“ENDLESS LOVE”

Mr. John “June” Howard Clark of 2412 E. Cayuga St., Tampa, entered his eternal home Sunday, July 22, 2012. Mrs. Grace Agnes Tillman Clark, his wife of 42 years, joined him in paradise Monday, July 23, 2012. Truly, they have an “endless love.”

Joint funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Clark will be held Wednesday, August 1, 11 a.m. at Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2101 Lowe Street. Rev. Dr. David W. Green, Sr., pastor, officiating. Interment will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue.

Mr. Clark was born February 2, 1926 in Cairo, Georgia to Dock and Louvennia Jasper, both deceased. He was preceded in death by brother, Lawrence, and sister, Johnnie Lee. He moved to Tampa at an early age and attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. Mr. Clark served honorably in the U.S. Navy, where he developed his skills as a chef. He married Grace Tillman in 1969, and they remained dedicated to that union for 42 years. He reaffirmed his love for her with his final words. He was recognized as an outstanding employee of Gardinier, Inc. Mr. Clark joined Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in the 1970’s, serving as a trustee, church custodian, sexton, chef and member of both the Male and Gospel Choirs. He and Mrs. Clark were also founding members of the Doug Williams Fan Club. Mrs. Grace Tillman Clark was born April 5, 1931 in Tampa to Israel and Grace Tillman, both deceased. Mrs. Clark was also preceded in death by brothers, Robert and Israel, Jr., and sisters, Annie Mae and Fredye Mae. She attended Hillsborough County Public Schools, graduating from George S. Middleton High School with the Class of 1948. She earned an A.A. Degree from Gibbs Junior College. Mrs. Clark began a 35-year career at Clara Frye Hospital and retired from the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court Office. She was a 20-year volunteer for both Meals on Wheels and for the Straz (formerly Tampa Bay) Performing Arts Center. She also supervised voting precincts for the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Mrs. Clark was a founding member of the Clerks and Secretaries Organization (CSOs), the Belmont-Jackson Heights Civic Association, the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries and the Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) at Allen Temple AME. Her mother, Grace, led her to Allen Temple AME Church as a child. In 2006, she fulfilled a life-long dream by attending historic AME Bi-Continental Lay Organization Celebrations in Johannesburg, Soweto and Cape Town, South Africa. She prayed a prayer of thanks in Nelson Mandela’s former jail cell for his freedom.

At Allen Temple, Mrs. Clark served as treasurer of the Roberts-Burroughs Women’s Missionary Society. She chaired the nominating committee and was an on-call registrar for the Area/District AME level. At the AME Conference level, she was active with the Christian Social Action Committee. She earned the rare honor of being strolled a “Silver Sister” by AME Bishop and Mrs. McKinley Young for her long, faithful service. Former President of the Local Lay Organization, she also served on Usher Board No.1, was active in the Sunday School and in Bible Study. Mrs. Clark attended the WMS Quadrennial Convention in Nashville, Tenn. in June and July of 2012.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark were preceded in death by two sons, John and Phillip Clark. They leave a legacy for two children: son, Charles Frederick (father Samuel) Hearns, and daughter, Pearl Elaine Roberts; grandchildren Charles F. (Tanika) Hearns, Jr., Darius (Angela) Clark, Derrick (fiancé Jennell Bassette) Roberts, Phillip (Latoya) Clark, Jr., Cassandra Franklin, Marcel Hearns and Charaneka Johnson; great grandchildren Mia and Alex Hearns, Kiaus Collins, Markell and Marianna Westbrooks, Dorothea, Augusta and AiReal Clark, Rayshad Smith, Jadyn, Joidyn and Princeton Clark; nieces Sharon Freshwater and Vicki Grooms; nephews Reginald (Ricky) Hopkins and Tony Grooms, Jabari James, Dominic Grooms, Derica Mosley, Eduardo Anderson, Emario Anderson Davina Lassiter and Delina Dennis; devoted cousins Laura Dell Miller and children, Dr. Council Miller, Jr., Freddie (Sophie) Miller, Mildred (Oscar) Foster, Dr. Faye (Reginald St.) Bellamy and Benita Gray; Virgil, Keith and Alicia Henry, Chainaka, Dyzhane, Edric, Jr., Kierra, Princess, Azaria, Sayyidah, Isaiah, Twila, Brooke, A’niya; Diane and Cassandra Manago; Ernest (Jeanette) Macon, Elizabeth (Ellis) Austin, Ernestine Macon Coleman, Alberta Jackson, Renee (Steve) Evans, Michael (Michelle) Macon, Kevin (Lisa) Macon, Raymond (Meghan) Macon, Keteya (Tom) Macon Smith, Richard Crooks, Linda Jackson, Geraldine Kay-Sandra (Robert)Young, Trina Minter, Valerie Austin, Ellis (Freida) Austin, Christopher Austin, LIFE Malcolm, Cheryl Clark, Ronald Clark, Donald Clark, Albert Jackson, Edric Miller, Joshua Gray, Dr. Reginald Bellamy, Jr., Justin Gray, Teketa Bellamy, Ashanti Bellamy, Evelyne Miller, Caitlin Evans, Cassady Evans, Spencer Macon, Sabrina Macon, Gianna Macon, Tristan Macon, Taylor Macon, Richard (Chris) Crooks, Jr., Sam Crooks, Sonia Myles, Eddie (Stephanie) Myles, Jr., Collier Banks, Gerald Phillips, Erika Phillips, Jovon Phillips, Ervin Phillips, Antoine Crooks, Larry Simpson, Jr., Terrence Crooks-Usher, Christina Austin, Lyfe Coleman, Asha Coleman, Journey Coleman, Jaye’ Coleman, Ronald Clark, Donald Clark, Albert Jackson, Ronald Clark, Jr., Randall Clark, Ryan Clark and numerous other relatives.

The remains of both Mr. and Mrs. Clark will repose for public viewing after 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 at the Wilson Funeral Home, 3000 N. 29th Street, Tampa, FL. The family will receive friends 6-7 p.m., with two-minute tributes scheduled from 7 p.m. until 7:45 p.m.