James Clinton Clark, Sr.
March 9, 1927 - July 1, 2022
Columbus, Georgia - James Clinton Clark, Sr., 95, passed away on Friday evening, July 1, 2022. He was surrounded by his loving family. A private graveside service will be held for family at Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 10am. The family will greet visitors after the service at the Clark residence.
James (Jimmy) Clark was born in Leslie, Georgia on March 9, 1927. He was the son of Fletcher Clinton Clark and Frances Clyde Clark and was the second oldest of seven children. He worked on the family farm as a young boy. He graduated from Union High School in Leslie, Georgia in 1944. He served his country in World War II, joining the Armed Services in 1945 and serving in
the Army Corps of Engineers from 1945-46. After the war, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology from 1947-51. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation, he worked as an engineer with Georgia Power Company. During this time, he learned to fly and got his pilot license. He later joined the architectural/engineering firm of Biggers, Scarbrough, Neal, Crisp & Clark. He worked with the firm for many years until he formed his own consulting engineering firm of Clark Engineering Company. Jimmy loved working as a consulting engineer and did not retire until the age of 91 years old. He was the epitome of a hard worker and a true Southern gentleman. Jimmy was known throughout his professional career as a kind man of character, integrity and honesty. His word was his bond.
Jimmy married the love of his life, Charlotte Woodville Adams, on June 9, 1962. They celebrated a beautiful marriage of 60 years and are blessed with three children, Charlotte, Jim and Will, and many grandchildren. Even though he was a hard worker, Jimmy was a genuine family man. Jimmy was a little league baseball coach and a Boy Scout leader for his sons. He taught his sons how to hunt and fish. He spent most weekends at the Adams farm at Twin Springs Plantation with his wife and children enjoying the outdoors, water skiing on the slalom course, fishing in the ponds and working on the farm with his father-in-law, George M. Adams, Sr. He played tennis with his daughter and was her biggest fan. He loved to keep up with his grandchildren's lives and their activities. He taught his children how to grow the most amazing vegetable gardens. Jimmy was famous for his incredible tomatoes and loved to share them with all of his friends. At the age of 95, Jimmy planted his first crop of corn and was already planning next year's crop when he would be 96. Jimmy loved to work hard and loved to learn. He enjoyed spending time on the farm and at his lake house on Lake Harding, especially with his beloved dog, Pete.
Jimmy was an active member of Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club for many years. He was a longtime member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia where he and his wife attended service every Sunday and sat in the same pew every week. They worshipped in the sanctuary at St. Luke until the pandemic forced them to attend church virtually at home. Jimmy was an example to his family and friends of a faithful Christian man. Jimmy was an inspiration to all who knew him. His greatest gifts to his family were his deep faith, his abiding love for his wife, children and grandchildren, his kindness, character, patience and integrity.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, Fletcher and Frances Clark, and his older sister, Sara Frances Saliba. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Charlotte Adams Clark. He is also survived by his sisters, Eleanor Clark Wilson, Martha Shirley Lashley, Elizabeth Clyde Hargrove and his brothers, William Norwood Clark and Thomas Fletcher Clark (Doris). He is also survived by three children, Charlotte Clark Knight (John) of Athens, James Clinton Clark, Jr. (Katharine) of Columbus and William Adams Clark (Cissy) of Columbus. He was "Papa" to 13 grandchildren who were blessed to be loved by him, William Adams Clark, Jr., James Clinton Clark III, Mercer Weems Clark, Katharine Kimbrough Clark, Reames Holland Clark, Margaret Ruth Woodville Clark, John Ward Knight, Jr., Charlotte Kimbrough Knight, William Warthen Clark Knight, RubyFrances YinHe Clark, GradyFletcher ZhenAo Clark, WillaJane NuoFen Clark, and MicahDavid LiuYang Clark.
A special appreciation to Roy Barber who spent many years with Jimmy, working with him at the house, farm and lake house and who will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia and to the Columbus Botanical Garden.