Born on December 16, 1942, in Hempstead, Texas, Clementene graduated from Sam Schwartz High School in 1961. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and Mathematics in 1966 and a Master of Science in Education in 1972 from Prairie View A&M University. She later pursued doctoral studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and Abilene Christian University in Abilene.
In 1972, she married John L. Mathis, Sr., and they had one child. She was previously married to Bennie P. Jingles, Sr., with whom she had three children.
Clementene devoted more than 30 years to education. She taught mathematics in Cleveland ISD and Del Valle ISD in Texas and at Ramstein American High School in Germany, operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). She concluded her career as a curriculum specialist with Abilene ISD in Texas.
Her community and professional affiliations included the Montgomery County NAACP, the Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated—Phi Iota Zeta Chapter—and the National and Texas Alliances of Black School Educators.
Clementene taught because she loved learning, served because she loved people, and traveled because she delighted in discovering the world. Guided by faith, she gave generously of herself. Education was her passion. Whether teaching in a classroom, tutoring after retirement, Sunday school lessons or solving a math problem with her children or grandchildren, she never stopped being a teacher. Her lessons reached far beyond the classroom and will live on through the many people whose lives she touched.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Mathis, Sr.; her former husband, Bennie P. Jingles, Sr.; her sister, Elizabeth Ann McDonald Martin; her parents, Odessa and Walter C. McDonald; and her grandparents, the Rev. Wesley T. Gage and Lula (Anna) Gage.
She is survived by her brothers, Walter Jordon and Cedric Jordon; children, Bennie P. Jingles, Jr. (Regina), Shauna D. Williams (Norris), Kevin Mathis (Jolie), and John L. Mathis, Jr. (Shervonda); members of her blended family, Simone LaShea Williams and Mavolyn Rankins-Adjei; her grandchildren, Maya Jingles, Lauren Jingles, Kendall Mathis, Sasha Mathis, Sanaiya Mathis, John L. Mathis III, Sydney Mathis, Melanie Hines, Lindsey Rankins Washington, Latoya Williams, William Gibson and Jada Hayles; her great-grandchildren, Bria Guillory, Destiny Guillory, Ariel Hines, Caleb Hines, Zoe Smith, Bailey Williams, Britain Williams, Lehlani Bellot, Malik Bellot, and Nylah Bingham; and her great-great-grandchildren, Imari Rogers and Braedynn Evans.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial donations to:
Montgomery County NAACP #6304, Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2712, Conroe, Texas 77305 / [email protected]
A Homegoing Service will be held at Rising Star Baptist Church, 1201 Hillcrest Dr, Conroe, TX 77301, US, on October 20, 2026, at 10:00 am.
Burial will take place at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038, US, on October 20, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:15 pm.
A Repass will be held at Rising Star Baptist Church, immediately following the burial service.
For those making travel arrangements to attend funeral services for Clementene Mathis, please note the two closest hotels listed below.
TownPlace Suites Conroe
1017 Outpost Drive, Conroe, Texas, USA, 77304, 936-267-2500.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Houston Conroe
3010 Interstate 45 North, Conroe, Texas, USA, 77303, 936-756-3040.
