Grover Clark McDonald, 92, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at Beau Ridge Memory Care in Ridgeland. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church Clinton on Tuesday, December 18 from 12:30 to 2:00 PM with his funeral service to follow. Interment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park.
Grover was born on June 5, 1926, in Meridian, MS. After graduating from Meridian High School in 1944, he entered the Navy where he served as a communications officer in Hawaii under Admiral Nimitz. Following the war, he returned to Meridian where he married his sweetheart Annelle. They moved to Clinton where Grover enrolled in Mississippi College, graduating in 1949 with a BA degree. Soon afterwards, they begin working together in the Bank of Clinton and then at Deposit Guaranty National Bank after the banks merged. Grover later graduated from the American Institute of Banking and the University of Wisconsin School of Bank Administration. After thirteen years, Annelle became a homemaker and mother to their two daughters while Grover continued to work in various departments within the bank, retiring as a bank vice president and head of bank properties in 1989 after over forty years of service. During that time, he served on the board and then was named the National Director of the Bank Administration Institute. In addition to his career, Grover was an active member of First Baptist Church and was named a Lifetime Deacon in 2005. Through the years he served as a Sunday School teacher and was a member of various church committees. At the time of his death, he had the longest, consecutive membership of any living, male church member. After he retired, Annelle and Grover enjoyed singing in the Joy Makers choir and traveling with the senior adults. Grover was a lover of nature and enjoyed working in his yard, proudly winning Clinton’s Yard of the Month many times. Grover was an excellent woodcrafter who had a knack for being able to build and fix just about anything. With assistance from his son-in-law David, he was responsible for building most of the wooden fixtures found throughout the Clinton Nature Center. The amphitheater is named for him in honor of his diligent work in helping to establish the Nature Center as a unique point of interest in Clinton. Grover was also active in civic and educational organizations including membership in the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and serving on the CPSD school board. He was also proud to be a member of the Jackson Kiwanis Club, MC’s 50 Year Club, and the Wednesday Morning Coffee Club where he enjoyed the fellowship of other DGNB retirees. Memories of Grover’s quick wit, sense of humor, and interesting stories will no doubt continue to entertain all who were privileged to hear them.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Annelle Gough McDonald; parents, Frank and Myra Yarbrough McDonald; brothers, Orman and Edward McDonald; and son-in-law, David Turman.
Grover is survived by his daughters, Debra M. Turman of Clinton and Donna Berry (Jonny) of Brandon; 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 9 great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Eloise Ellis, Helen Gough, and Sally Gough; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and very special friends, Beth Garriga and JoBeth Prather.
The family would like to thank Grover’s caregivers and staff of Beau Ridge Memory Care where he has resided since February.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church Clinton or the Clinton Nature Center.
Please visit lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for online guestbook.
