Mrs. Tonie Mae Jones Clarke

01/19/1932 - 07/14/2019

Obituary For Mrs. Tonie Mae Jones Clarke

Mrs. Tonie Mae Jones Clarke, a resident of LaGrange, GA, died Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, July 19, 2019 at 12:00 Noon from Central Baptist Church, 506 Hamilton Road, LaGrange, GA with Pastor Michael Stevenson as Officiant and Rev. Arthur McFarlin, Eulogist.

Interment will follow in Restlawn Memory Gardens, LaGrange, GA. Davis Memorial Mortuary of Valley directing.

Public Viewing is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Davis Memorial Mortuary Chapel.

On a brisk winter day, January 19, 1932, the home of Tony and Mattie Shealey Avery was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Tonie Mae. Everyone seemed to have thought that she came into the world singing, as no one could remember when she didn’t sing. Her voice was a gift from God. And, she used her gift her entire life, until her health failed, to praise Him. Once she tossed her head backwards and closed her eyes, one could get ready to be blessed. She sang professionally with The Female Nightingales throughout the south. Many national artists—Mahalia Jackson, The Soul Stirrers, The Five Blind Boys, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Inez Andrews and Shirley Ceasar came to LaGrange and had concerts at the Princess Theater. The Female Nightingales would open the programs.

In her professional work careers, she was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and worked at the Florence Hand Home. She had supplemental work at the Dry Cleaners. Patrons requested her to starch and iron their shirts. She even worked the breakfast shift at Silver Street Café. Lastly, she ended her work career with Playtex in LaGrange.

Tonie Mae loved her three girls, Phyllis, Charlie Mae and Gloria. She also loved her sister and brothers. She started babysitting for them when she got off from Florence Hand. This gave them the comfort of knowing their children were in good hands. Her grands and great-grands stole her heart. She tried to see them as often as possible.

In the Year of our Lord 1997, Tonie became Mrs. Tonie Jones Clarke. She married Frank H. Clarke and as he said, “I was touched by an angel”. They loved each other and traveled the world together. Frank departed this earth in 2009. So now their spirits can be together again.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Willie Shealey and Hudson Avery, Sr.; sister, Mattie Jo Sherman; nephews, Joshua Shealey, Zanny Roy Shealey and Shannon Shealey; her daughter, Phyllis Conger and step-son, Charlies “Penny” Jones.

Tonie leaves to cherish her memories: daughters, Rev. Charlie Mae Jones and Gloria Jones-Poole both of LaGrange, GA; grandchildren, Natosha McKenzie and Willie Conger, Jr., Lewisburg, TN, Utivius Patterson, LaGrange, GA and Samuel Howard Patterson III, Brandywine, MD; great-grandchildren, Darius McKenzie, Dorian Haslip, Blair Brooklin, Kearius Conger and Triston Conger all of Lewisburg, TN, Samuel Howard IV, Solomon Hayes and Sterling H. Patterson all of Brandywine, MD; son-in-law, Willie Conger, Sr., Lewisburg, TN; step-daugther, MaryLou Stephens and adopted daughter, Peggy Shipman both of LaGrange, GA; step-grandchildren, Kevin Jones, Donovan Jones, Sonja R. Bray and Dr. Benita Stephens; and, a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other loving relatives and friends.

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