Mabel Rouse Clarke

Mabel Rouse Clarke departed this life and went to join numerous friends and members of her family in the presence of the Lord on Oct. 25, 2016. Having lived to the age of 101 years, she had enjoyed a full and productive life.

Mabel was born Sept. 7, 1915, in Franklin. After graduation from Hearne High School in 1934 she had a very successful career in banking. During an era when women found it difficult to succeed in the business world, she held positions of responsibility in eight banks in four different states. At the time of her retirement, she was a Vice President of Enterprise Bank in Houston. She was a charter member of the Mu Epsilon chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a business and professional women’s sorority.

Upon her retirement in 1984, Mrs. Clarke moved to Cameron to be near members of her family. She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Cameron and will be remembered for her regular visitations to residents of local nursing homes and support to others in the community. She relocated to Jacksonville in 2012 to be near a niece and nephew and was residing there at the time of her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Henry and Bertie Ellen Mosley Rouse; her husband, James Tyrus Clarke; six sisters, Trudy Rouse, Bertha Rouse, Irene Rouse Blake, Jewel Rouse Green, Ruth Rouse and Margaret Rouse Cooper; two brothers, Alvin and William Rouse. 

She leaves seven nephews, and numerous grand nieces and nephews to celebrate her life and mourn her passing.

A graveside service for Mabel Rouse Clarke will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at the Rouse family plot in Norwood Cemetery near Hearne with Pastor Dusty Smith officiating. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Memorial gifts are requested to be made to The Salvation Army or to another Christian ministry of your choice.