Embraced by his beloved family, the Rev. Lawrence Campbell Clark, a “B Model”, was born into the Church Triumphant on January 24th, 2023.

With epic vibrancy, his stalwart legacy grows from strength to strength in eternity and in his grateful family: devoted children the Rev. Cynthia E. Pennington, the Rev. S. Mark Clark (Sara), and Stephen W. Clark (Rebecca); adored grandchildren Rachel Clark (Juan), Isaiah Pennington, Immanuel Pennington, Karissa Joy Clark, and Nicholas Clark; brother the Rev. John Clark (Norma); sisters Audrey Brabson, Doris Wilson (Harmon), and Janice Headrick (Tony); great grand-children Josiah, Jonathan, and Josephine Mendez Clark, Jacob Mendez, and a host of other treasured family members.

Born the first day of Spring on the family farm in the hills of Bean Station, TN, curious Lawrence was enthralled with growth all his days.

He ventured far, beginning with Mullins one-room schoolhouse, graduating from Rutledge High School, Tennessee Wesleyan College, the University of Chattanooga, and Candler School of Theology of Emory University.

A consummate Wesleyan, Lawrence was the unstinting shepherd of souls and gardener of hearts, too many to number, serving for sixty-one years in pastoral ministry throughout his cherished Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

For most of his final decade, Lawrence (“Lipstick Larry”) devoted himself to caring for his darling “Mimi” wife, Melvina, of 64 years.

Lawrence, aka “Tarncey,” loved all things green: from kneeling in the cornfield where he surrendered to Christ at 17, to tending his vegetable gardens, to creating his beautiful pastorale-themed paintings.

Filled with a heart of adventure, Lawrence journeyed to all fifty states and 32 countries on five continents; always seeking history, the Church, all things edible, and the beauty of nature.

Consumed with love for humanity and unpretentious mirth, he earnestly engaged people wherever he went, amassing even more friends than his voluminous collection of church bulletins, introducing himself regularly as the “Minister of Mischief.”

Obsessed with lifelong learning, Lawrence devoted himself in-depth biblical study, decades of seeking Spanish fluency, disciplined hours of perfecting his painting, and daily discovery of new world events.

Full of unbridled joy, Rev. Clark was intensely loyal to his Savior, family, church, friends, TN Volunteers, and Democratic party. His hand was ever on the plow, never looking back. He loved with all his might and a supernatural perseverance in prayer.

We will delight in him forever and assuredly await joining him in eternal light as we mourn and celebrate in a service of death and resurrection at First United Methodist Church of Rogersville, TN on Tuesday, January 31st at 1:00 p.m., followed by a graveside committal at Mary’s Chapel United Methodist Church, (Bean Station).

A wake reception will precede the service at 1st Rogersville UMC from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Elaine Ruth and the Rev. Angela Akers will officiate, with Smith Reagan Funeral Home, Rutledge, TN providing arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mary’s Chapel UMC.

Arrrangements by Smith Reagan Funeral Home in Rutledge.