Staff

Services for John Lauren Clark, Jr., 78, are 2:00PM, Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Cairo First Baptist Church. Officiating ministers at the church will be Dr. Joe Allen, Rev. Carl Harrell and Rev. Bob Franklin. The family will receive friends after the service in the church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. A. C. Gilliard and Rev. Johnny More officiating. Mr. Clark passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Grady General Hospital.

Pallbearers are Leland Barrineau, Gary Jones, Jamie McCorkle, Carl Maxwell, Bobby Mitchell, Dick Ivey, Rudolph Allen, Morris Scarborough and Jimmy Cook.

John Lauren Clark, Jr, was born in Thomasville, Georgia, on September 29, 1930. He graduated from Cairo High School in 1947, and then attended Georgia Tech for two years. In 1949, Lauren enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served until his return to Cairo in 1951 to assist his ailing mother while his father was returned to active duty. Upon his father’s return, Lauren enrolled in Cincinnati College of Embalming. After his mother’s death in 1955, Lauren and his father operated Clark Funeral Home together until his father’s death in August 1975. Lauren always felt he was called as a funeral director, and his compassion and love for the people of Grady County and surrounding counties was evident through this God-given ministry. He married Nancy Collins Clark on January 12, 1958. The couple celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary last year.

An active member of Cairo First Baptist Church, Lauren served as a deacon, and currently held the distinction of being the male member of the church for the longest number of years. In addition to his dedication to his church, Lauren was a member of American Legion Post 122 and the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. Additionally, he was a licensed funeral director in the state of Florida.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Collins Clark of Cairo, GA; daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Ken LeGette of Cairo, GA, Laurie and Jason McGhin of Cairo, GA; son and daughter-in-law, John and Susan Clark of Watkinsville, GA; grandchildren, Lauren LeGette of Cairo, GA, Tom LeGette of Cairo, GA, Sylvia Clark of Watkinsville, GA, Jay Clark of Watkinsville, GA, Erin McGhin of Cairo, GA, Ethan McGhin of Cairo, GA, Evan McGhin of Cairo, GA; sister, Peggy Clark Williams of Atlanta, GA; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Maggie Butler Collins of Cairo, GA; Harlan and Frankie Quamme of Fayetteville, GA; William and Linda Collins of Whigham, GA; Ray and Jenny Ponder of Cairo, GA; Wayne and Helen Collins of Whigham, GA; Kenneth and Karen Collins of Port St. Joe, FL; Carlton and Barbara Collins of Whigham, GA; Clifford and Suzy Davis of Whigham, GA; a host of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Clark was preceded in death by his parents, John Lauren and Christine McNair Clark, and his brothers-in-law, Malvin Collins and Johnny Williams.

Visitation will be from 5:30PM to 8:00PM on Saturday at the Fellowship Hall of Cairo First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your church of choice or to the Cairo First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 1538, Cairo, GA 39828.