Sharon DeFraites Clark

She was the first child born to Emmanuel Gerrard DeFraites and Mary Rosa Prieto

DeFraites, followed by brother, “Gerry”, sister, “Judy”, and brother “Robert”. Her father, “Frenchie”, was a well-known football player at Tulane University, having played in the Sugar Bowl and the Polo Grounds in New York City. Her mother was a medical doctor.

After elementary and junior high education, she attended St. Martin’s Episcopal High

School where she revealed her academic commitment and athletic abilities. “Passion” marked every part of her young life! Passion to excel . . . to achieve!

However, a life changing experience occurred during the summer before her junior year. Through a friend she was invited to begin attending the youth group activities at Carrollton Presbyterian Church. This led to Sharon being part of a group attending Lake Forest Ranch in Macon, Mississippi. The faithful teaching of God’s Word by the camp speakers produced an understanding of the Gospel -- the “Good News” about God’s free gift of salvation through simple faith in Jesus Christ! She returned to New Orleans as a new “Believer” in Jesus Christ. This relationship became the foundation for the rest of her life. She had a new “passion”!

The choice of a college after graduation from St. Martin’s set a course for her future. She boldly requested that her mother allow her to go to a Christian College. She wanted a balance between good academic training and the development of personal faith! Wheaton College outside of Chicago was that balance! It offered academics good enough to get into top ranked medical schools, plus a foundation of Biblical faith. So, having never even seen the school, she and her mother boarded a train, travelled to Chicago, stopped to by a winter coat, and headed out to Wheaton . . . for four cold winters! “I didn’t get warm for four years!”

A life pattern had been set – a pattern of “simple obedience” to the will of God for life!

North to Wheaton . . . then, back south to marry a “country preacher” . . . then, west to Dallas and five years of seminary training for Jerry . . . then, back to Mississippi, leaving a promising career as staff member and coach at S.M.U. – a pattern of “simple obedience” to the will of God for life!

Mississippi brought seven years of “retirement” from teaching and coaching to enable focus on building a family of four children: Brian, Stephanie, Stacie and Sarah. Then, as God often does, the invitation came to become part of the Jackson Academy family of teachers and coaches, leading to more than twenty-five years of “Harnessed Passion” – a focused vision – the privilege to invest in the lives of young people during their formative years!

How do you measure a life? Sharon’s life was defined by a “Harnessed Passion” for Truth and Excellence – a pattern of “simple obedience” to the will of God in all of life!