One day back in 2018 I was walking in downtown Greenville when a man passing by recognized me and asked if I was Bootie. Of course I said I was, and he introduced himself as Clark. We chatted for a minute, I happily obliged his request for a photo together, and then we went our separate ways. It was just a random encounter, and I had no reason to give it any other thought. I certainly had no reason to think I would one day sing at his funeral.

At some point after our meeting on the street, Clark happened to add the photo of us into his online dating profile. And through that dating site, he happened to reach out to a longtime friend of mine, Nancy. Nancy saw the photo of Clark and me together, figured he must be okay, and a common connection was made! After some time dating, Nancy and Clark got married. This was a second marriage for each of them, and it was the happiest time of their lives. I got to reconnect with Clark a handful of times, all too short.

Two weeks ago we were all shocked to learn Clark had died in a tragic accident at home.

Nancy asked if I would sing at the funeral. They both enjoyed the old hymns. I’ve been away from these old tunes and enjoyed reacquainting myself with them. The first is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, and also a short instrumental medley of “How Great Thou Art” and “He Leadeth Me.”

My heart breaks for Nancy and everyone connected to Clark. These kinds of moments are awful, painful reminders of how precious Life is for all of us, and each new day. Peace and Love.

From Clark’s obituary:
“Clark was a certified public accountant with a career spanning over 45 years. He was a senior tax accountant at Price Waterhouse, a partner with KPMG, and the CFO of TriVergent Corporation. He was the CFO and a partner of First Sun Management Corporation since 2002. His work at First Sun provided joy and fulfillment in his daily life, as well as the friendships and bonds he developed there.

He had a deep connection to nature and raised livestock, including Tunis sheep, on the family farm in Gray Court. Later, he loved spending time outdoors with his wife Nancy hiking, biking, and traveling across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. An avid fan of the TV show “Top Chef,” he relished seeking out new culinary experiences on their travels.”