Joan Vernett Clark

Clark ~ For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.                                                   II Timothy 4:6-8

On March 7, 2022, after a life of faithfulness, Joan Vernett Clark was called to a peaceful eternal rest.  She was the only child of the late Emmett and Vernett Deere Clark; born January 27, 1949 and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Joan united with Mount Bethel Baptist Church, Gulfport, Mississippi at the age of five.  She maintained an active religious life in various communities joining The Bethel Church in 1979.  At Bethel Joan served as a church school leader, outreach counselor, BEST Academy volunteer, and youth ministry worker. 

She attended Thirty-Third Avenue High School in Gulfport, Mississippi where she enjoyed playing on the girls’ basketball team, singing in the glee club, and participating in oratorical contests.  In 1970, Joan received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tougaloo College where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Omicron Chapter.  She completed graduate studies at New York Institute of Technology and University of North Florida. 

In 1979, she married Henry Hodge and moved to Jacksonville, Florida.  To this union was born their daughter, Leah.

Her professional career began as a trainee with Mobil Oil Corporation at its Brooklyn, New York plant in 1970.  She became a financial analyst at Mobil and later SCM Corporation where she worked until 1979.  Joan joined Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) as manager of budgets in 1980 where she held many positions, retiring as Vice President of Human Resources in 2006.

Her favorite community activities were coaching Black History Brain Brawl teams, serving as President of League of Women Voters of Jacksonville, and supporting many other professional leadership organizations.  After retirement, she reactivated her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Rho Omega Chapter and joined the National Council of Negro Women.  She brought her love of music, competitive spirit, and resiliency to every endeavor.

Joan’s life was enriched by the closeness of family and friends.  She became a resident of Harbor Chase of Jacksonville in 2015 and in her final year she received attentive and diligent care from Ernestine Hawkins.  Joan leaves to honor her memory her daughter, Leah Vernett Hobson; granddaughters, Isabelle Cicely Hobson and Grace Vernett Hobson, Chicago, Illinois; stepdaughter, Karen Hodge, Clermont, Florida; faithful friend, Clara Cross (Elder Costell) of Jacksonville, Florida; a host of cousins and friends.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s honor to Bethel’s Scholarship Fund by clicking the link below and designating “Scholarthon: In Memory of Joan Clark”
https://thebethelexperience.com/online-giving/

Memorial services for Ms. Joan Vernett Clark will be held at 12 O'Clock Noon Saturday, March 19, 2022 at The Bethel Church, Bishop R. W. McKissick, Jr., Lead Pastor; Bishop R. W. McKissick, Sr., Pastor Emeritus.  Because of the love of her family, arrangements entrusted to J. E. Fralin & Sons Funeral & Cremation Services, 5065 Soutel Drive, 904-924-9400

The service may be viewed virtually at 

https://http://thebethelexperience.com

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