Velma Gene Clarke

Velma Gene Young Clarke, 80, of Macon, passed away Sunday, February 21, 2021.  A Graveside service will be held at 1:00PM, Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Riverside Cemetery. 

Mrs. Clarke worked for over 40 years with children and adults who were intellectually disabled; first as a volunteer in her church’s mission to house a class; then with the Macon Association of Retarded Children at High Hope School as a director, teacher, and executive board member; and finally with the Bibb County Board of Education at the Butler Center, and Central High School.  She was named the ARC teacher of the year in 2005, the year of her retirement. 

She was a member of Ingleside United Methodist Church, where she served as president of the James Brake Sunday School class, chairman of the Administrative Council and Memorial committee, secretary of Trustees, and a member of the Pastor-Parish committee. She graduated from Miller Senior High School for Girls, as Salutatorian; received her B.A. from Mercer University, Magna Cum Laude, and her Master’s from Georgia College in Milledgeville, with membership in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.  At Mercer she was a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, where she received their scholarship award and served as rush chairman; a member of the Ciceronian Literary Society, Mercer Players, Macon Misses, the Student-Faculty Appropriations Committee; president and speaker of Mercer’s Varsity Debate team; president of TKA, national forensic fraternity; selected to KDE, national honorary education sorority and Sigma Mu, honorary scholastic fraternity; president of Panhellenic Council; a member of the Mercer Debate society; selected to Cardinal Key, national honorary scholastic society; and the Kappa Alpha Rose, for two years in a row! 

Over the years of her life, she founded and served as the first president of the Emily Webb Fellowship Class at Vineville Methodist Church; was a member of the Junior Woman’s Club, serving as a department chair, auditor, recording secretary, and Red Cross chairman, receiving the Red Cross Service award; her family was named the Macon and Sixth District Family of the Year; Macon Christian Business and Professional Woman’s Council, music and literary chairman; National, Georgia, and Bibb Associations for Educators; PAGE; Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the Confederacy; National, Georgia, and Bibb Associations for Exceptional Children; listed in Outstanding Young Women of America; Phi Mu Fraternity. 

She was married to Tarver Jaeckel “Jake” Clarke, Sr.  Together they had twins, a daughter, Emilie Clarke Childs (Frank), and a son, Tarver J. Clarke, Jr. Mrs. Clarke is survived by her two children, and her beloved dog, Sam.  She is predeceased by her husband, Jake; parents, Remelle and Herman Young of Lake Blackshear and Macon; grandparents, Velma and J.D. Southwell of Cordele, and Imogene and Jim Young of Rebecca; and her pets, Simon and Simone. 

The family of Mrs. Clarke would like to thank caregivers, Cathy Fleming and Casandra Parker; nurse, Katasha Stokes; and Pine Pointe Hospice for their loving care and support. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. Clarke’s honor, to Higher Life Center at Vineville Baptist Church; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; to any organization that aids the mentally handicapped; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.  

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences. 

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements. 

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