Lona Lee Cochran Clark

A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, January 19, at Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow in Bell Hall. A private burial service will be held later that day at Evergreen Memorial Park.

The daughter of William and Sue Cochran, Lona was born June 10, 1933, in Dania, Florida. After graduating from Broward High School, Lona attended Florida State University in Tallahassee where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She later earned a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While at FSU, Lona met her future husband, Charles B. (Chuck) Clark. The two were married on August 19, 1955, in Hollywood, FL. After moving to Athens in 1960, Lona was a faithful member of Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher, member and president of the United Methodist Women, and was on various other committees. As a member of the Athens Junior Woman’s Club and in later years the Athens Woman’s Club she served in several leadership roles with one of her favorites being making hats for cancer patients. She also was a Chase Street Elementary student mentor as well as a volunteer at the Oconee County Library where she recorded reading the paper for the visually impaired. Another of Lona’s favorite volunteer activities was ushering for events at the Classic Center and the Morton Theatre which allowed her to enjoy countless productions and performances over the years. Lona and Chuck were well known for their hospitality, especially on Christmas Day when they would host an open house for family and friends.

As a passionate reader and lifelong learner, Lona loved to travel with her family. Travels included many trips domestically and venturing to Europe on numerous occasions.

Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Chuck (Charles) Clark; and five daughters, Susan Clark, Cindy Clark Lawson, Diana Clark Cone (Allen), Penny Jo Clark and Amy Clark (Andrea Campanini). She is also survived by four grandchildren, Kelli Lawson Radford (Casey), Megan Cone Sears (John), Lindley Ann Cone Kent (Manning) and Charles Allen (Chad) Cone (Megan); great-grandchildren include Claire, Robert, John Allen (Jack) and Elizabeth Covington Sears, Georgia Lee and Mack Baker Kent, Charles Grafton and Eleanor Ann Cone. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Sue Cochran, brother, Loren L. (Corky) Cochran and grandson, Gerald Steven Lawson Jr.

The family would like to thank the Orchard of Athens and Southern Companions for their loving care during Lona’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church, 973 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30606.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.