J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes

Clarke, Frances J. M.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Frances Jean McCreight Clarke passed Tuesday at 9 am on December 6, 2005 at the family home. Born and raised in the Sussex County area, she was preceded by her grandparents (mothers) E.L. (�Ras�) Lee and wife, Ellen (Freeman) Lee, (Fathers) Joseph W. McCreight and Frances Arementhia (Milling) McCreight of South Carolina. Also her parents Robert Leslie McCreight and mother Nellie Frances (Lee) McCreight of the county. Preceding also were her husband Clarence Emory Clarke, Jr. (1994) daughter, Leslie Frances (Clarke) Pyron (1993) of Richmond. She is survived by her son, Carlton Stuart Clarke of Wilmington, NC and his wife Mary Lydia (Meares) Clarke and her grandchildren, Crystal Jan (Clarke) Westerfield and husband, Michael George Westerfield of Raleigh, NC and Carlton Robert Emory Clarke of Wilmington (Home). Jean remained close to her beloved Sussex almost all her life and was active in local politics. After graduating from William and Mary (1947) she taught school in Henrico and later opened an Antiques Business in Stony Creek immersing herself in Family Historical Research and volunteer work. Jean spent much of her later years caring for older family members, her love for all things Atlantic Coastline RR kept her fathers memory bright. Graveside services will be conducted 10:00 am Saturday, December 10, 2005. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 pm at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Interment will be in Blandford Cemetery. Donations may be made to Fort Grove Methodist Church, Stony Creek, Virginia in care of Rev. Dan Armstrong. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.

My memories of Jean Clarke include her limitless enthusiasm for railroad lore and both classic and primitive antiques. She was an interesting person who loved to share her knowledge, and was both entertaining and informative. I will miss her.

Posted by: James Shanko at December 11, 2005 01:35 PM

Stuart, we are so sorry to read of Jean's death
in the paper. I don't know if you remember or not that Ted worked with Clarence at International Harvester and we went to Brookland
UMC with them. We also used the house in Myrtle
Beach many times. They were both very good
friends to us. God bless you and all the family. Love and prayers, Ted and Emily Shinaberry

Posted by: Ted & Emily Shinaberry at December 9, 2005 10:16 PM

Jean will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. I will miss talking to her and catching up on all of the news, past and present. She had a great memory and loved to talk about the railroad, and the history of the area, etc. I will always remember sitting in The Shop playing Spite & Malice for several hours when things were slow. Never a dull moment around Jean. She would always go over to the drug store and get a Mr. Goodbar, that was her favorite snack. The last time I saw her, she was telling me about her grandson's upcoming wedding, and trying to figure out how to hold onto her cane while she was being escorted to her seat. She said that she needed a new back and that she was getting old. I will miss her very much and I will never forget her, she was one of a kind. God Bless you and your family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: Regina Davis at December 8, 2005 06:44 PM

I met Jean at the Carson Depot Library where I work. She was a member of our book group and we all enjoyed her wit tremendously. I always enjoyed talking to her whenever she came into the library. She loved trains and donated to our library a Seth Thomas clock, a message hoop and an agents telephone. We will miss her.

Posted by: Jewel G. Mobley at December 8, 2005 05:38 PM

Stuart,what a shock to read about my dear friend Jean in the paper this morning.Had no idea she was this bad off.God Bless you and your family. She will really be missed. ( Your former Abingdon baby-sitter,Betty Hagy)

Posted by: Betty and Pat Bishop at December 8, 2005 08:33 AM