Clark funearl home designated as alabama historic landmark site

Wilkie S. Frieson, Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, Je'Lynn M. Frieson
"TORCHBEARERSr OF CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY"

On April 30, 2020, the co-owners of Clark Funeral Home were notified that we had been favorably reviewed and now listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Note:  The pdf attachment shown above, is the emailed notification of our approval — received April 30, 2020.

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Mr. & Mrs. Wilkie & Hattie Lee (Peters) Clark

Our listing in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage was not based upon any attributes of the property itself, physical improvements, or any particular architectural features of the facility.  It is based solely on the historical impact of it's founder and long-standing occupants the late Mr. and Mrs. Wilkie Clark, and his wife, Hattie Lee (Peters) Clark.  As such, Clark Funeral Home in Roanoke ably served our community not only during times of death, losses and bereavement; but it also served as "The Epicenter of Black Movement" during times of racial unrest, discontent and crisis -- throughout the whole county and beyond.   As you will see based on the historical artifacts we have included herein, the Clark's  were -- in essence -- two extraordinary black "Legends At Work."  

Being listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage is indeed a great honor, and gives us another platform through which to preserve the rich history of the Clark family and their tremendous impact on this small rural community in Randolph County.

Clark Funeral Home is an historic business institution in Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama, established in the late 1960s by two of this area's most formidable civil rights activists Wilkie Clark and his wife, Hattie Lee Peters Clark.

The company has been continuously licensed to operate in the State Of Alabama, since it's official opening in February of 1970. It was here that Mr. and Mrs. Clark engaged in some of the most far-reaching civil rights activities and challenges of their time.  Mrs. Clark -- a celebrated educator -- died on February 23, 1989. Ending a long distinguished career in the funeral industry but most notably in Civil Rights, Mr. Clark died July 29, 1989.

Clark Funeral Home -- Now doing business as "Clark Memorial Funeral Service" has been blessed to render more than FIFTY-SIX (56) years of uninterrupted, professional funeral service to the citizens of Roanoke-Randolph County Alabama, Chambers County, nearby West Georgia and surrounding areas. It's current owners are the descendants (daughter and grandchildren) of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clark.

Over the years we have managed to document -- using many historical artifacts (writings, photographs and newspaper articles) -- and archive a good bit of the work they did in Randolph County, Alabama.  But, the half has not been told.

We, their descendants proudly present this website -- ONLY as an introduction to their historical importance in this corner of our world.

The purpose of this website is to PROMOTE AND TO AMPLIFY THE AMAZING HISTORY of the late Wilkie and Hattie Lee (Peters) Clark as iconic Civil Rights Voices, and Leaders in our community.

So, we proudly invite you to join us as we share the courageous lives and legacies of the Clarks in Roanoke Randolph County, Alabama. 

This site is by no means COMPLETE, but still in early stages of development.  Our goal is to make it both entertaining and educational while allowing you to glimpse into parts of the history of our community during the lifetimes of Wilkie and Hattie Peters Clark.  The parts of history that we will dramatize here are portions that nobody else would dare discuss or present publicly, but helped shape our community during that era.

In conclusion, if you think that you have any additional information that will help us enhance this presentation, we will gladly receive it and proudly add it to our vast collection of memorabilia.   Please do not hesitate to contact us.

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