Lessie Clark

Lessie H. Clark NORFOLK - On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, after a long illness, Lessie Lee Hathaway Clark, 87, formerly of 1701 Melon St., Norfolk, went home to be with the Lord. Lessie died at her daughter's home in Chesapeake surrounded by her loving children. Lessie was born June 6, 1921, in Edenton, N.C., to the late Hattie J. and Thomas "Tom" Hathaway. She later moved to Norfolk where she married the late Russell A. Clark Sr. She resided there until the onset of her illness, when, in 1998, she relocated to Baltimore with her daughter. After 10 years in Baltimore, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, Lessie made her final return to her home, Norfolk. Lessie leaves to cherish her memory her five children: two daughters, Jacqueline T. Clayton-Richardson (Alex) of Chesapeake and Avery T. Clark of Baltimore; three sons, Russell A. Clark Jr. (Parisiene) of Virginia Beach, Byron S. Clark (Tabetha) of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Karl V. Clark of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Rebecca Blanchard (Hayward) of Huntington, N.Y., and Hattie Downing (Charlie) of Edenton; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 until 7 p.m. at Pretlow & Sons Funeral Home, 500 Liberty St., Chesapeake. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. A Christian wake will follow visitation hours at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday at noon at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 1000 Holt St., Norfolk. The viewing will be held at the church prior to the Mass from 10 a.m. until noon. Interment will follow in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Family and friends are asked to assemble at 10:45 a.m. at 948 Parkland Lane, Virginia Beach, for the procession to the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Southeastern Virginia Chapter or the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. We invite you to send a condolence message in the family's guestbook at www.pretlowandsons.com.