Paula Austin Clark

Paula Austin Clark, 80, of Poplar Creek, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at Eagle Ridge Memory Care Facility in Denton, Texas on March 26, 2022. Memorial Services will be held as follows: Georgia - Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, with visitation from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and service at 2:00 p.m. Mississippi - Friday June 17, 2022, at Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko with visitation from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. and Memorial service at 1:00 p.m. at Jordan Funeral Home Chapel with comittal service to follow at Parkway Cemetery. Paula Austin Clark was born August 20th, 1941, in Poplar Creek to Woodrow Wilson Austin and Frances Miles Austin. The second child and first daughter in a family of 9 children, she graduated from Kilmichael High School and attended Holmes Junior College, where she met and married her husband of 55 years, Harvey James “Bo” Clark of Kosciusko. Bo and Paula then moved to Cleveland, where Paula worked in the library at Delta State University while Bo finished his degree. In 1968 the couple then moved to Atlanta, GA, where Bo began his career in education at Tucker High School and Paula began her career as a federal employee at the V.A. Hospital, working as an administrative assistant. She was an active member at the First Baptist Church in Tucker as well, serving as a Sunday School teacher to high school students. After having her daughter Elizabeth in 1973, Paula enjoyed her life as a stay-at-home mother, wife, and homemaker for the next 15 years. She and Bo also became members of Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain. In 1989 Paula returned to her career as a federal employee, working at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta as an administrative assistant in both the Division of Reproductive Health and the deputy director’s office of the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion until her retirement in 2001. Upon retirement, Paula and Bo enjoyed many years of spending time with friends and neighbors in Tucker, and they also enjoyed traveling overseas. Their adventures included Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and several trips to Quito, Ecuador, where their daughter Elizabeth lived and worked. After her husband’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2008, Paula devoted her time to lovingly and dutifully taking care of him until his passing in 2015. Paula was a true “Steel Magnolia,” navigating her life’s journey until the very end with grace, elegance, love, generosity, strength, tenacity, and faith in Christ. Paula is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Austin Clark of Ft. Worth, TX and four of her sisters - Melba Austin Darton (Brad Tamrack) of Greenville,SC; Janet Austin Bryant (Daniel) of Tupelo,MS; Deborah Austin Fischer (Russell) of Yerington,NV; Kay Austin (Kasey) Pennino (Chuck) of Yerington,NV. Paula was preceded in death by her parents Woodrow and Frances Austin, her husband Harvey James “Bo” Clark, her infant son John Clark, her sisters Glynda (“Penn”) Austin and Judy Austin Spurgeon, her brothers Bill (“W.M.”) Austin and Andy Austin, and her nephew Michael Austin Taylor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association. For online condolences visit www.jordanfuneralhome.com.