CSM James Burton Clark

Bro. James Burton Clark (Jim) a long-time resident of Birmingham, Alabama passed away at his home on Friday, October 9, 2020, at the age of 74. He was born on April 14, 1946 in Whatley, Alabama to the late James Horne and the late Gertrude Reid. Jim was raised by his loving mother, Gertrude R. Clark and devoted stepfather, James Lee Clark of Mobile, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude R. Clark; stepfather, James Lee Clark; brother, Bobby Lee Clark; and sister, Leona Clark Sampson.

Jim was baptized into Christ as a young man at Alabaster Church of Christ where he served as a faithful member, Bible Class teacher, song leader, and mentor to the young men there for 30 years before moving to and remaining a faithful member of North Shelby Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama until his health failed.

Left to cherish and mourn his life and memories are his loving and devoted wife of 47 years, Clarece Harris Clark of Birmingham, AL; three sons, David (Lisa) Clark, Michael (Molly) Clark all of Virginia and James Damian Clark of Birmingham, AL; two daughters, Lonyetta Clark of St. Louis, MO, and Kenyetta (Lloyd) Spence of Plano, TX; seven loving and devoted grandchildren, Brittany (Maren) Tollefson of Guam, USA, Jordan A. Clark, April (Garrett) Espree, Sherry Reyes, Edward Reyes, all of Virginia, Azariah Spence and Hananiah Spence of Plano, TX; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; a very special and devoted niece/daughter, Kimbley (Kim) Leverett of Jacksonville, FL; three brothers, Jack (Sheila) Clark, Rob Clark, Ronald (Bonnie) Clark all of Mobile, AL; five sisters, Gertrude (Joseph) Laffiette, Carolyn Clark and Viola Armstrong from Mobile, AL, Janet Clark from Cleveland, OH, and Lillie C. Walker from Houston, TX.; three brothers-in-law, Johnnie Harris, Sr., Timothy Harris of Mobile, AL, and Sylvester (Carolyn) Harris, Jr. of Russell, MS; sister-in-law, Louise Harris Gamble and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including three very special long-time friends and brothers in Christ: James (Faye) Hall of Montevallo, AL, Henry (Martha) Haynes of Calera, AL; and Jim (Madilyn) Darden of Birmingham, AL; along with neighbors and fellow Guardsmen, friends, and family members.

Jim joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 at the age of 17 and served six years in the Marine Corps before joining the Alabama Army National Guard where he proudly served for 20 years. He obtained the rank of 20th Special Forces Group Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and the Post CSM at Fort McClellan Training Site in Anniston, AL until retiring in 2006. He worked for Bellsouth Communications (later becoming AT&T Telecommunications) for 30 years until his retirement in 2002. Jim earned an Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration from Mobile Business College in Mobile, AL in 1975.

A visitation will be held at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm with a funeral service beginning at 12:00 pm. He will be laid to rest with full military honors at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo at 2:00 pm