JoAnn "Jody" Clarkson

She relished her childhood memories of growing up in Sesser, Illinois, Tallahassee, Florida and later Athens, Georgia where she would graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in Elementary Education. While a student at UGA, she met and married Thomas B Clarkson, Jr. As a newlywed, she worked as a teacher to help put her husband through veterinary school, which enabled him to have an illustrious career in medical research. They loved and cherished each other for over 65 years until his death in 2015. They spent many of those years enjoying their Laurel Valley Farm in Clemmons, NC. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt who was immensely proud of her family and treasured every moment with them. Together they raised three children: Thomas B. Clarkson, III and his wife, Charlotte; Stan Clarkson and his wife, Michele; Becky Clarkson Barger and her husband, John. She adored her grandchildren: Emily Clarkson Spillman, Meredith Clarkson Langi, Stephanie Clarkson Whaley, Cynthia Clarkson Melvin, Jemma Kendrick Conley, David Harrison Rudolph, Samuel Boston Clarkson and William Myers Clarkson. She was blessed with great-grandchildren that she loved: Janelle Melton, Callie Melton, McKayla Stokes, John Stokes IV, Kayla Spillman, Keller Conley, Addilyn Conley, Salote Lindsay Selaima Langi, Nora Whaley, Luke Melvin and Nolan Rudolph-Walsh. She is also survived by a younger sister, Sue Harrison Ramsey and her husband, Bobby. She was very close to several nieces and nephews, in particular, David Ramsey and Liza Ramsey Kirk.

Jody taught low-income and disadvantaged students for several years through the Head Start program at Carver School in the late 1960s. She included many of these students in cultural enrichment experiences outside of the school with her own children. She also worked for many years as a volunteer at the Battered Women’s Shelter and later did art projects and bonded with special students at a local school where her daughter taught.

She was passionate about helping animals and enjoyed her hobby as a wildlife artist. She ensured that their farm was maintained as a wildlife refuge. She delighted in taking her small dogs to a local nursing home as therapy dogs. On one occasion, she even brought a miniature horse to visit the residents of this nursing home.

She loved traveling to over 40 different countries where she had many adventures while dining, camping, zip-lining and observing animals such as monkeys and sloths.

A celebration of life service for Jody will be held Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Frank Vogler & Sons, 2849 Middlebrook Dr, Clemmons, North Carolina 27012. A reception to follow the service will occur.

Contributions in Jody's memory may be made to Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Forsyth Humane Society Society or a charity of the donor’s choice .