Mother Clara Mae Heyward Washington, 90, was born in Smoaks, South Carolina to Geneva Jones-Heyward and William Heyward. Clara peacefully slipped away from the chains of her mortal body and entered into eternal rest on Sunday evening, May 31, 2020 at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, South Carolina. Graveside Service Celebrating the Life of Mother Washington will be held Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Hickory Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery, 784 Hickory Hill Road, Smoaks, South Carolina. Reverend Sheri White, Pastor and Eulogist. A public viewing will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Stephens-Maree-Tracy Funeral Home Chapel of Serenity from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Clara attended the George Ann Elementary School located in front of her Grandparents home from Kindergarten to 7th grade. She continued her education at Lodge High School in Lodge, South Carolina, and Claflin University in Orangeburg South Carolina. Clara also attended school in Savannah, Georgia.
During her youth, Clara joined Hickory Hill United Methodist Church. Upon returning to South Carolina, she met the love of her life, Mr. John Arthur Washington. They were united in Holy Matrimony on August 19, 1950 and resided in Ruffin, South Carolina. The couple relocated to Walterboro and to this union a son was born, Terrance A. G. Washington. Clara then changed her membership to Buckhead United Methodist Church with her husband. While in Boston the family were faithful members at Union United Methodist Church where Clara was an active member on the Usher Board. Upon their return to South Carolina, Clara resumed her Membership at Buckhead, served on the usher board until her health failed and was named the mother of the church.
Clara worked in Savannah, Georgia for a short while and taught in the Catholic School Community for a brief period. In 1959, the Washington family relocated to Boston, Massachusetts where they resided for over 40 years until their retirements; then returned to Walterboro, South Carolina. While in Boston, Clara was employed at Massachusetts General Hospital, and later at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 33 years as a dietician.
Clara was a friendly person who loved to talk and cook. She was famous for her oh! sweet lemonade, corn bread and collard greens. She would see that you never left her home hungry.
In her retirement, she loved to watch her soap operas and work in her puzzle books. She was always up to date with technology. She would call you on Google Duo to talk and see her family. She was excited about the family babies and always talked about how sweet they were.
Clara was preceded in death by her parents, William and Geneva Jones Heyward, her brothers, Don H. Heyward, and William B. Heyward and a great-grandson, Darrion Carrington.
She was loved and adored by her family that she leaves to cherish her memories, her sons Terry Washington(Cathy)of Boston, Massachusetts and John Arthur Washington(Mabel) of Walterboro, South Carolina; her grandchildren, Terron Tyler, Natasha Carrington, Lasonnya Hart (David)and Terrance Jenkins all of Boston, Massachusetts, Johnny Washington III of Hempstead, New York and Marie Washington of Smoaks, South Carolina; great-grandchildren; Terara Tyler, Ty Hart, and Joy Hart all of Boston, Massachusetts; two sisters in-law, Bernice Heyward of Bridgeport, Connecticut and Geraldine T. Heyward of Randolph, Massachusetts; nieces and nephews, Sheryl Lawanda Goodloe (Emmanuel), Donna Heyward of Randolph, Massachusetts and Denise Hanks of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Godchildren Roslyn Bowen, Jacksonboro, South Carolina, Sandra Brooks of Ruffin, South Carolina and Andrea Braxton of Mattapan, Massachusetts, and a host of cousins other relatives and friends.
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