Mary Clark

Mrs. Mary Tysor Johnson Clark of Clarkton, North Carolina died peacefully on July 27, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina after a brief illness. "Miss Tysor," as she was widely known, was a feared and beloved English teacher in Clarkton High School for forty-three years, and continued to work as a librarian for four additional years in the Clarkton School Media Center she helped create through a state grant. She was married to Luther C. Clark on December 22, 1951 and together they were the parents of two daughters: Mary Marshall Clark of New York City and Rebecca Clark-Lashlee of Clarkton. She was also the proud grandmother of John Lashlee of Durham and Luke Lashlee of Clarkton. Tysor Clark received her B.A. from East Carolina University, and later earned a masters degree in Library Science. As students from far and wide have commented, she was an extraordinary teacher. Both Shakespeare and scripture were close to her heart, and inspired her, in partnership with her husband Luther, to assist in efforts to desegregate the Bladen County Schools peacefully in the early 1970s. One of her fondest stories - recounted to her daughters - was reading to a group of young children in the Media Center a decade after desegregation and realizing that the black and white children gathered around her had no memory of segregation. She also took great joy in teaching Sunday School throughout her life and in retirement in Clarkton. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the Clarkton Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Clarkton Presbyterian Church.