Jonathan Clarke Manley

Jonathan "Clarke" Manley, 50, of Houston, Texas, passed away on July 24, 2025 in the District of Columbia.

Born on July 9, 1975, Clarke was a proud Texan with a big heart, a sharp sense of humor, and a gift for style and creativity. He had a long career in marketing, where his eye for design and love of storytelling came through in everything he touched. Clarke was passionate about art, interior design, and fashion — he appreciated beauty and creativity.

To know Clarke was to laugh. He was charming, quick-witted, and unforgettable — someone who could light up a room and make you feel like the most interesting person in it.

Clarke struggled with addiction throughout his adult life, a difficult journey that he faced with courage, vulnerability, and repeated attempts to find peace. Despite many setbacks, he never stopped trying. In the end, he was surrounded by love — friends who showed up, not because his life was easy, but because his life mattered.

He is survived by his father, John Calvin Manley; his brother, Clint Hudson; and a circle of friends who stood by him. Among them, his longtime friend Joan Sewell, who spoke with him daily and now the keeper of his cherished cat, Sir Winston Cathill. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gayle Hudson and his partner of 10 Years, James Campbell IV.

He found joy and community as a volunteer at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, where he loved "volunteering with the ladies of Hillwood," as he fondly put it.

Clarke will be cremated, and a celebration of life will be held in September to honor the full, complex, and loved person he was.

Contributions in Clarke's memory may be made to Recovery Café DC, a local nonprofit supporting people in recovery; or to DC Recovery Community Alliance, which advocates for sustainable recovery and dignity.

"All good things come from Texas," he used to say — and in Clarke's case, that was true.