I was born in Roanoke, Alabama the ONLY child of two of the greatest people on earth — the late Wilkie and Hattie Lee Peters Clark.
I grew up in Roanoke’s well-known “East Roanoke” community, where I attended The predominantly black Randolph County Training School, and later on, the City of Roanoke’s Handley High School, where I graduated with the class of 1971. Moving forward, I went on to earn both a B.S. and M.Ed. in Special Education from Auburn University.
While at Auburn, I pledged Delta Sigma Theta National Service Sorority, as one of the first nine Deltas to be initiated there, thus I had a hand in establishing the first black women’s sorority on Auburn’s campus, (Kappa Upsilon Chapter), in 1974.
Several years later, (1993), I graduated with honors from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia. While in mortuary training, I pledged Pi Sigma Eta honorary National Mortuary Fraternity.
I devoted many years to the teaching profession in the neighboring state of Georgia.
On the local level, I translated my strong educational background into 18 years of service as an elected member of Randolph County’s Board of Education.
But, after the tragic death of my dad in 1989, I was compelled to forfeit my teaching career to continue my dad’s quest as an entrepreneur, serving as the resident embalmer and funeral director of the mortuary business he started in 1969.
Over a period of several years, I mentored my own children, who now assist in providing services to our client-family base. I am a National Board Certified Embalmer and Funeral Director, as well as an Alabama licensed funeral director and embalmer.
In 1993, I was widowed at a very young age, 39 after the death of my husband, Clarence with whom I birthed two children. Today, I am the proud grandmother of a teenager.
Church and Community Involvement
I grew up and matured spiritually as a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church, in Roanoke. But, I later went to the Oak Grove A.M.E. Church, where I served one year as the church’s Secretary.