Eva H Clark

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR EVA H. CLARK

Eva Dora Helen [Russell] Clark was born on November 12, 1936 in Riverside, California, to the union of Harry and Adella Russell.  She was the fifth of six children.  Eva attended elementary school in Riverside until the death of her parents when she was 12 years old.  She and her younger brother Floyd were cared for by their older sister Christine and her husband Johnnie B. Baker for some time before Eva was sent to Muskogee, Oklahoma to live with her aunt, Annie Hughes. She returned to California to reside in Berkeley with her godmother, Fannie Mae Davison.  She completed her senior year of high school with honors at Berkeley High and then went on to further her education at San Francisco City College and San Francisco State. Over the years she continued to further her education.

In 1956 Eva met Freddie Clark on a blind date. They fell in love and were married. To this union were born two daughters: Delfredda Helayne and Rosanna Denice.

At an early age, Eva accepted Christ into her life and attended Allen Chapel A.M.E. in Riverside.  While residing in Berkeley, she joined Parks Chapel A.M.E under the leadership of Reverend Lawrence S. Odom. She subsequently moved her membership to Everett Chapel A.M.E. and later moved her membership to Brookins A.M.E. in 1978.

Eva was proud to be A.M.E. and over the years, she actively served in various capacities within the church and the California Conference including but not limited to Steward Pro Tem, Board of Trustees, Officer in the Lay Organization, Northern Area Director of Young People in Missionary Work, and Program Director for Brookins AMEC Artishia Jordan Missionary Society - Kirkland Academy of Excellence tutoring program for K-12 students.  Eva had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in various choirs within the church and conference. 

Eva was well spoken with a brilliant mind! She was a lifelong learner and was passionate about the education and professional development of others. For over fifty years she excelled as an adult educator preparing minority men, women, and the formerly incarcerated for their GED and entry into the plumbing, electrical, and construction skilled trades. Women in Apprenticeship, Tradeswomen Inc., PREP Inc., Bayview Hunters Point and Oakland Skill Centers, and San Francisco and Peralta Community College systems, were just a few of the many organizations with which she taught. She was sought out for her impeccable record of not only preparing students to pass the exams, but to also get the highest scores and therefore the best job offers. Offering invaluable technical expertise and working proactively with schools, civic groups and community agencies, Eva impacted a number of students’ lives in the Oakland & San Francisco Bay Area. She also served as Secretary/Treasurer and later as President of the “American Federation of Teachers Union, Local 1688”.

Eva also served her community volunteering as an Assistant Den Mother to a troop of oral-deaf Cub Scouts, a Girl Scout Troop Leader and briefly at the Black Panthers’ school program.  As a result, Eva was the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her volunteer work in the church, schools and community.

Eva believed in helping others by offering shelter in her home for those in need, food for the hungry, comfort for the grieving, companionship for the sick and shut in and financial assistance for those that were struggling.

Eva loved shopping, traveling and sharing good times with friends and family.  She loved to take spur of the moment trips in the “station wagon” with her daughters for quick getaways or pack up her Girl Scouts and head to Nevada to the snow.  When the grandchildren came along they too got to experience shopping and taking trips with “Grammy”.

On Thursday morning, August 10, 2023, God said to Eva “Well done my good and faithful servant. Your work here is finished and it is time to take your eternal heavenly rest with me”.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James Russell, and sisters, LoRena Russell, Anna Mae Meeks and F. Christine Baker.  She leaves to cherish her memory daughters, Delfredda Valle and Rosanna Clark; brother, Floyd (Leah) Russell, sister-in-law, Maria Russell; grandchildren, Frederika “Rikki” Valle (David) Cook and Cleother Willis Jr.; great-granddaughter, her beloved “GG Babe” Maya Cook; her closest and dearest friends whom she lovingly considered her “brothers and sisters”, Alfred and Bobbie Jean Parham, Charlotte Ruff, Reed Evans, Harriet Anderson, and Jean Scott; a goddaughter and several godsons, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.    

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eva H Clark, please visit our floral store.