirement in the early 70s. She saw the school grow into a kindergarten through sixth grade school and become one of the first private schools in the state to gain SACS accreditation. After retirement, she continued her interest in the school, often visiting and reading to the students.
For many years, Mrs. Clark was a member of the "Pink Ladies" at the Northwest Mississippi Medical Center. She was an active member of the Clarksdale Little Theater, serving as an officer and a board member, and appearing in numerous productions. Her favorite role was "Penny" in You Can't Take it With You, a role she performed in two seasons five years apart. She was the last surviving member of "The Sewing Club," a close group of fifteen who met weekly for years for lunch, sewing, conversation and companionship.
Visitation will be at St. George's Parish Hall, Friday, January 29, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 and funeral services will be held at St. George's, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:00 with the Reverend Jason Shelby officiating. Pallbearers will be her six grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale.
Published online Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, MS
Obituary of Grace Clark
Grace Elizabeth Collar Clark died peacefully at St. James Place, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 25, 2016, six days after her 98th birthday. She was born January 19, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri to William Franklin Collar and Virginia Fraser Collar. She was known to several generations of Clarksdale citizens as "Amazing Grace," the first kindergarten teacher and long-time principal of St. George's Day School.
She is survived by five daughters, Dr. Elisabeth O. Clark of Los Angeles, California, Susan Clark Thompson (Topper) of New Orleans, Louisiana, Emily A. Clark (Peter Polatin) of Dallas, Texas, Alida "Peachy" Clark Melancon (Charlie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dr. Dorothy Clark Van Meter (Woodford) of Lexington, Kentucky; her brother, John Lind Collar of Douglasville, Georgia; ten grandchildren, Christopher Polatin, Clark and Jeffery Thompson, Seph Melancon, Phillip Kirschen-Clark, Claire Melancon Simoneaux, Allie Polatin Chimples, Dana Polatin-Reuben, Mary and Wood Van Meter; and ten great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by husband, Charles Wesley Clark, Jr., who died in 2002, sister Virginia Collar Clark, and brothers, William F. Collar, Jr., Carleton Collar, and Henry Collar.
She was educated in Atlanta and received both bachelor and masters degrees from Emory University. She also did graduate study at Ole Miss. She married Charles Wesley Clark, Jr. in 1941 and was a Clarksdale resident from 1943 to 2009. She lived in Lexington, Kentucky for five and half years before moving to Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Clark was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, active in the work of the Women of the Church, altar guild, choir, and Sunday school program. In 1959, with the Reverend Charles Chambers, she founded St. George's Day school and continued as a kindergarten teacher and principal until her retirement in the early 70s. She saw the school grow into a kindergarten through sixth grade school and become one of the first private schools in the state to gain SACS accreditation. After retirement, she continued her interest in the school, often visiting and reading to the students.
For many years, Mrs. Clark was a member of the "Pink Ladies" at the Northwest Mississippi Medical Center. She was an active member of the Clarksdale Little Theater, serving as an officer and a board member, and appearing in numerous productions. Her favorite role was "Penny" in You Can't Take it With You, a role she performed in two seasons five years apart. She was the last surviving member of "The Sewing Club," a close group of fifteen who met weekly for years for lunch, sewing, conversation and companionship.
Visitation will be at St. George's Parish Hall, Friday, January 29, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 and funeral services will be held at St. George's, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:00 with the Reverend Jason Shelby officiating. Pallbearers will be her six grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale.
Published online Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, MS
Grace Elizabeth Collar Clark died peacefully at St. James Place, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 25, 2016, six days after her 98th birthday. She was born January 19, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri to William Franklin Collar and Virginia Fraser Collar. She was known to several generations of Clarksdale citizens as "Amazing Grace," the first kindergarten teacher and long-time principal of St. George's Day School.
She is survived by five daughters, Dr. Elisabeth O. Clark of Los Angeles, California, Susan Clark Thompson (Topper) of New Orleans, Louisiana, Emily A. Clark (Peter Polatin) of Dallas, Texas, Alida "Peachy" Clark Melancon (Charlie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dr. Dorothy Clark Van Meter (Woodford) of Lexington, Kentucky; her brother, John Lind Collar of Douglasville, Georgia; ten grandchildren, Christopher Polatin, Clark and Jeffery Thompson, Seph Melancon, Phillip Kirschen-Clark, Claire Melancon Simoneaux, Allie Polatin Chimples, Dana Polatin-Reuben, Mary and Wood Van Meter; and ten great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by husband, Charles Wesley Clark, Jr., who died in 2002, sister Virginia Collar Clark, and brothers, William F. Collar, Jr., Carleton Collar, and Henry Collar.
She was educated in Atlanta and received both bachelor and masters degrees from Emory University. She also did graduate study at Ole Miss. She married Charles Wesley Clark, Jr. in 1941 and was a Clarksdale resident from 1943 to 2009. She lived in Lexington, Kentucky for five and half years before moving to Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Clark was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, active in the work of the Women of the Church, altar guild, choir, and Sunday school program. In 1959, with the Reverend Charles Chambers, she founded St. George's Day school and continued as a kindergarten teacher and principal until her retirement in the early 70s. She saw the school grow into a kindergarten through sixth grade school and become one of the first private schools in the state to gain SACS accreditation. After retirement, she continued her interest in the school, often visiting and reading to the students.
For many years, Mrs. Clark was a member of the "Pink Ladies" at the Northwest Mississippi Medical Center. She was an active member of the Clarksdale Little Theater, serving as an officer and a board member, and appearing in numerous productions. Her favorite role was "Penny" in You Can't Take it With You, a role she performed in two seasons five years apart. She was the last surviving member of "The Sewing Club," a close group of fifteen who met weekly for years for lunch, sewing, conversation and companionship.
Visitation will be at St. George's Parish Hall, Friday, January 29, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 and funeral services will be held at St. George's, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:00 with the Reverend Jason Shelby officiating. Pallbearers will be her six grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale.
Published online Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, MS
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