Mrs. Bertha Geneva Clark

Celebrating The Life Of Bertha Geneva Clark: On December 20, 1924 Bertha was born to the late Flossie and Benjamin Glenn in Charlotte, NC; she was one of five children. Bertha, the family's original "prayer warrior," turned her life over to Christ and was baptized at an early age at Rock Hill A.M.E. Church in South Carolina. She was educated at Second Ward High School in Charlotte, NC and graduated in 1942. Athletic by nature, Bertha was a talented point guard on the high school basketball team, earning many honors along the way. She was courted by and later married, "the love of her life," Westley Clark. After their blessed union, they, together, raised 8 children; Thomas, Caesar, Gloria, Sheila, Westley Jr., Deborah, Greg and Lentonia. In 1950 her husband made the pilgrimage from the South to the North as part of the "Second Great Migration." Once he secured employment at Kennelly and Sismon as a manufacturing engineer, he sent for the family and they settled down in Detroit, MI. Bertha was very active in her children's education, working in the school system as a volunteer. Strong in her faith, Bertha and her children joined Greater King Solomon Baptist Church where they were involved in various ministries. It was at Greater King Solomon that several of Bertha's children accepted Christ as their Savior and were baptized. The "Bertha Rule" was, if you are too sick to attend church, don't even think about going anywhere else that week. Bertha was also a devoted wife and homemaker and had a reputation all over as a "put your foot in it" cook. One bite of her cooking left your taste buds anticipating more. In the fall of 1965 Bertha and Westley Sr. moved the family from rental property and purchased a beautiful home on the east side of Detroit. Because of the move the family had to establish a new church home at Mount Calvary Mssionary Baptist Church. It was here at the "Mount," under the leadership of Reverend J. H. Gatlin, that Bertha fully matured in her Christian mission thru participation in, amongst other things, Sunday School, Intercessory Prayer and serving as President of the Mother's Board. Both parents were strong proponents of spiritual enrichment, work and education and they instilled each of these values in their children. In 1975 Bertha lost the love of her life, Westley Clark Sr., and her single parenting phase began. Under the guidance of Mother Clark, the children exercised these values by pursuing positions at major corporations, continuing Bertha's pursuit

Mrs. Bertha Geneva Clark

December 20, 1924 - September 17, 2015