Clara Purdy

Clara M. Purdy, affectionately known as “Clarice”, “Mother” or ”Muva” was born on August 16, 1922 in Crewe, Virginia to the late Lille L. Knight and James Carson Rather. She took her escorted angelic journey home early Sunday morning, December 29, 2013. Mother accepted Christ at an early age and joined Union Baptist Church in Crewe, Virginia under the leadership of the late Reverend Rather. At an early age she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to join her Aunt Tona and other extended family. Once in Baltimore she finished her education at Paul Lawrence Dunbar Night School. Mother was blessed into motherhood at early age. From these blessing came forth Cheryl (“Boo”) Hawkes, Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Hill, Michael Hartwill, Darnell Hartwill, Narice (“Pinkey”) Butler and Carolyn Hartwill. In 1973 she married the late Ernest Charles Purdy. From this union Mother gave birth to another daughter, Ernestine Purdy. For her love and devotion to the Lord; Mother found a church home in the 1960’s at United Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. George Edward Vanderford. She served on numerous ministries while attending United Baptist Church. One ministry in particular was the kitchen ministry where she served with passion and devotion. Cooking was her calling and she was willing to share it with anyone and everyone. While attending United Baptist Church she felt that the Lord had placed on her heart another way to give back which at first was not easy to discern (one of her favorite words). With a caregiver’s heart and love of the elderly she and her husband prayed on it and waited patiently for the Lords guidance. Having been led by the Lord and their steps ordered they took on the undaunted task of transporting every able body to church from the Lincoln Nursing Home. With their own money they arranged to have all the patients transported on a coach bus to church service. After the conclusion of the worship service, each person was given a home cooked meal and dessert. She would later say we fed their souls as well as their stomachs. When not attending her home church she often worshiped at Greater Faith Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Leah White. Mother further showed her love and affection for her family by attending PTA meetings for her grandchildren; (even though her own children could attend) she had to be there. She LOVED her grandkids! Waited passionately for them to come down the hill from school and she was often caught saying “where in the world are those kids”. Standing on the porch waiting just to command them to change their school clothes and get their homework down. Her daughter Cheryl often said this was the highlight of her day. Ask anyone in the neighborhood summer time was her season. Mother was never hard to find, for she had a routine. #1 Wake up at the crack of dawn to get her bathing out of the way, #2 Start the coffee (her day was not complete unless she had a hot cup of coffee), #3 Put mercuricome on her bunions (she could never explain this home remedy), #4 Put her plants on the porch and cushions on the chairs, #5 Took her meds and instill her eye drops (eyesight probably was bad because hardly any drops made it into her eyes) #7 Sit on the porch with her cup of coffee waiting for Jean and Evelyn to join her for the morning update. Mother loved and enjoyed to cook and baked at every opportunity and especially holidays. She was known for her pound cakes and rice pudding. She especially loved her grandsons and their friends, so much they started a spades club. Former members included Kenneth Hartwill, Kavin Hill, Phillip Hawkes II, Trilliane Hill, Letrell Hartwill (wasn’t any good), Leroy Fowlkes and Joseph Green (ages 13 years of age except Clara at 63 years old). Those games became heated and intense, where as though they were often cut short and cards ended up in the trash or the oven. You knew when she had the last few hands she would always say, “got them boys!”. One of the most proud days of her life was when she was able to travel to New Orleans to witness her baby boy Kenneth receive his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. She spent over 30 years and was never compensated as the unofficial neighborhood block watcher, knew everything and everybody. She loved the 900 block of Kenwood Avenue and they loved her; she was everyone’s grandmother and friend. She was a member of the Lady Elks, under the leadership of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. As her health declined she later spent her remaining years back down south with her loving and devoted daughter Cheryl. Those who preceded her in death: her loving husband, Ernest, youngest son, Darnell and daughter, Narice and two grandsons, Lloyd Hartwill and Kavin Hill. Left to cherish and share treasured memories are: five children, Cheryl Hawkes (Phillip) of Blackstone, VA, Jacqueline Hill (Calvin), Michael Hartwill (Janet), Carolyn Hartwill and Ernestine Purdy; a devoted and loving grandson, Kenneth Hartwill; six grandsons; five granddaughters and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Tributes

Clara Purdy

August 16, 1922 - December 29, 2013