Clark, Mary “Linda” Willis, age 82, went home to be with Our Lord and Savior on Friday, March 8, 2019. Linda was born on August 28, 1936 in Arcadia, Florida while growing up in Boca Grande, Florida. Linda graduated from Boca Grande High school in 1954 where she met the love of her life Richard Clark. Richard and Linda were married in Boca Grande on September 5, 1953 and later moved to Tampa, Florida where she was a stay at home wife and mother raising their four children. In 1969 Linda went to work for Hillsborough County Schools with a passion for teaching and caring for all children. In addition Linda taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and taught at Palm River Baptist Church’s private school. During Linda’s years of teaching she also attended Hillsborough Community College and received her Certificate of Proficiency for Child Development in 1980. After Linda retired from the Hillsborough County School System she and Papa Richard continued to care for children in her licensed home daycare until 2012. Linda is best known as “Nana”. Linda had such a precious soul. She was a woman of God who diligently and faithfully served the Lord and was a prime example of a Christian, A Heart of Gold and loved unconditionally and gave unselfishly. She planted seeds in so many lives of those she touched and was a true blessing to so many.
Linda is survived by her son, Rick Clark (Sandy); daughters, Denise Coleman-Guthrie (Ron), Nancy Moser (Jack); grandchildren, Jeremy, Thomas, Jesse, Stephanie, Travis and Lindsay; ten great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and extended family. Linda was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Richard Wayne Clark, Sr. in which they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage; daughter, Linda Janice Lockamy; father, A.W. Willis; mother, Flora V. (nee Cunningham) Willis; sisters, Vernice Rodriguez, Ruby Scott; brother, Robert Willis.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 15, 2019 at Bell Shoals Baptist Church- Palm River Campus, 5415 Palm River Road Tampa, FL 33619, interment to follow in Hillsboro Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 10-11 a.m. at the church.
Flowers will be accepted or you can make a donation in Memory of Linda Clark to: Bell Shoals Baptist Church- Palm River Campus Children's Program.
