Junius Clark

Junius was born on September 5, 1940, to Junius Clyde Clark and Birdie Swearingen Clark in Vicksburg, MS. He lived in Louisiana and Texas during his childhood, with many happy summers spent with family in DeKalb, MS. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and was honored to serve in the Corps of Cadets during his undergraduate studies. He was a proud Aggie, and a lifelong fan of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

Junius then earned his PhD in microbiology from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD.

He married Barbara Rooney in November 1964, and they had two children, Erin and Allison.

Junius began his career as a microbiologist in academic settings, including faculty positions at Thomas Jefferson University Medical School in Philadelphia, PA, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He especially enjoyed mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. Junius spent the remainder of his career with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, first in Lawrenceville, NJ, and then Wallingford, CT. He co-authored numerous peer-reviewed studies and had specialized expertise in animal models of infection.

Junius returned to his native Mississippi following his retirement and became an active volunteer in the greater Jackson community. He collected food for Gleaners, served as an IRS-certified tax aide for the AARP, and regularly donated blood and platelets. He also taught classes at Hinds Community College, thus returning to his early roots in education. Junius was an avid reader of science fiction and daily newspapers, and walker of his many large dogs. He was a helper to all.

Junius is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Barbara; daughter Erin Mason and her husband, James of Flora, MS; daughter Allison Clark and her husband, Jeffery Schmitz of Barrington, IL; four grandchildren, Luke, Noah, Ethan, and Stefan; and many nieces and nephews including Heather Noel and Michelle Lifer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Junius and Birdie, and his older sister, Jacqueline Clyde Mohle.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, 123 N. West St., Jackson, Mississippi 39201, followed by a funeral mass at 2:00 PM with the Very Rev. Nicholas Adam officiating. Interment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, MS.

The family extends a special thanks to the caregivers from Covenant Caregivers and staff of St. Catherine’s Village Siena Center for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages blood and platelet donations in Junius’s memory.