Reba Jo Mays Clark

Reba Jo Mays Clark, age 94, passed peacefully away on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Reba was born on August 25, 1929, in Marion County, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents John Morgan Mays and Edna Chastain Mays; her husband, of forty-seven years, James Richard Clark; her daughter Caron Jan Clark; and brother James Chastain Mays.

Not only was Reba close to her children but she always said her grandchildren and her brother were like her own. She is survived by her son R. Stan Clark; daughter Debra Clark Gulledge; grandsons R. Craig Rosetta and Joe Keith Rosetta (Stephanie), great-grandchildren (Devon Hawthorne and Joseph Rosetta); sister-in-law Virginia Murphee Mays; several nieces and nephews; special cousin Shirley Chastain; and special friend Janice C. Wells.

Reba began her career as an educator at age seventeen. She received a Bachelors, Masters, and Education Specialist Degree from the University of Alabama, remaining in the profession for the next sixty-three years until eventually retiring from Samford University at age eighty-one. She served as a teacher, counselor, and administrator at all levels from kindergarten through graduate school. She was a teacher in Bibb County, Marion County, and Birmingham City Schools. She served as a counselor for ten years at Banks High School in Birmingham City Schools.

Reba was an active member of the team that developed the Vestavia Hills School System, remaining there for twenty-one years. She served as both Director of Guidance and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She guided the faculty and staff in

following the school system’s philosophy -- to make school a place where people want to be and want to learn. She was noted for her extensive research of any idea that seemed appropriate to present to the staff. Under her direction, and with what she always said was an exceptional team of counselors, teachers, and administrators, the American School Counseling Association (in a competitive program) selected the Vestavia Hills Guidance Program as an exemplary Model for other schools in the United States.

After retiring from Vestavia Hills, she went to Samford University where she coordinated and taught in the Counseling Foundations Program in what was then the Adult Degree Division. The students at Samford twice selected Reba as the recipient of the Faculty Scholar Award.

Reba’s legacy in education was her belief that educators could make a difference in the lives of students and she worked to make that happen.

Reba Clark was a long-time member of the Church of Christ. She was a member of the small group that started the Hoover Church of Christ in 1963. Most recently she was a member of the Moody Church of Christ.

In honor of her wishes, there will be no memorial or funeral service. However, the family will be hosting a gathering for her friends and family on Sunday, June 23rd from 2:00PM to 4:00PM at the Trussville Civic Center (5381 Trussville Clay Road, Trussville, AL 35173).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to her great-grandchildren’s school counseling program. Make checks payable to Cahaba Elementary School (301 Parkway Drive, Trussville, AL 35173), indicating the donation is on Reba’s behalf for the counseling program.