Obituary for Doris Lucille Clark (Bethea)
Doris Lucille Bethea Clark departed this life and moved on to the next on Friday, May 20, when she lost her battle with complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Doris was preceded in death by her long-time companion Jesse Brooks, her son Dexter’s foster father. She leaves to mourn her life her daughter Brenda Souder (Gregg) of North Carolina, her son William Dexter Clark (Vivian) of Maryland, eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 15 great, great grandchildren.
Born Doris Bethea in Rockingham, North Carolina on November 16, 1931, to Ernest and Willie Mae Wooten Bethea. Doris was the oldest daughter of a family of 10, and was preceded in death by her siblings Lorenzo, James, Rufus, Albert, David, Alex, and her younger sister Vivian. Doris is survived by her youngest brother Bo Bethea (Betty) of North Carolina.
Although born to a family of North Carolina sharecroppers, a period of homelessness, and episodes of social injustice, Doris through her tenacity and drive was able to overcome innumerable obstacles. She faced her challenges head on and achieved her most promising career goal as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) after graduating from the University of the District of Columbia Nursing School in 1981. Prior to that, she attended night school to earn her GED from the Margaret Murray Washington High School in D.C. Doris retired as a supervisory nurse after serving patients and assisting young nurses for more than 25 years in Maryland, the District of Columbia and North Carolina.
Doris moved back to Rockingham, NC, where she could be close to family and friends in 1992 and became an active member of the Mount Zion Presbyterian Church. She later moved back to the DMV where she could get medical attention due to the onset of age-related illnesses, and where she began attending the First Baptist Church of Glenarden with her children.
While in North Carolina, she was a veracious reader of Harlequin Romance novels with stacks upon stacks filling four or five bookshelves at her home. She was an avid basketball aficionado who could rattle off player names and stats for men’s and women’s teams. She loved getting up early where she would spend hours doing yardwork on her acre of land. Abundant roses, azaleas, arborvitae shrubs and other plants adorned her manicured lawn. She loved watching old school westerns like Gun Smoke, the Lone Ranger, Bonanza, and others. And, during her quiet moments she would crochet the hours away while listening to gospel music and communing with family.
Even after her humble beginnings, and bumps along the way, Doris’ life was one well spent. She lived a life filled with family friends and God. And now, she will rest as she walks with Our Lord and Savior.
Born Doris Bethea in Rockingham, North Carolina on November 16, 1931, to Ernest and Willie Mae Wooten Bethea. Doris was the oldest daughter of a family of 10, and was preceded in death by her siblings Lorenzo, James, Rufus, Albert, David, Alex, and her younger sister Vivian. Doris is survived by her youngest brother Bo Bethea (Betty) of North Carolina.
Although born to a family of North Carolina sharecroppers, a period of homelessness, and episodes of social injustice, Doris through her tenacity and drive was able to overcome innumerable obstacles. She faced her challenges head on and achieved her most promising career goal as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) after graduating from the University of the District of Columbia Nursing School in 1981. Prior to that, she attended night school to earn her GED from the Margaret Murray Washington High School in D.C. Doris retired as a supervisory nurse after serving patients and assisting young nurses for more than 25 years in Maryland, the District of Columbia and North Carolina.
Doris moved back to Rockingham, NC, where she could be close to family and friends in 1992 and became an active member of the Mount Zion Presbyterian Church. She later moved back to the DMV where she could get medical attention due to the onset of age-related illnesses, and where she began attending the First Baptist Church of Glenarden with her children.
While in North Carolina, she was a veracious reader of Harlequin Romance novels with stacks upon stacks filling four or five bookshelves at her home. She was an avid basketball aficionado who could rattle off player names and stats for men’s and women’s teams. She loved getting up early where she would spend hours doing yardwork on her acre of land. Abundant roses, azaleas, arborvitae shrubs and other plants adorned her manicured lawn. She loved watching old school westerns like Gun Smoke, the Lone Ranger, Bonanza, and others. And, during her quiet moments she would crochet the hours away while listening to gospel music and communing with family.
Even after her humble beginnings, and bumps along the way, Doris’ life was one well spent. She lived a life filled with family friends and God. And now, she will rest as she walks with Our Lord and Savior.