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in Anniston. She became very active in the civil rights movement in Alabama during the 60's. Her natural gifts of charisma, fearlessness and passion enabled her to become extremely effective in rallying local residents for participation in picket lines, protest marches, and other direct action events. When out-of-state organizers, northern college students and other outside civil rights workers invaded Anniston, Clara was usually one of the first local contacts. She enjoyed this role and was very instrumental in bringing about many of the individual rights and privileges enjoyed in Alabama today.

LOVED HER SOME ALTON

Eventually, Clara settled down and married her high school sweetheart. The first few years of her marriage seemed the happiest of her life. She and her husband took pride in a beautiful apartment, state of the art automobile, beautiful furniture, late fashion clothes, etc.

Almost imperceptibly at first, she began to experience slight health problems. Gradually, those around her noticed an increase in her physical ailments. It was almost as if God and Satan had the same conversation about Clara that they had about the biblical character Job many, many years earlier: "Touch her body, but do not touch her life". Once Satan received God's permission, he spared no misery.

When she first learned that she was an expectant mother, she was ecstatic. However, her doctor, her family, and many of her close friends expressed great concern over her health and questioned the wisdom of going through a full term pregnancy. Every concern expressed fell on deaf ears. She was determined to have her baby, no matter what it did to her health. This determination was thoroughly tested during her seventh month of pregnancy when a stroke left her paralyzed in her left side. However, Clara never wavered in zeal and total commitment to have her baby. Two months later, it was as if God sent her a special message to "hang in their" via the birth of a perfectly healthy son. When Alton was born, her joy in celebration of such a precious gift from God was unparalleled. However, Satan was not finished; her agony continued to increase over the next 25 years. During this time she sometimes became very frustrated with God, her older brother, and others around her, but never once did she express regret over the birth of her beautiful son. Clara truly loved Alton, and I believe that if she had it to do all over again, she would ignore the health risks and choose Alton.

Finally after she had withstood every snare that Satan could muster to vex her soul, god stepped in and said, "That's enough". And just to prove that He is still God and has all power in His hand, He called her home early on Resurrection Sunday, the same morning Jesus 'rose up' out of misery over two thousand years ago, To God be the glory!

Bennie Boyd