Carol Ilene Clark

Friday, Sept. 26, 2025,
marked the passing of Car-
ol Ilene Kelley Clark. Car-
ol was born June 8, 1951,
in Toccoa, Ga. Carol was
blessed with the gift of mu-
sic and mastered both the
piano and organ by 16, at
which time she began
playing for First Baptist
Church of Toccoa and
traveled to other local
churches throughout the
surrounding Toccoa area.
She also sang with her
church choir when she
wasn't playing the piano.
After graduating from
Toccoa High School in
1969, Carol continued her
education at Wesleyan
College in Macon, Ga., in
pursuit of a music degree.
However, upon achieving
her degree, she decided to
earn a teaching certificate
with the University of
Georgia in Athens, where
she taught elementary
school. Years later, she
earned her masters degree
in middle grades from
Georgia Southern College
in Statesboro, Ga. She
taught for over 30 years,
primarily in 7th grade En-
glish and 8th grade Geor-
gia History, before retir-
ing in 2005. She was a life-
long book lover and would
sometimes read more than
four books in a week. She
loved her cats and also en-
joyed cross-stitching, knit-
ting, and crocheting. She
was a loving mother who
helped sponsor her daugh-
ter's cheerleading team
and fully supported her
son's marching band. She
touched many lives and
will be sorely missed.
Carol is preceded in
death by her brother,
Michael Edward Kelley,
her parents, Robert Hu-
bert Kelley and Willie Mae
Rickman Kelley, and
many special aunts and
uncles.
Survivors include her
daughter and son-in-law
Kelley Kristine Clark and
Chris Grantham of Elba,
Ala., son Neal Crawford
Clark of Port Wentworth,
Ga., granddaughter Gracie
Britt Grantham, grand-
sons Grady Beauchamp
Grantham, and Robert
Christopher Grantham,
several nieces and
nephews, and special care-
givers, Shelby Umber-
handt and Lacey Lane.
The immediate family
will have a private memo-
rial at a later date. In lieu
of flowers please donate to
the Wounded Warrior
Project.