Services for John Lauren Clark Jr., 78, are at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Cairo First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery. John Lauren Clark Jr. was born in Thomasville on Sept. 29, 1930. He graduated from Cairo High School in 1947, and attended Georgia Tech for two years. In 1949, Lauren enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served until his return to Cairo in 1951, to assist his ailing mother while his father was returned to active duty. Upon his father’s return, Lauren enrolled in Cincinnati College of Embalming. After his mother’s death in 1955, Lauren and his father operated Clark Funeral Home together until his father’s death in August 1975. Lauren always felt he was called as a funeral director, and his compassion and love for the people of Grady County and surrounding counties was evident through this God-given ministry. He married Nancy Collins Clark on January 12, 1958. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year. An active member of Cairo First Baptist Church, Lauren served as a deacon, and currently held the distinction of being the longest attending male member of the church. In addition to his dedication to his church, Lauren was a member of American Legion Post 122 and the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. Additionally, he was a licensed funeral director in the state of Florida. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Collins Clark of Cairo; daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Ken LeGette of Cairo, Laurie and Jason McGhin of Cairo; son and daughter-in-law, John and Susan Clark of Watkinsville; grandchildren, Lauren LeGette of Cairo, Tom LeGette of Cairo, Sylvia Clark of Watkinsville, Jay Clark of Watkinsville, Erin McGhin of Cairo, Ethan McGhin of Cairo, Evan McGhin of Cairo; sister, Peggy Clark Williams of Atlanta; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Maggie Butler Collins of Cairo; Harlan and Frankie Quamme of Fayetteville; William and Linda Collins of Whigham; Ray and Jenny Ponder of Cairo; Wayne and Helen Collins of Whigham; Kenneth and Karen Collins of Port St. Joe, Fla.; Carlton and Barbara Collins of Whigham; Clifford and Suzy Collins of Whigham; and a host of nieces and nephews. Mr. Clark was preceded in death by his parents, John Lauren and Christine McNair Clark, and his brothers-in-law, Malvin Collins and Johnny Williams. Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Fellowship Hall of Cairo First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the church of your choice or to the Cairo First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 1538, Cairo, Ga. 39828. Online condolences may be made at www.clarkfuneral.com. — Clark Funeral Home