La'Var Antonio Clark

Celebrating the Life of Our Beloved Choir Boy

La'Var Antonio Clark was born April 30, 1979, in the city of Portsmouth, Virginia. He was the first child of Wilbert A. Banks and Marie Clark. La'Var was baptized shortly after his birth at Copeland Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, and remained a true soldier in God's army. He attended Lakeview Elementary and Waters Middle School in Portsmouth. He held Honor Roll at Churchland High School, where he graduated in 1997. He joined the ROTC with the intention of starting a career with the United States Marines like his father, Sergeant Wilbert A. Banks. However, he was stricken with the rare and aggressive tumor, GO Blastoma, that would limit his ability to do certain things in life. But God saw it fit to give La'Var an additional 30 years of life for the family to enjoy a miracle.

La'Var often sang praises of God beginning at an early age at Copeland Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church. He won many talent shows at Willet Hall in Portsmouth. He enjoyed singing, listening to music, going to the fishing pier, traveling, and all the Madea movies. He also enjoyed going to his cousin Niecy and Bernard's house for tasty food and girls. He followed in his mother's career of working on government ships as a fire watch for BAE Systems Ship Repairs with his mother supervising him for years until he was unable to work. Through every stage La'Var faced, his mother, Marie, and her husband, Raymond Garner was there day in and day out providing what the family needed. La'Var was so grateful for the father Raymond has been over the years and continues to be. He was also grateful to his bonus brother, Deacon Raymond Bell, and sister-in-law, Mary Bell.

La'Var leaves in his memory: mother, Marie Garner and bonus father, Raymond Garner; father, Wilbert A. Banks Sr. and bonus mother, Cindy Perry; grandmother, Rosa Banks; brothers, Anthony Roulahac, Raymond Bell (Mary), Montez Battle, Deonte Mahan, Corey Eaton, Wilbert Banks Jr., and Arsenio Perry; special sisters, NeQuila Howell (Ty'annah), Taria Clark and Crystal Perry; uncles, Oscar W. Clark, William Hursell Clark, Roy Banks, Tyrone Banks, and "Little" Walter Banks; aunts, Anita Jenkins and Angelia McDonald; great aunts, Katherine and Bobby; godmother, Paulette Person; special aunts, Eula Highe (Eugene), Tarrka Berry, Paulette Mills, Sheri Spivey, Ashley Outland; special cousins, Lisa & Keeisha of the Banks family, Loretta Eaton, Tyrone Eaton, Pauline Davis, Jamarie Clark, Naomi Clark, Trenton Berry, KiKi Clark and Jasmine Clark; and best friend, Shanice Winbourne.

Through marriage, La'Var gained an extensive bonus family, including grandmother, Earlene Butler; bonus mother, Vanessa Bell Spence (Tony); bonus siblings, Troy, Keeisha, Toya, Aydee, Owana, Terrel, Yasmine, and Namir; great-aunt Mavis Beamon; aunts, Judy Alston and Althea Granger (Sam); cousins, Cyrita Garner, Tenisha Alston, Darrell Butler, and Lynnearl Alston (Tee).

La'Var is preceded in death by his grandmother, Frances Hall; grandfathers, Oscar W. Clark Sr., and Walter Banks; aunt, Caretha Clark; uncles Kenneth Wayne Clark and Charles Anthony Garner.

La'Var lived a full and beautiful life. He will be deeply missed.