Wilkie Clark (March 8, 1920 – July 29, 1989) was an early voting rights activist, African American businessman, civil rights leader, community organizer, politician, and founder of Clark Memorial Funeral Service in Roanoke, Alabama. Born into rural poverty under the sharecropping system in the segregated Deep South, Clark later became the founding president of NAACP Branch in Randolph County despite racial and economic barriers.

Personal life Clark was born in rural Carrollton, Carroll County, Georgia, on March 8, 1920, into a family of sharecroppers during the height of Jim Crow segregation. Clark was not able to get an education beyond 7th grade, instead working to help his mother sharecropping. His education was also hindered by the poor conditions faced by black children of sharecroppers at the time, with local Black schools underfunded, short-term, and often held in church basements or farm outbuildings. These conditions made it very difficult for many Black youth to complete school.

He married Hattie Lee Peters Clark, an educator, who also worked in public service. They had one daughter, Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson. Clark was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church

Career and business leadership As a young adult, Clark worked as a chauffeur for a prominent white Roanoke doctor, Dr. G.W. Bonner. He also worked as a common laborer for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad for 18 years, where his exposure to racism and labor exploitation began building the motivations for his later work. In 1969, he founded Clark Funeral Home, Inc. as a family enterprise in Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama. Over time his funeral home became a "safe place" for black citizens seeking to address their oppressive circumstances during the civil rights movement.

Civil rights leadership In the 1950s Clark became the founding president of Randolph County's Branch #5053 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Under his leadership, the local branch was officially chartered. As president, Clark was an ex officio board member of the Alabama State Conference of NAACP Branches and actively engaged with the NAACP's Southeast Region. As a local NAACP President, Clark worked with leaders like Ruby Hurley, and Earl Shinhoster, both long-serving Regional Directors of the Atlanta-based, Southeast Regional Conference of the NAACP. He also worked with Dr. W.C. Patton, E.D. Nixon, Alabama State Representative Thomas Reed , and Hazel C. Eubanks, all of whom served as Presidents of the Alabama State Conference of NAACP Branches.

In his work, Clark expanded Black voter registration, challenged segregation in local schools, advocated for the hiring of Black educators and police officers, and defended Black residents’ civil rights. Leading a local NAACP branch in rural Alabama during this period was dangerous and often brought threats or intimidation. Despite this, Clark continued his work for over 30 years, ultimately receiving the NAACP's Distinguished Service Award for his commitment.

Legacy and honors After Clark's death in 1989, his only child, a daughter, Charlotte A.Clark-Frieson continued his legacy by operating Clark (Memorial) Funeral Service, publishing his biography entitled, "Chief Cook & Bottle-Washer: The Unconquerable Soul of Wilkie Clark", and establishing a Foundation in his honor. A portion of the book's proceeds has supported the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation.

In 2024, an official Alabama State Historic Marker was erected at the site of Clark Funeral Home in Roanoke. The marker recognizes Wilkie and Hattie Peters Clark's contributions to civil rights, Black economic independence, and local community development. The front side of the marker reads:

References

External links Clark Memorial Foundation Clark Historic Site Clark Memorial Funeral Service Historic Marker Database Race, law, & literacy: a case study revealing the voices of African American students of the Randolph County desegregation process from 1965 to 1975