Dorothy Clark

Dorothy Elaine Clark, born June 15, 1953, died August 10, 2024 from a brief illness following many years of disability.

Dorothy was the daughter and only child of John Bond Clark and Isabel Roberts Clark, and only grandchild of Mattie Belle McQuarrie Roberts. She was born at Emory Hospital and grew up in Decatur, graduating from Columbia High School in 1971. She graduated from North Georgia College in Dahlonega in 1975 with a B.S. in physical education and again in 1977 with a B.S. in music education. Dorothy was grateful to her two music teachers at NGC, James C. Galloway, Jr., and Michael M. O'Neal, for recognizing and helping to mold her musical skills. She never forgot these two outstanding teachers and considered them to be the greatest influences on her career in music.

Following her years at North Georgia, Dorothy went on to earn a Master of Music degree in piano performance at the University of Mississippi, where she studied with another outstanding teacher, Dr. Natalia da Roza.

During her years in college, Dorothy began her career as a church organist. She was organist at Dahlonega Presbyterian Church during those years and later served Blackfeet United Methodist Church in Browning, Montana; Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, University Heights United Methodist Church in Decatur, and Stockbridge Presbyterian Church in Stockbridge. During her years at Westminster Church, she also began directing the choir, which she continued to enjoy the rest of her life. While Dorothy was in Browning, she discovered handbells and learned how to ring them and how to lead a handbell choir. Handbells became one of her passions, and she thoroughly enjoyed working with all her bell choirs over the years.

The other side of Dorothy's music career was teaching piano to students young and old. She loved teaching all of her students and was thrilled with students who made progress and became good pianists; however, Dorothy particularly felt a calling to continue to teach students who struggled with music and the piano. She realized that very few piano teachers would continue to work with students who made very slow progress, and it gave her great joy to encourage these students each week. Dorothy began teaching piano in the late 1970s and continued to do so for the rest of her life.

Dorothy never married and had no close family after her parents died, so her church family was very special to her. In fact, Dorothy had two church families: the one where she worked and another one at her home church of Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur. Dorothy maintained her membership there her whole life and was blessed by the friends and wonderful pastors who ministered to her over the years.

Dorothy also enjoyed her pets! She had several dogs over the years, many guinea pigs whom she dearly loved, and for the last few years two very special cats, first Ginny's Bat, then Callie.

For many years before she died, Dorothy suffered from numerous health problems, was in constant pain, and endured multiple surgeries. She continued to rely, though, on her Heavenly Father and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through all those years. Before she died, Dorothy said that if she could encourage others in two things, it would be to give their lives to Jesus right away, as we never know when our earthly life will end; and to take care of the beautiful body that God has given us, for it is the only "earthly tent" that we have.

A memorial service conducted by Rev. Tom Hagood will be held at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA (711 Columbia Drive, 30030) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 24 followed by a graveside service at College Park Cemetery on Virginia Avenue in College Park, Georgia.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Columbia Presbyterian Church, Decatur, to Stockbridge Presbyterian Church, Stockbridge, or to any charity of your choice.