Dorothy Kelly Clark
Dorothy Kelly Clark, 86, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of March 9, 2026, in Plano, Texas. Dorothy leaves a legacy of Southern charm, hospitality and perseverance after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis.
She was born Feb. 3, 1940, in Laurel, the daughter of the late William Levon Kelly and Ruby Mae Chancellor.
Dorothy graduated from Beat Four High School in Waynesboro in 1958 and attended the Jackson School of Business. She later worked alongside her husband, the late Thomas Eugene Clark, for several years as his paralegal assistant.
An avid gardener, Dorothy was a member of the Waynesboro Drive Garden Club and the Country Gardeners Garden Club, and she was a highly regarded accredited flower show judge. A proficient cook, she maintained an extensive collection of cookbooks and was well known among family and friends for her delectable meals and generous hospitality.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Eugene Clark; and son Jonathon Kelly Walters.
Dorothy, or “Banmother” as her grandchildren affectionately called her, will be forever remembered not only for her warmth, but also for her signature red hair, her carefully matched coral nails and lipstick, and her fondness for high heels — details that captured her lively spirit and classic sense of style.
She is survived by two daughters, Carmen (Scott) Smith of Plano and Kimberly (Dean) Thomson of McKinney, Texas; four stepdaughters, Debbe (Bill) Smith of The Woodlands, Texas, Kaye Scarpone of San Antonio, Di Anne (Scott) Jones of Bessemer, Ala., and Tracy (Sandy) Sanders of Littleton, Colo.; five grandchildren, Natalea (Dustin) Daams of Ocean Springs, MaryLacey (Jake) Briggs of Little Rock, Ark., Micah Dean Thomson of Addison, Texas, and Caleb (Brooklyn) Smith and Sarah Catherine Smith, all of Dallas; 12 step-grandchildren, William (Tara) Smith, Todd Smith and Josh Smith, all of The Woodlands, Brooks Hubbert of Pensacola, Fla., Benjamin (Raquel) Hubbert, Burgundy Hubbert and Gabby (Robert) Naley, all of San Antonio, Bo Javer of Nashville, Dane McBride of Livermore, Calif., and Hayley (Scott) Suderman, Rory (Nathan) Sanders and Mairet Sanders, all of Littleton; and 21 (and counting) great- and step-great-grandchildren, along with countless other family members and friends who will miss her dearly.
A graveside service will be Wednesday, March 25, at 1 p.m. at Mill Creek Cemetery in Laurel.
Her warmth, strength and love for her family will be remembered always by those who knew and loved her.
To view or sign the online guestbook, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.