Clara Lee Connelly

Clara Lee Connelly, 101, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Wayne Memorial Hospital under the care of Hospice of South Georgia.

A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, Clara was born on October 8, 1918 to the late Robert E. and Betsy Thomas Lee.  Clara was a homemaker who devoted herself to her family first and foremost.  She had also worked outside the home at various times in her life in the retail and childcare industries and she loved reading and studying the Bible in her spare time.  Clara was an avid gardener in her younger years and remained an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church until very recently.

In addition to her parents, two husbands, Dock Lee Thornton and Joe Talmadge Connelly;  two brothers, Wilton Lee and Rufus Lee;  two sisters, Eula Andrews and Lois Thornton and a grandson, Ross Harper, all preceded her in death.      

Survivors include her son,  Roy Thornton and wife, Myrtle of Odum; four daughters, Dot Whitley and husband, Bob of Jesup, Carolyn Goodbread of Darien, Diane Harper and husband, Robert of Myrtle Beach, SC and Donna Rentz of Jesup; one sister, Betty Crump and husband, Parnell of St. Mary’s; one brother, Bob Lee and wife, Janice of Jacksonville, FL; thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members also survive.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Elders Thomas Waters and Al Groover officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

Private interment services will follow in Big Creek Cemetery.

All the grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

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