Clarke & Staples Funeral Homes - Jane Matthews Clarke

Sunday, January 21 2018

Posted by: Clarke and Staples Funeral Homes, Inc. AT 05:06 pm | Permalink | 14 Comments | Email

Comments:

My thoughts and prayers are with the family in their loss. Mrs. Clarke was a very sweet person and always happy. I can remember her laughter that could not help but make you feel good. She will be missed.

Posted by Rhonda Gee Clements on 01/22/2018 - 06:37 PM

God bless and comfort you in your loss. Jane was a wonderful lady, loved by everyone who knew her.

Posted by Jackie Conner on 01/22/2018 - 07:40 PM

My love and prayers go out to you all at this time. Jane was most definitely a very loving and caring woman. I am very blessed to have had her in my life and loved her dearly. I will miss her greatly. God Bless and Keep You All Safe!

Posted by Denise Crenshaw on 01/23/2018 - 08:57 AM

Betsy, Alice Sue, and George, I just wanted to tell you all how sorry I am for your loss. It's very hard losing your mom and Jane was a proud loving Mom. I never ran into her that she didn't run down the list of her family and what you were all up to. I will always remember how much I stayed there in High School and how much Jane and Mom loved each other. She was always smiling from ear to ear and I was never sitting around her and George B that she was not holding his hand. They were so loving of each other. Some of my most precious memories is there with your family. God bless you and God Bless sweet Jane. I KNOW she is in heaven and back with George B!! Love y'all

Posted by Kathy Jeffreys Ashworth and Gene Adhworth on 01/23/2018 - 09:48 AM

Sorry to hear this sad news

Posted by Paul Eanes on 01/23/2018 - 01:43 PM

Our blessings and thoughts to the family of Jane Clarke. She was a fine woman and friend.

Posted by Barbara and Bonnie Powers on 01/23/2018 - 02:01 PM

George, Betsy and Alice, Your Mother's legacy will live on in each of you. Though she will no longer be here on Earth to touch and see she will now be part of you in your hearts and minds forever. The memories you have created can never be erased. Her grandchildren couldn't have had a better role model or mentor. It has been an honor to have known your Mother and I feel blessed for being given that opportunity. She will be greatly missed by all those she has touched. I offer each of you my heartfelt condolences.

Posted by Terri Harris on 01/23/2018 - 03:11 PM

My brother Frank Smith and I are sending our thoughts, prayers and condolences to Jane's family at this time of sadness. May your many memories of Jane help to sustain you at this most difficult time. I knew Jane and Lanie when I was a little girl and looked up to them with love and affection. Patsy, sending love to you.

Posted by Edith Lane (Smith) Karsky on 01/23/2018 - 07:21 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with the family at your time of loss.

Posted by Brenda Estes Perry on 01/23/2018 - 07:55 PM

My thoughts and prayers go out to Jane Clarke's family. Jane was a wonderful woman and I have great memories of her. She was always positive and upbeat. I would love to visit her when I was at my grandmother, Louise "Lou Lou" Webb's house. She is definitely one of the finest and most gracious ladies I remember from Kenbridge. God bless.

Posted by Jack Webb on 01/23/2018 - 08:17 PM

Miss Jane, as we loved to call her, was among the very first people we met when we moved to Kenbridge. What a gracious and welcoming person she always was. She supported so many projects of our Town; her hospitality was impeccable; and she reached out to so many people when illness or difficulty touched their lives. We will miss her. With love and respect, from Stephen and Pat Israel.

Posted by Patricia F Israel on 01/24/2018 - 07:49 AM

Jane was an excellent adult Sunday School teacher. It was a pleasure to be in her class. Sorry to hear of her passing and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Posted by Norma Jean Tisdale on 01/24/2018 - 01:47 PM

George, Alice Sue and Betsy: Read of your mom's passing in The Times Dispatch and wanted to extend our condolences to all. Jane Clark LIT UP any room she entered. I loved her southern drawl that made Mr. Clarke's first name three syllables! My wife, Sherry, enjoyed seeing her at Mildreds and always commented how elegant and pretty she was. Although time moves on and we don't see each other as once, I will always be thankful for the opportunity for our family friendship. You guys had some awesome parents.

Posted by Ben Jones on 01/25/2018 - 07:09 AM

To all of Jane's children: My mother, Sara Daniel, asked me to send a note to you. She sewed for Jane for many years until the arthritis in her hands kept her from doing so. She thought the world of Jane. She was a very sweet lady and will be missed by all that knew her.

Posted by Sandra Smith on 01/25/2018 - 05:05 PM

CLARKE,
Jane Matthews Clarke, 91, of Kenbridge, Va. died peacefully at home on January 21, 2018. Jane is preceded in death by her husband, George B. Clarke, III; her brother, Tom Matthews and a sister, Alice Ray Stevens. She is survived by her three children, Betsy Clarke Cavanna and her husband Rob; Alice Hunt; and George B. Clarke, IV. In addition, five grandchildren, Kate Fippinger and husband Nick; Watkins Hunt; Ben Clarke; Cabot Enroughty and husband Price and Laney Clarke; one great grandchild, Clarke Fippinger; her sister, Lanie Kabrick. Jane was born on April 17, 1926 in Brunswick County to Elizabeth and Thomas Matthews. She graduated from High Point College in 1949 with a B.S. degree in Bible Studies and then taught Bible in Halifax County Public Schools until she met and married George B. Clarke in 1954. Jane grew up Methodist at Pleasant Grove Church. However, after marrying George and moving to Kenbridge, she became a member of the Kenbridge Baptist Church, where she became actively involved. Jane dedicated her life to her husband and children, as well as her extended family and church. Jane became the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia (WMUV) Mission Study Chair from 1976 to 1979, and she traveled thousands of miles a year speaking in churches around Virginia. In 1979, she was elected as state president of the WMUV. Under her leadership from 1979-1983, WMUV continued its strong heritage of mission work by developing a sister relationship between Virginia and Colombia WMU. During her tenure, she oversaw the purchase and development of WMUV’s Camp Little Crossroads in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to her work with the Kenbridge Baptist Church and the WMUV, she was on the Board of Trustees of Hargrave Military Academy.The ease in which Jane related to people different from her resulted from her genuine Christian ethic; she counted it a privilege to speak in many African-American churches and enjoyed worshiping with her brothers and sisters there. Jane was well-known for her capacity to help others. She believed you should give part of your life to your fellow man every day. Her home was always open to friends and family, because everyone walking through her door felt loved by Jane Clarke. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers and dear friends who have provided loving care for Jane in recent years. The family will receive friends at their home in Kenbridge from 3pm to 7pm on Wednesday January 24, 2018. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2018, at 11AM in the Kenbridge Baptist Church with interment in the Kenbridge Heights Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jane Clarke’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the charity of your choice. Clarke Funeral Home, Kenbridge, in charge of services. Online Condolences may be made at www.clarkefh.com