Memorial services for Grace Ellen Oakes Clarke, 87, of Hollandale will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, November 22, 2024, at Hollandale Methodist Church. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. prior to the services. There will be a private burial prior to the services. She passed away Friday, November 15, 2024, at South Sunflower County Hospital.
Grace was born on February 27, 1937, at The King’s Daughters Hospital in Greenville, to George Frank Sr. and Connie Elise Thomas Oakes. She grew up in Murphy with her six siblings and was a member of Murphy Methodist Church. Later in her childhood, Grace moved to Hollandale where she attended Hollandale public schools and became a member of Hollandale Methodist Church. She graduated from Hollandale High School in 1954 before attending Delta State College.
On June 19, 1955, Grace married Eugene Singleton Clarke III also of Hollandale. During Gene’s years in the United States Air Force, he and Grace lived in North Carolina, Texas, and Kansas, before moving to Jackson, Mississippi where he began a career as a Certified Public Accountant. In 1962, they moved back to Hollandale where Gene founded the firm that became Clarke, Bradley, Baker, & Co., LLP. Later Grace assisted Gene with various tasks at the office until she retired in 1999.
Grace was a faithful member of her church, where she taught Sunday school for 17 years, sang in the choir, served as Administrative Board Chair, and was a conference delegate for more than 20 years. She and Gene were active in the North Mississippi Emmaus community for many years. Grace enjoyed gardening, traveling, and card games with dear friends. Above all, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents Mr. and Mrs. George Frank Oakes, Sr.; and her siblings George Frank Oakes, Jr., Ruby Jean Oakes Murphy, Thomas Edwin Oakes, Jack Elliot Oakes, Robert Carl Oakes, and Edgar Floyd Oakes.
Grace is survived by her sons Eugene Singleton “Buck” Clarke IV (Paula) of Hollandale and David Estill Clarke (Kit) of Greenville; grandchildren Anne Read Clarke Lattimore (William) of Savannah, Georgia, Carlisle Singleton Clarke of Alexandria, Virginia, Ellen Estill Clarke Sawyer (Taylor) of Oxford, David Estill Clarke, Jr. of Leland, and Georgia Corinne Clarke Goode (Lanier) of Birmingham, Alabama; and five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Read Lattimore, William Lattimore IV, Grace Alexander Sawyer, Katherine Harris Sawyer, and Woodrow Watkins Sawyer.
The family would especially like to thank her devoted caregivers who allowed her to stay at home, Earnestine Tyler, Brenda Edwards, Cynthia Woods, and Debra Woods.
Memorials may be made to the Hollandale Methodist Church, P.O. Box 381, Hollandale, Mississippi 38748.