Billy Brown Clark

Billy Brown Clark was born on February 23, 1933, and passed into eternity on June 28, 2024. His parents were Lena Mae Brown and Theodore Tilson Clark. He was born in Ecru, Mississippi but the family soon moved to Monroe, LA. Billy had always been a hard worker and began his professional life with a paper route at 12 years of age. Billy joined the Air Force in 1952 and served four years during the Korean Conflict. After his military service, he returned to Monroe and discovered new neighbors had moved in – one was, “The most beautiful woman I had ever seen!” Billy had a new mission, to meet this woman and win her heart. He and Clara Ola Broadway were married on December 28, 1956.

Billy graduated from Northeastern University in 1958 with a degree in Business Education. This began his lifelong commitment to education. Mr. Clark began teaching in Grand Cane, LA where he also coached the boys and girls basketball teams. Later he and Ola moved to the Central area where he taught at Central High School. He loved teaching and all of his students. Mr. Clark took a job selling business textbooks. After several years of visiting every high school and technical college in Louisiana and East Texas, he thought he could better serve students than most of the schools he visited. This led to he and Ola purchasing Delta School of Business on January 1, 1973. Much greater than Mr. Clark’s love for and commitment to education, was his love for and commitment to his family. He dearly loved his grandchildren and his great grandchildren. He and Ola cherished the titles of Granddaddy and Grandmama and were honored to have the privilege of speaking truth and showing love to 3 generations of children. Bill loved adventure too. From buying a Harley-Davidson dealership at a hotel restaurant using the hotel notepad to write out the contract to earning his pilot’s license at 80, life was always an adventure. Even greater than his love for family, friends and adventure was his love for Jesus. Around 60 years of age, he had a life changing experience through which his love for Christ “took control”. He loved his church, Zoar Baptist, and especially Mr. Mike Howell’s Sunday School Class. Bill loved to share Jesus. He shared with doctors, nurses, waitresses, all who came into his home, and even telemarketers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lena Mae and Theodore T. Clark; his two sisters, Ceil and Dora; one brother, Jimmy; his infant son, Billy Brown Clark, Jr., and his infant grandson, Daniel Freeland Wagley. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 67 years, Ola; their three children; Lisa Wagley (Randall), Billy Clark (Linda), David Clark (Elizabeth); 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Billy B. Clark’s life was filled with faith & family and he lived it to the fullest. Visitation and memorial service will be held at Zoar Baptist Church, 11848 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70818 on Monday, July 1. Visitation is from 9am to 11am with services following at 11am.