01/20/2026
Bernard Stanley Clarke
Bernard Stanley Clarke, Jr., 85, passed away on January 18, 2026. He was born on August 20, 1940, in Richmond, VA, to the late Bernard Stanley Clarke, Sr. and Virginia Ricks Clarke.
Bernard grew up in Petersburg, VA, and attended Christ Church School, before graduating from Petersburg High School. He attended North Carolina State University for his undergraduate degree, and then received his Master's Degree in Education and Administration from the University of Virginia.
His work career brought him to many different locations, including Raleigh, NC, Hopewell, VA, Surry, VA, and Courtland, VA.
Early on, he worked in medical sales with A.H. Robins Company, in Richmond, VA, and then in the banking industry, as branch manager, for Central National Bank at various locations in NC, and VA. Later in life, he served on the board of 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, in VA.
His work-related passion was education and he spent the majority of his life in the education profession. He taught Science and History at Prince George Middle School and Hopewell High School, was the Assistant Principal in the Smithfield, VA, and Suffolk, VA, school systems, and he also worked in the School Board Central Offices as well.
In addition to his Education and Administration work, he was also the Senior Instructional Systems Specialist at Fort Eustis, VA - involved with training and education for Army Aviation Logistics, and was involved with logistics and coordination of troop and equipment movement during the Gulf War. He loved working as a civilian with the US Department of Defense at Ft. Eustis, Ft. Monroe, and Langley Air Force Base in Tidewater, VA. He retired in Williamsburg, VA, and finally settled in Apex, NC.
He was a passionate hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. He loved working on his numerous tree farms clearing roads, cutting timber, and spending time deep in the woods and swamps.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Harrison Clarke, of Courtland, VA.
He is also survived by his three children: his son and family, Bernard Stanley Clarke III and his wife, Laura Clarke, of Apex, NC, his granddaughter, Kelly Clarke, of Clemmons, NC, grandson, Lt. Cdr. Nate Turner, of San Angelo, TX, granddaughter, Megan Thomason and her husband, Phillip Thomason, of Holly Springs, NC, and their children, Jasper Thomason and Violet Thomason, granddaughter, Kelly Arnold and her husband, Andrew Arnold, of Excel, AL, and their children, Brooks Arnold and Scarlett Arnold; his daughter, Elizabeth Clarke Henderson, of Raleigh, NC; his daughter, Martha Mason Louise Lockley and her husband, Justin Lockley, of Vidalia, GA, and their children, Sadie Lockley, Noah Lockley, Piper Lockley, and Oaklynn Lockley.
As well as his sister, Louise Clarke Grady and her husband, Thomas Francis Grady, Jr., of Chapel Hill, NC.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at Blandford Cemetery. The family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home.
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