John Allison Clark

John was born the middle child of seven (7) children on a farm near Tippo, Mississippi in the Mississippi Delta on January 8, 1927, to Isaac Stuart Clark, Sr. & Ollie Mae Cward Clark. Growing up in a small rural farming town in a large family educated John on the value of hard work and family. John attended Elementary School in Tippo, High School in Charleston, Mississippi and studied Electrical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU).

After college, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Army in 1944 during World War II. Because of his rifle shooting skills as a squirrel hunter back home and his experience operating machinery on the farm this spunky 130-pound farm kid from the Delta was sent to the US Army Tank Corps in Fort Knox, Ky. Since the war was well underway, John was given an abbreviated basic training and deployed overseas to the jungles of the Philippines as part of the Luzon Campaign and later assigned to Manila when the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Soon thereafter John returned to the States and was discharged at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

After his discharge, John moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he met his loving wife, Betty Lou Carson, whom he married over 76 years ago. He worked 4 ½ years for Power Electric then 33 years at Stuart C. Irby/Irby Construction Company from which he retired as a Director of Purchasing at the relatively young age of 60 years old. John said he retired to help his wife care for their beautiful, meticulously maintained garden.

John was preceded in death by, not only his parents, but all of his siblings; Isaac Stuart Clark, Jr., Joe Buford Clark, Virginia Frances Clark, Bette Rose Clark, Charlene Clark and Marlene Clark. John is survived by his loving wife, Betty Lou. Even though John and Betty Lou had no children of their own they have many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

John was an active, long-time member of several organizations such as the Masonic Capital Lodge #600; Museum Lodge #636; Scottish Rite of Masonry; York Rite Bodies; Red Cross of Constantine; Wahabi Shrine Temple; American Legion Post 110 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6473.

John has been very involved in churches over the years serving in several capacities at Leavell Woods United Methodist and Christ United Jackson where he was a member of the New Yorkers Sunday School class.

Additionally, John loved family, friends, fishing, hunting, golf and telling stories where he never let the truth get in the way of a good story. He lived a long, successful life and was looking forward to reaching his 100th birthday but he liked to tell people he was 100 years old, nonetheless. John was not only a dear husband but a jokester and beloved “Uncle John” to so many whether they were family or not. He prided himself on his family as well as his service to our country.

In closing, we remember John as a member of the Greatest Generation, whose life spanned nearly a century of history. His passing coincides with the 250th anniversary of our nation, a reminder of his enduring legacy. He will forever be in our memories and in our hearts.

Sincere thanks to members of the New Yorkers Sunday School class at Christ United Jackson for many prayers, calls, visits, and food provided.

Special thanks to staff of Vital Caring Group, Covenant Caregivers, HomeWell Caregivers & Accent Care for their care and attention to John.