Mary Neal Morgan Clarke

Mary Neal Morgan Clarke was born in Mercer County, Kentucky on April 21, 1924. Mary Neal graduated from Harrodsburg High School, Campbellsville Junior College, and Georgetown College, before entering the WMU Training School which was part of Southern Seminary.

Mary Neal served as a Southern Baptist Missionary to Japan for twenty one years. After returning to America, she received her Doctor of Education degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1973 until her retirement in 1989 Dr. Clarke was Assistant Professor of Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at Mercer University Atlanta.

In 1984, Mary Neal married Dr. Coleman Clarke, retired missionary to Japan. After his death in 1996, Mary Neal returned to Kentucky where she was an active member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. She was also a teacher at Friendship International, and was co-leader of the Japanese Christian Fellowship.

Mary Neal was a member of the Crescent Hill Writers Group and has had two books published: “An American Girl in Japan,” and “Life and Letters from Lucille Daniel Clarke, Missionary to Japan 1899 to 1933.”

Mary Neal is survived by her late husband’s three children, Coleman Jr. (Sheila), Clifford (Naomi), and Jennie; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two sisters, June Gilbreath and Dorothy Daugherty (Louis). She is also survivied by several nieces and nephews, and one special great-nephew, Sean Patrick Daugherty.

For the past two years Dr. Clarke has resided at Sayre Christian Village Assisted Living in Lexington, Kentucky and has been a member of Central Baptist Church.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mary Neal will be held at 11 am Tuesday, Dec. 9th, in the chapel of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 2800 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Sayre Christian Village, or the Baptist World Alliance.