Funeral services for Sarah Katherine Burks Clem, 82, of Leland were held at 3:00 p.m, Sunday, April 24 at First Baptist Church, Leland. She died Wednesday, April 20 at her home. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later date. Arrangements were under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
She was born May 30, 1933, to Edwin Leo Burks and Mary Katherine Clark Burks. She was known as “Miffie” to her family and close friends. In 1956 she married Clinton H. Clem, a U. S. Naval officer.
Miffie was a retired school teacher of 26 years. She taught elementary school in Maryland, Arkansas and Virginia. While living in Springfield, Virginia, Miffie and Clinton were active in volunteer work. They served as American Red Cross volunteers at Ft. Belvoir, Walter Reed Army Hospital, and the Navy Yard from Clinton’s retirement until his death in 1992. After his death, she continued the Red Cross volunteer work and also became an Arlington Lady for the U.S. Navy at Arlington National Cemetery where Clinton was buried. For 17 years, she was a gracious hostess at the Cemetery Headquarters to many of the Military Honor Guard who served at Arlington. As an official U.S. Navy representative, she attended many funerals of U. S. Military veterans as well as active military men and women who died in the line of duty. Miffie and her husband Clinton were charter members of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, in Burke, Virginia, where she served in numerous capacities. In 2009, Miffie moved to Mississippi to live near Allen and Laura.
She is survived by her brother, Edwin Leo Burks, Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri; sister, Martha Burks Paynter and her husband, Jim, of Roanoke, Virginia; and one nephew, Daron Burks of St. Louis, Missouri; cousins, William W. Clark, Jr. of Jackson, Davis R. Clark of Leland, Allen W. Clark of Stoneville, Glen H. Merrill of Mobile, Alabama, and Margaret G. Watson of Columbus, Georgia; sister-in-law Lois Polk of Edinburg, Virginia, and brother-in-law, Kenneth Clem of Springfield, Virginia. Also, she leaves her loving care givers Dorothy Watkins Smith, Delois Winfrey, and Geraldine Watkins all of Greenville.