Paul Benjamin Clark Jr.

Dr. Paul Benjamin Clark, Jr., 66, joined his heavenly Father on December 24, 2018 with his wife of 45 years by his side. After 15 years as the Worship and Music Specialist, Paul retired from the Tennessee Baptist Convention at which time he resided at NHC Sumner until his passing. After graduating high school from Jackson Central Merry, Paul received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Psychology from Union University, his Master of Church Music from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Doctorate in Christian Worship at The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Paul served as a music minister for 26 years in 7 different churches before joining the Tennessee Baptist Convention. In 2017 he was awarded the most prestigious award in the Baptist ministry: The W. Hines Sims Award. Paul served as the director for the Tennessee Men’s Chorale and founded, as well as directed, the Tennessee Women’s Chorale. He was also a member and past president of the Dove Award Winning Centurymen. Paul was born to Paul Clark, Sr. and Doris Clark on December 7, 1952 in Jackson, Tennessee. He is survived by his high school sweetheart, Ebbie Clark, whom he married in 1973 as well as Ben Clark (son) and wife Kelly, Adam Clark (son) and wife Heather, Elizabeth Clark Evans (daughter) and husband Daniel, as well as his nine grandchildren: Coen, Emily, Evan, Avery, Peyton, Lukas, Autumn, Easton, and Isaac. He is also survived by Teresa Wood (sister) and husband Gerald, Ricky Clark (brother) and wife Sandra, and Malesa Dyer (sister) and husband Marty, and many nieces and nephews. Paul is predeceased by parents Paul and Doris Clark. Both in his career and in his personal life he was described as a compassionate, wise, humble, fun-loving servant of the Lord and he lived with the constant mission to spread and live out the Word of God in every aspect of his life. Second to loving the Lord, Paul adored his family. He considered family to be the “greatest gift of earthly life” and would brag about his wife, children, and grandchildren to anyone who would listen. His life was filled with laughter, love, and complete dedication to the Lord. He was deeply loved by so many and is now walking hand in hand with the God he praised all his life. Paul’s Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 2:00pm at First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee with the burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The family will host a visitation at the church on Saturday from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. All those interested in joining the choir to sing at the funeral are invited. The choir will rehearse at 12:30 pm at First Baptist. Please wear black. Please feel free to take a moment and comment in the “Memories” section of the page as these memories will be saved for the family in a keepsake album.