Melody Anita Clark

Melody Anita Williams-Clark, 83, died Monday, August 19, 2019.  She was born August 27, 1935, in San Diego, California, to Harold and Lillian Williams.

Melody grew up in a Navy family.  At the age of 6, she witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where her dad was stationed.  She remembered the Japanese bombers buzzing over their house that day, and the subsequent trip back to the States aboard a Navy hospital ship.

Melody graduated as Salutatorian from Mar Vista High School in California.  She postponed college to marry the love of her life, Jean Austin Clark, a Frogman with the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, on June 12, 1953. Thus began her role as Navy Wife and mother of 4 while Jean served in Korea, was stationed aboard numerous ships, and did 3 tours in Vietnam.

Upon her husband’s Naval retirement, Melody and Jean settled in Tennessee.  They attended college classes together and were active with their children’s school, scouting, church, and band activities.  They were married just shy of 63 years when Jean passed away in 2016 at the home of their youngest daughter in Arkansas.

In addition to her husband, Melody was also preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Jacob Clark George.

She is survived by her brother Larry Williams, and sister-in-law, Geraldine Maes-Williams of Uncasville, Connecticut.

Melody will be missed by her 4 children: Ray (Louise Clay) Clark of Braggadocio, MO; Dorinda (John) Haley of Watkinsville, GA; Michael (Jane Richardson) of Mt Juliet, TN; and Deanna Clark-George, of Jonesboro, AR.  She leaves behind 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melody and her husband Jean will be interred together at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, GA, on Monday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com