Mary E. Clark

St. Martinville - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 19, 2017, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville for Mary E. Clark, 83, who passed away on Friday, May 12, 2017, at her residence in Fayetteville, NC. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the church from 7:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am. Rev. Michael Sucharski, SVD will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery in St. Martinville. Mary "Elouise" Francois Clark was a retired Elementary School Educator. She was a long-time native of St. Martinville, Louisiana, born on December 16, 1933 to the union of the late Andrew Roosevelt Francois and Josephine Prescott Francois. She was one of six children. Elouise was an alumnus of Carver High School. Following graduation, she continued on and graduated 'Cum Laude', i.e., "with honor" from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She returned home to share her learnings and to teach countless second and fifth graders in St. Martin Parish at the St. Martinville Colored Elementary, and St. Martinville Elementary Schools. In May 1994, she proudly retired after working nearly 40 years in the St. Martin Parish School System. Elouise was a member of Goodwill Society, and a Girl Scout Leader of Bayou Girl Scout Troop. Her hobbies included: sewing, reading, playing bingo, walking for exercise, visiting neighbors, and eating Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream whenever she felt like it. After retirement, Elouise spent several years continuing to teach by tutoring and mentoring elementary school age students, as well as working in summer enrichment programs. Teaching was her pride and joy. During her retirement, she spent a great deal of time in Fayetteville, NC. In 2015, she moved to North Carolina to live and be with her daughter and granddaughters, while enjoying many visits from her other granddaughter from Miami. She truly treasured the time spent with her three beautiful granddaughters, nurturing them as teachers normally do. She is survived by her loving daughter, Safiya Ann Clark of Fayetteville, NC; granddaughters, Kayla and Lili Clark both of Fayetteville, NC, and Starlena Clark of Miami, FL; daughter-in-law, Sandra Hart Clark of Miami, FL; brother, Leonard Francois, Sr.; and sisters-in-law, Mary Dorothy, Lena Drake. She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy Clark; her only son, Phillip Jude Clark; infant sister, Jo Helen Francois; and brothers, Patrick, Andrew, Willis, and Reuben. Pallbearers will be Horace J. Batiste, Leonard J. Francois, Jr., Josiah Francois, Michael J. Francois, Keyvus J. Francois, and Steve J. Francois. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Harrison, Christopher Francois, Sr., Wesley Harrison, Jr., Jeremy Francois, Allen J. Francois, Peter Prescott Savoy, Andrew W. Francois, Jr., and Wes A. Washington. Pellerin Funeral Home, (337-332-2111), is in charge of arrangements.