She was born January 29, 1949, in Enterprise, Alabama, a daughter of the late Clarence Sullivan and Gwendolyn Campbell Sullivan. Clarissa spent her early years in Florida. Having been led to serve, she moved to Mississippi in 1973 to pursue her dream of working with individuals with disabilities, and served as a teacher/evaluator in the Deaf/Blind program at Ellisville State School.
Clarissa’s life was one of a quiet helper and she was passionate about serving others and ensuring equal treatment for all. Clarissa received her BS degree from Florida State University in Child Development and Social Work in 1972. Throughout her career, she worked in various capacities in the healthcare field, both in nursing home communities and programs of the Department of Mental Health. She retired from Hudspeth Regional Center as the Director of Staff Development.
Clarissa was a member of Crossgates United Methodist Church where her love for music allowed her to sing in the choir in the past. In her free time she exercised her creative energy by baking, sewing, writing and spending time outdoors.
Survivors include daughter, Katie Storr and husband Evan; son, Jonathan McMurtry and wife Donna; grandchildren, Finn and Stella Storr; sisters, Ronda Windham, Nina Lassiter, and Christa Dismuke; and brother, Edward Sullivan.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 am CST until 11:00 am CST, Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Memorial Services will follow at 11:00 am CST in the funeral home chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Friends of Hudspeth Center, P.O. Box 127-B, Whitfield, MS 39193-1032.
