Frances Edna (Wood) Clark

Frances “Ginger” Clark passed away December 28, 2023 at Beacon Place after a short illness. She was 88 years old. Ginger was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Leo and Edna Wood – earning her childhood nickname by living her life with spirit and “full of ginger” right from the start.

Ginger married Jack Clark and raised three children, John, Madeline, and Matthew, on Staten Island, New York and relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina in 2017 to be closer to her daughter and her family. Here, she primarily used her given name, and it was sweet to hear her called “Miss Frances” with Southern courtesy.

From a young age, Ginger worked a variety of jobs from tending the parakeets at Woolworths to supporting roles on Wall Street and in education before retiring from the U.S. Department of Defense where she worked in the Equal Employment Opportunity department. Ginger was always ready to fight for the underdog!

Some of her favorite things included Elvis Presley, learning to appreciate the opera, all kinds of music and dancing, great restaurants, and inviting conversation wherever she went with her sparkly earrings and funny socks.  Ginger was true to her Catholic faith, an avid reader, and a baseball fan. She always kept up with current events and loved her “grand-dogs” and “grand-cats.” Ginger was active in her community, supporting candidates for local office by volunteering for door-to-door conversations with neighbors – getting people to listen out of sheer respect for a woman who cared enough to go out all by herself in the pouring rain to campaign for what she believed in.

After her children moved to different parts of the country, Ginger became a frequent traveler! She enjoyed many trips to California to visit her daughter and watch her grandsons grow up and had great times visiting her son in Charleston, Martinique, and St. Thomas. Every year, Ginger looked forward to her wonderful trips to Naples, FL with her cousin Eileen where they would relax in the warm weather, read books, go to great restaurants, and enjoy the cultural offerings.

But what she loved most of all was spending time with family and friends. Ginger could make friends wherever she went and will remain dear to people for being a good listener and always ready to encourage others. If you had a battle to fight, she’s who you’d want by your side.

Ginger was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Clark, her son, Matthew Clark, and her siblings. She will be missed dearly by her son, John Clark, daughter, Madeline Gabriel, son-in-law, Kurt Gabriel, daughter-in-law, Stacy Clark, and grandsons, Daniel Gabriel and Andrew Gabriel.  Also mourning are her cousin Eileen Bellafiore and her family, brother-in-law Peter Clark, beloved nieces and nephews, especially the Larsen family, and her many devoted friends, both old and new.

In her own sayings, Ginger’s words of wisdom remain for everyone she loved:

“Deny yourself nothing!”

“Keep the faith!”

Whenever saying goodbye, she would always end with, “Be careful,” to bestow her blessing and protection.

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