Virginia Howell Clarke

Virginia Howell Clarke, 93, a lifelong resident of Church Road, Virginia, widow of Francis Emory Clarke, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013. She was the daughter of the late Jobe and Blanche Williams Howell. Mrs. Clarke was a lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she served as choir director and taught Sunday school for many years. She received her Master’s degree from the University of Virginia and retired after 41 years of teaching in the Dinwiddie County Public School System. She was a Past President of the Virginia Retired Teachers Association and actively participated in many clubs and organizations building friendships and providing assistance to those in need. Mrs. Clarke is survived by her daughter, Mary Clarke Gafford; her son, Francis Emory Clarke, Jr. and wife, Joan, all of Chesterfield; grandchildren, Clarke Canada and wife, Kara; Clara McCarthy and husband, Mike; Sara Hyink, and Steven Hyink; and great-grandchildren William Engels and Dylan McCarthy. The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the ladies who provided special care to Mrs. Clarke for the past several years, most recently, Theresa Dickens, Mary Creighton, Mary Wilkerson, Queen Finney, and Dorothy White. A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 14th at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4814 Courthouse Road, Church Road, VA 23833, with The Reverend Dr. James O’Quinn and The Reverend James Blankenship officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery followed by visitation with the family in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Cox Rd., Suite 130, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .