Vans Randell Brinson Clinkscales

Vans Randell Brinson Clinkscales, Commerce, Ga., passed Thursday morning at her residence, Traynham, after a brief illness. She was born to Benjamin Wardlaw and Floride Randell Brinson, on Feb., 11, 1927, at her childhood home of Sampala in Madison, Fla. She graduated from Madison High School. She was a member of Madison First Baptist Church, where she played the organ, piano and violin. In 1949, Mrs. Clinkscales received her AB degree with a major in music from Brenau College in Gainesville, Ga. She was a member and served as president of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She was a member of the Senior Honor Society, H.G.H., and was listed in the 1949 edition of Who's Who Students in American Colleges.

While at Brenau, she met Judge Maylon Baxter Clinkscales and they married Oct. 5, 1949 in Madison, Fla. After moving to Commerce, she was a member of Pine Tree Garden Club for over sixty years. She was president of the Garden Club Council and hosted the first state-wide flower show in Commerce. She also served as president of Commerce Elementary School PTA and was president of the Commerce Band Booster's Club in which she was also a member for over thirty years. She was president of the library board and was instrumental in establishing the current facility, which was formerly housed in a single room in city hall. She and her husband also owned and operated the South Pacific Motel in Panama City Beach, Fla., in the 60s and 70s.

She was known for hosting lavish parties for her husband's business associates, family and friends of the community. She was a life member of the Capital City City Club and Country Club in Atlanta, and a member of the Athens Country Club. She has been a member of Commerce First Baptist Church and Commerce Presbyterian, where she shared her talents in floral arranging and music. Following the death of her husband, she continued to use her talents in music to sing in choirs led by her son-in-law. She continued to contribute to the community by tending the garden plot at the intersection of Washington Street and Jefferson Road for thirty years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and her husband of forty years. She is survived by her children: son, Maylon Baxter Clinkscales, Jr. and wife Kim of Panama City Beach, Fla.; daughter, Floride Randell Clinkscales Kinsey and husband Darrell, of Athens, Ga.; and son, Milton Brinson Clinkscales and wife Andrea of Commerce, Ga.; four grandchildren, Howard Darrell Kinsey, Jr. and wife Anna of Watkinsville, Ga.; Dr. Vans Randell Kinsey of New York City, New York; Kaylon Dru Clinkscales and Maylon Baxter Clinkscales, III (Trey) of Panama City Beach, Fla.; and her first great-grandchild, Benjamin Noel Kinsey of Watkinsville, Ga.

Mrs. Clinkscales will lie in state Friday, Feb. 20 at Ivie Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at Jackson Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Rest at 11 am, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015.