Clara V. Gregory

A visitation for Clara will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Lakewood Funeral Home, 6011 Clinton Blvd, Jackson, Mississippi 39209, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM. Clara will be laid to rest in Lakewood Memorial Park, 6000 Clinton Blvd., Jackson, Mississippi 39209.

Clara was a member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church. She was a faithful member of the Senior Adult Group and the Wick & Wax Sunday School Class. Mom asked every person that she met, "Do you know Jesus?" She enjoyed singing in the Senior Adult Choir. She also loved making ceramics, playing card games and dominoes, reading, and planting flowers and roses. In her younger years, she worked in Illinois, first at a printing company, in which she loaded the press and printed letterheads. She was once awarded as printing the most letterheads in 1 day. She then worked at American National Insurance Company as a bookkeeper, and was highly lauded as being extremely trustworthy and impeccable in keeping the books.

When her children were young, she was a kindergarten teacher at Oak Forest Baptist Church. Later in life she was a school crossing guard for Jackson Public Schools, employed by the Jackson Police Department. She and her husband, Arthur, tried for many years to have children, unsuccessfully, so they went through the long and arduous adoption application process. Eventually, they adopted John Mark and Patti, who were their chosen babies! She read a book to Mark and Patti called "The Chosen Baby" when they were little ones. She and Arthur wanted them to know that they were adopted, but that they were rather chosen to be their real children.

Clara is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Gertie Harmon McMillen; her husband, Arthur Gregory; brother, Gene McMillen; sister, Annie Lou Russell and nephew, Kenny Beasley. She is survived by her son, John Mark Gregory; daughter, Patti Gregory Houston; grand-children, Kaitlyn Gregory, Christina Houston Hohman (Chris) and Stephen Houston; great-grandchildren, Isaac Hohman, Eliza Hohman and Miller Houston; three nieces and a special sister-in-law, Sue Gregory. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews through her marriage to Arthur.

The family would like to thank a special lady that volunteered for the Four C's, Mary Lou McCoy, who befriended Clara, while still at home, and visited her frequently until the end. Also, they would like to thank her special friends, Vickie Ritter, Dawn Smith, and Betty Houston, who visited her regularly, as well as thanking her Sunday School class for their constant love, prayers, visits, and endless offers to help in any way they could.

A Special thanks from the family to the staff at Clinton Healthcare and Rehab for their loving care of Clara, as well as to the staff at PAX Hospice. There were some special, loving people who had a bond with her, who cared for her as their own, day in and day out. So to each of you, the family is Eternally Grateful.

A special thanks also from the family to all that visited, checked on her, sent cards, and prayed for her.

The family requests any donations be made to the Four C's, 2001 W Northside Dr, Clinton, MS 39056.