By Staff
SNOW HILL: Mrs. Clara Smith Patrick, 92, passed away Thursday evening, March 13, 2008, at her residence. Born Clara Belle Smith on October 8, 1915, she was the oldest daughter of William Alonza and Sarah Ann Stocks Smith. From the earliest of childhood, she attended Sunday School and Church regularly and made her profession of faith accepting Christ at the age of 11.
In 1937 she married C.L. Patrick and they made their home near Elm Grove Church in Pitt County. Along with her husband, Mrs. Patrick became very involved in the church’s ministries and activities. She served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, worked with the youth and was active in the Women’s Auxiliary.
In due time her husband, C.L., received God’s call into the ministry and she received the call as well to minister as a devoted Pastor’s wife. Together they served God’s people through teaching and example. She embodied herself in every church and its ministries that her husband was called to serve.
Eventually God placed them at Free Union Free Will Baptist Church in the Walstonburg community of Greene County, a Pastorate they held for 30 years. Greene County and Free Union became their home and the place where they returned following retirement.
Throughout her life and service to God, Mrs. Patrick has been recognized for her dedication and service in the denominational ministries of the Women’s Auxiliary on the local, district and state levels as well as having written several programs for Devotion. In September of 1959 she was presented the Woman’s Auxiliary Pin and Life Award. In 1993 she was a Life Membership Recipient in recognition of her devotion and tireless efforts.
Even after failing health limited her physical attendance at her beloved Free Union, she was ever present in spirit and prayer and constantly desired to remain informed of all of the activities of the church and its people. Her life has truly been an example of a virtuous woman as described in Proverbs 31:10. While faithfully serving God she balanced the tireless roles of wife, mother, grandmother, Granny Pat, sister and devoted friend to her family and all that knew her.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Patrick was preceded in death by her oldest child, a precious daughter Sarah Rebecca “Becky” Patrick Clark; and three brothers, Theodore, George and Woodrow Smith.
She is survived by her devoted daughter, Barbara Patrick Herring of Kinston; son, Wayne Patrick and wife, Margene of Greensboro; and daughter, Sue Patrick Hamm and husband, Royce of Aurora; a son-in-law, Ray Clark of Snow Hill; grandchildren, LuRae Clark Tyndall of Mt. Olive, Christy Clark Turner and husband, Glenn of Deep Run, Dr. Charles T. Herring, Jr. and wife, Pam of Winston-Salem, Alan Patrick Herring of Denver, CO, Heath Christopher Patrick and wife, Lea of Hendersonville, Taylor Lafe Patrick of New York, NY, Brett Smith Patrick of Boone, Patrick Lee Hamm and wife, Elizabeth of Farmville, and Dillon Cole Hamm of Greenville; great-grandchildren, Christen and Lindsey Tyndall of Mt. Olive, David, Bethany and Sarah Turner of Deep Run, Sarah and Matthew Johnston of Charleston, SC; and great great-grandson, Jayden; sisters, Sarah Brock of Newport, Ella Wilson of Winterville, Jonnie Briley and husband, Elbert of Greenville; and several nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by her special friends, Connie and Jimmy Tyndall, Linda Pettaway and Katonya Ormond and a wonderful friend and caregiver, Jean T. Taylor; and lots of loved ones and friends.
Funeral Services celebrating her life will be held 2 p.m. Monday, March 17, at Free Union FWB Church, 2573 Firetower Road, Walstonburg, with the Reverend Alan Joyner, Reverend Glenn Turner, Reverend Phil Wood and Reverend Dr. Burkette Raper officiating. Interment will immediately follow at the Snow Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Free Union FWB Church and other times at the residence, 301 Central Drive, Snow Hill. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Patrick Endowment, Mount Olive College, 634 Henderson Street, Mount Olive, NC 28365.
Arrangements by Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service.
Paid Obituary