Official Biography Of Mrs. Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson

An “only child” of the 1950’s, she is the daughter (and only child) of the late Wilkie & Hattie Lee (Peters) Clark. Her early education began at a historically black school in Roanoke, Alabama — the community where she grew up, known as The Randolph County Training School ("RCTS"), later transferring to Handley High School during the difficult desegregation era. 

Charlotte graduated with the Handley High School Class of 1971 – the first class to graduate after the closing of R.C.T.S. by a Federal Court Order.  She elected to stay close to home, completing her first 2 years of college at the nearby Southern Union State Community College.   There, in 1973, she earned the Associate in Science Degree.

A historic pioneer in her own right, Charlotte later made history at Auburn University's Historic Campus as a Charter Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.—the first Black sorority established on campus.   From Southern Union, her education pilgrimage took her to  Auburn University, where the highlight of her time there was being initiated (along with 9 other young women) thus establishing Auburn’s first black women’s sorority [Kappa Upsilon Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta National Service Sorority (“K-OOP Deltas”)] on Auburn’s campus.   Today, she remains actively associated with the Auburn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta National Service Sorority.

As a youngster, she was “baptized” into the Civil Rights Movement by her  father.   A life-long member and supporter of the N.A.A.C.P., which her father, Wilkie Clark, vigorously and enthusiastically led for 40 years (more or less), she has served in almost every capacity, including President for several terms after her father’s death.   Her courageous leadership as President of the Randolph County Branch, #5053 NAACP earned her the prestigious John F. Kennedy "Profiles in Courage" Award in 1995.

The Clark's  and even later, the Clark-Frieson family was “rooted and grounded” in Methodism.     However, locally she served a number of churches (Baptist) as a Minister Of Music: St. Paul, First Baptist, Wehadkee, Macedonia, Mount Carrie (Franklin), and her beloved church home, Bethel United Methodist Church.  She remains a Methodist in practice with respect to her religious philosophy and beliefs.  However, in general she professes  both humility and respect for ALL MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS, including the teachings of Islam, Buddhism, whatever and has been known to raise the question: "Who am I to judge?" 

She married the late Clarence Frieson, Jr. (a Tuscaloosa native);  the result was two handsome children: Wilkie and Je’Lynn; and later three grandchildren: James (28) and Kynnedy (14), and Khaleel, (18 Months). Sadly, at the age of 39, she was widowed April 15, 1993, when her young husband (43) passed away suddenly with no warning. So, she has since remained single. (Married to community and business).

Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson received both a BS and M.Ed from Auburn University, which prepared her to work in the field of public education. During her education career, she taught extensively in the West GA area (Hogansville City, LaGrange City, Troup County; and finally in the Private Sector at a Residential Treatment (Psychoeducational) Center) in LaGrange. She specialized in teaching children with emotional/behavioral disorders, and Specific Learning Disabilities. 

In addition to her liberal arts education, she holds a Technical Degree in Applied Science in Funeral Service from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, Decatur, Georgia.   This training prepared her to continue the Clark family’s funeral-service legacy with skill, reverence, and professionalism.  Clark-Frieson is co-owner and licensed funeral director of Clark Memorial Funeral Service, the 57-year-old Black-owned funeral home her father established after being repeatedly denied financing by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Today, she continues to honor and defend that legacy through historical documentation, community advocacy, and public transparency regarding the regulatory and political structures that still target Black funeral home owners across the Deep South.   Additionally she holds licensure as an Alabama Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer; as well as Alabama Licensed Insurance Professional in the Life and Health Lines and Preneed Sales Agent At Clark Memorial. Also in 2023, she was named the Managing Director for Unity Mortuary in Valley, Alabama, by the family of a dear friend and colleague, the late Mr. Clayton Gibson, Jr. who passed in December of 2022.  Unity is no longer in operation since the death of the wife of Mr. Clayton Gibson two years later. 

In Nov. 1988, Charlotte successfully campaigned and was elected to the Randolph County Board of Education, an office she held for 18 consecutive years (until 2006).   Thereafter, for 12 years, she stayed out of politics until  2018, when she ran for State Representative on the Democratic ticket for Alabama House District 37 – AND LOST — BADLY!

The true delight and joy of her life, however, has been working in her community as a Civil Rights and Social Activist while serving the community as a Funeral Service Practitioner (since age 14) operating her parents' company, Clark (Memorial) Funeral Service, for a total of 57 YEARS. At this point in time, she has continued this Mortuary practice several decades longer than her own father did — having maintained the operation 37 years since his passing. 

As a result of her extensive community service, Charlotte has received many local and regional honors and awards. 

With the help of extended family and friends, she successfully published “The People’s Voice” the first black weekly newspaper publication from 2005 – 2009. This publication was circulated widely and well-received throughout East Alabama and West Georgia. 

Her most recent project  — still ongoing since  (April, 2020), was successfully nominating Clark Funeral Home (252 Lafayette Highway, Roanoke, Alabama), as an Alabama Historic Landmark Site. This historically rich location, has been designated as an Alabama Historic Landmark, and added to the Alabama Register Of Landmarks and Heritage. 

The family — Charlotte, Wilkie and Je'Lynn — successfully erected and unveiled our State Commissioned Historic Marker for the site on March 8, 2025 (the 105th birthday observance of the late Wilkie Clark), and established an education program whereby they plan to use this distinction to educate communities about the lives and legacies of Wilkie and Hattie Peters Clark; as a means of encouraging practical citizenship and instilling a sense of social responsibility in contemporary youth. 

Today, she also maintains a publishing platform that she calls, The Southern Justice Archive, a vital digital repository and publication dedicated to documenting systemic injustice, protecting Southern civil-rights history, and "preserving what matters before it disappears."

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TO SEE MORE specific instances of Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson's Civil Rights Activism Please Visit This Page