Clarice Duncan

Obituary for Clarice McClung Duncan
Clarice McClung Duncan, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away at her home on October 6, 2025 at the age of 89. Born Clarice Sue McClung to Jeff Lawrence McClung and Irene Hitchcock McClung in Hiram, Georgia, she grew up lovingly surrounded by three sisters, a brother, and extended family.
She is survived by her loving husband, Eligah Duncan; daughter Angela Duncan Castleberry (Dennis); brother Dennis McClung (Paula); grandsons Eligah Castleberry (Kendra Astorga) and Gideon Castleberry (Rebecca); and great-grandsons Isaac Castleberry and Asah Castleberry.
Clarice attended Hiram High School, where she played basketball. She later became a semi-professional basketball player for the Atlanta Tomboys. Highlights of her athletic career included guarding Goose Tatum in an exhibition game against the Harlem Globetrotters and playing in Cuba, where she had the opportunity to shake Fidel Castro's hand.
After graduating from Hiram High School in 1954, Clarice began studying Business Administration at Georgia State alongside her sister. It was there that she met Eligah "Lige" Duncan at the boarding house where they both lived; they quickly bonded over their shared passion for sports. They attended Georgia Tech football games on weekends and became devoted "Ramblin' Wreck" fans. They married on February 23, 1957, and started their life together, later welcoming their daughter, Angela. As a family, they enjoyed church events, camping, twirling competitions and ball games. Work took them from Atlanta to Western Maryland and back to Atlanta.
Clarice worked as an Administrative Assistant for Robertson Factories, R.J. Reynolds, National Jet Corporation, and the Fulton County Health Department, retiring as the Assistant to the Fulton County Manager in 1997. A lifelong Methodist, Clarice loved the Lord and was a dedicated choir member, always considering her choir buddies as her "extended" family. Her memberships included First Methodist Church (LaVale, MD), Bethel UMC (Smyrna, GA), Cumming First United Methodist (Cumming, GA), Spring Life Church (Spring Hill, FL), and Sawnee Ridge Global Methodist Church (Cumming, GA).
In addition to her work and church commitments, Clarice had many hobbies. She and Eli found joy in a square-dancing club for ten years. She also loved gardening and became a "Master Gardener," with her garden being a favorite place. After retirement, she learned to play the mountain and hammered dulcimers and formed a group called "Strummin' in
Cumming," entertaining at churches, festivals, nursing homes, and schools. Her love of music, especially hymns, was contagious.
Clarice made many lifelong friendships in Atlanta, Cumberland, MD, Austell, and Cumming, GA, but her favorite place of all was Spring Hill, FL, at Timber Pines Country Club. She and Eli moved to Spring Hill in 2009, where she enjoyed playing bridge, mahjong, church activities and entertaining. Clarice was known as a great traditional Southern cook. Her chicken n' dumplings were unmatched!
Family and friends remember Clarice as a devoted follower of Jesus, a loving and generous woman, and a determined, competitive lady with a heart for her family, games, and sports.
Visitation will be held from 4:00pm-5:00pm on Sunday, October 12th, 2025 with a Celebration of Life to follow at 5pm at McDonald and Son Funeral home in Cumming GA.
The service will be livestreamed beginning at 4:50pm the day of the service.
In honor of Clarice's love for gardening, the family suggests live potted plants that can be planted in her memory garden. Expressions of sympathy may also be made by monetary donation to the Sawnee Ridge Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 3050, Cumming GA 30040