Clara E. Stroud

Clara E. Stroud VIRGINIA BEACH - Clara Ethel Stroud, 94, passed away Aug. 21, 2009, at Sentara Leigh Hospital. She was born in Lodge, S.C., on Nov. 29, 1914. She was the precious daughter of the late Viola McWhite McMillan and Jesse Wilson McMillan. She was predeceased by her husband, Wilbur Stroud; her sister, Thelma G. McMillan Byrd; and her brothers, Charles H. McMillan and James W. McMillan. She is survived by her sister, Jessie M. McMillan Rhodes, and a goddaughter, Cynthia "Bonnie" Kyle. Clara was reared in Bayonne, N.J. She graduated from the Bayonne School System, then attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1938. In 1960 she was awarded a work-study scholarship from the New York City Department of Welfare to attend Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., to receive a master's degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) Clara retired from the City of New York Board of Education. Clara enjoyed traveling. She went from the continent of Africa, across Europe to include Paris and Monte Carlo, and the Caribbean. Clara was known for many years to a vast number of people in the Hampton Roads area to be a sweet, kind, caring and thoughtful person, but let it be known, she didn't mind telling you very vividly what was on her mind. The family would like to thank the medical staff and employees of Sentara Leigh Hospital and Beth Sholom Rehab Center for their relentless loving care of Clara during her illness. A viewing will be held at Hale Funeral Home Inc., 2100 Ballentine Blvd., Norfolk, today, Aug. 27, from 3 to 8 p.m. The homegoing service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at St. Thomas AME Zion Church, 1700 Melon St., Norfolk. Dr. Joseph E. Lamb Sr. will officiate. Interment will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.halefuneralhome.com.