Marla Oakes

OAKES Dr. MARLA COLEEN CLARK OAKES Dr. Marla Coleen Clark Oakes, departed this life on Monday, September 15, 2008, surrounded by her loving family. She was 55 years old. Dr. Oakes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on All Saints Day, November 1, 1952, the third of eight children of Mrs. Ethel Mae Tanner Clark and the late Rev. Alex Joseph Clark. After graduating with honors from Francis T. Nichols High School in New Orleans, she attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, on a music scholarship. She continued her education at the University of New Orleans (UNO) and completed her B.S. in Speech Pathology and enrolled in a master‘s program in the area of Special Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Oakes later earned a Master‘s of Science in Special Education from UNO. She attend Howard University, in Washington, DC as a State of Louisiana Board of Regents Fellow; at Howard, she earned a doctorate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Oakes held a number of positions within the public school systems of St. Louis, New Orleans the District of Columbia, Fairfax County, Virgina and Prince George‘s County, Maryland, as well as serving as an adjunct instructor with the Department of Special Education at Howard University. She also served as a consultant to the ministries of education of Sierra Leone in West Africa and Kakamega, Kenya in East Africa. At the time of her transition, she was Executive Director of the Office of Early Intervening Supports for the District of Columbia Public Schools. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC where she served on the Deaconess Board, the Family Life Center Board and Alpha Circle. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Red Hat Society. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband Vernon Oakes; mother, Ethel Mae Tanner Clark; son, Dr. Phillip Eugene Jones, Jr.; daughters, Daphne Philisia Victoria Jones and Danielle Marlissa Jones Rease; daughter-in-law, Jamila Jefferson-Jones; son-in-law, Ronnie Rease, Jr.; grandchildren, Alexandria Chapmon Jones, Ronni Lyne Rease, LaNeah Knejuane Rease, William Jefferson Jones, Maya Daphne Jones-Rease and Phaelin Bernice Jones; sister, Helena Clark Smith; brothers, Bobbie Clark, Alex Clark, Jr., Otto Clark, Sr., Robert Clark, Sr., Matthews Clark and Mark Clark, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Ruth, Camilla, Melda and Veronica Clark; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends too numerous to mention. She was preceded in death by her father, Rev. Alex Clark, Sr. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Northern Missionary Baptist Church, 3333 Clara Ave., St. Louis, MO, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. Floral arrangements should be sent to Northern Missionary Baptist Church (florists may contact church administrator Victoria Butler @ 314-323-1676 to schedule delivery of arrangements). Condolence letters and cards may be sent: c/o Helena Smith, 2145 Riverwood Trails Dr., Florissant, MO 63031