L. Jack Clark

Mr. L. Jack Clark, age 64 of Griffin, GA passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Clark was born on February 5, 1947 in Atlanta, GA, to the late Jack Harris Clark and Margaret Rogers Branch. Jack was the middle son with an elder sister, Natalie and younger brother, Andy. Jack spent his childhood growing up in the now historic Ansley Park residential community of Atlanta. He had fond memories of building “forts” while playing in the forest with friends, riding his bicycle, and Boy Scouts. He especially liked visiting the neighborhood fire station, the sound of the fire truck engines, and ambulance sirens. Jack was clearly a pioneer respiratory practitioner as his license number is one of the first ever issued. After graduating from Emory School of Respiratory Therapy and serving as a resident respiratory therapist at Grady Memorial Hospital. He began his successful career at The Medical Center of Macon and from there opened the first Respiratory Therapy Care Department at Spalding Regional Hospital. He was never too busy to provide his patients with the very best he had to give of himself. Jack’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to open Mid-Georgia Respiratory in 1979 where he spent the rest of his career practicing respiratory care for patients at home with lung disease. He will be sorely missed by all those patients and families who have come to know the genuine care he ministered to those he served. Jack served on the board of The American Lung Association of Georgia and as Trustee of Grandfather Home for Children, Banner Elk, NC. Married to Regenia Street Clark in 1981 brought him his only child. Glad memories together of time spent with family and friends at “The Nook” on the Flint River in Upson County, GA and “Along the Shore” at Emerald Isle, NC filled their lives with pleasure. Their philanthropy focus is children from broken homes and especially Grandfather Home for Children. Survived by Regenia S. Clark of Griffin; daughter, Gwyn Nielsen and son-in-law, Maj. Shannon Edward Nielsen of Fort Hood TX; sister, Natalie Wilson of Sharpsburg, GA; brother, Andy and wife Kathy Clark of Greensboro, NC; nieces, Erin and Megan Clark; niece Karen, husband Price and their daughters, Grace and Eliza Jane Beall of Hilton Head Island, SC; Amy, husband Greg, and son Evan Cooper of Charlotte, NC; sister-in-law, Rebecca and husband Ray Crews of Thomaston, GA; brother-in-law, Billy and wife Amy Street of Barnesville, GA; nephew, Terry and wife Paulette Coleman of Sharpsburg, GA; niece, Christy Crews and partner Olivia Roller of Atlanta, GA; niece, Raelynn Crews; great nephews, Bradley, Steven, and Jeremy Street; Brenton and Danielle Coleman. God’s goodness and mercy followed Jack all the days of his life and now Jack Clark dwells in the house of our LORD forever. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Boy Scouts of America, The American Lung Association or Grandfather Home for Children, P0 Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28205. The Celebration of Jack’s Life will be held at Connor Westbury Funeral Home on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 6:00 PM. Friends may visit the family following the service.

L. Jack Clark

February 5, 1947 - April 7, 2011