Wilkie Clark
Wilkie Clark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 8, 1920 Randolph County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 1989 Roanoke, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, civil rights leader |
| Known for | Founding President, Randolph County NAACP Branch; founder of Clark Memorial Funeral Service |
Wilkie Clark (March 8, 1920 – July 29, 1989) was an African American businessman, civil rights leader, community organizer, and founder of Clark Memorial Funeral Service in Roanoke, Alabama. Born into rural poverty under the sharecropping system in the segregated Deep South, Clark overcame severe racial and economic barriers to build a successful business and lead civil rights initiatives at the local, state, and regional levels as founding president of Randolph County's NAACP Branch.
Early life and family
[edit]Clark was born in rural Randolph County, Alabama, on March 8, 1920, into a family of sharecroppers during the height of Jim Crow segregation. Children of Black sharecroppers typically had limited access to formal education, with local Black schools underfunded, short-term, and often held in church basements or farm outbuildings. These conditions made it nearly impossible for many Black youth to complete school. Clark left formal schooling early to help support his family during the Great Depression but maintained a lifelong habit of self-education and public service.[1]
He married Hattie Lee Peters Clark, an educator, who shared his commitment to community uplift. They had one daughter, Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson.[1]
Career and business leadership
[edit]Clark’s early work for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad exposed him to racial injustice and labor exploitation, deepening his commitment to equal rights and dignity for Black workers. In 1969, after nearly two decades of railroad work, he founded Clark Funeral Home, Inc. in Roanoke. The funeral home became not only a business but also a safe gathering place for the Black community during the civil rights struggle.[1]
Civil rights leadership
[edit]Clark was 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. Like other branch presidents, he was required to implement national NAACP priorities and complete leadership training from the national office.[1]
Throughout his decades of service — spanning from the 1950s until his death in 1989 — 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.[1][2]
Legacy and honors
[edit]After Clark’s death in 1989, his daughter Charlotte Clark-Frieson continued his legacy by operating Clark Memorial Funeral Service and publishing his biography, Chief Cook & Bottle-Washer: The Unconquerable Soul of Wilkie Clark. A portion of the book’s proceeds supports the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, which promotes economic empowerment, historic preservation, and neighborhood revitalization in Randolph County.[1]
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:
- Clark Funeral Home was established on this site in 1969 by Wilkie Clark and his wife and business partner, Hattie Peters Clark, representing the life-long dream of the well-known civil rights activist and entrepreneur. The funeral home was established in the East Roanoke Black community, which included the Randolph County Training School, churches, and businesses. This location would come to be known as the unofficial home of the Civil Rights Movement in Randolph County.[3]
A street in Roanoke bears his name — Wilkie Clark Drive — and his family continues to advocate for the creation of the Wilkie Clark Community Center and Historic Site as a lasting tribute to his contributions.[1][4]
Personal life
[edit]Clark was a devoted member of Bethel United Methodist Church and was widely known for his humor, generosity, and dedication to uplifting his community. His daughter credits him as her first teacher and a lifelong inspiration.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Clark-Frieson, Charlotte A. (2005). Chief Cook & Bottle-Washer: The Unconquerable Soul of Wilkie Clark. Wilkie Clark’s Daughter Enterprises. p. XX. ISBN 0-9771401-0-5.
- ^ "Wilkie Clark NAACP Distinguished Service Award". National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Wilkie Clark Historic Marker". Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "City of Roanoke Proclamation Honoring Wilkie Clark". City of Roanoke. 1989-08-01.