Obituary

Linda Kay (Freeland) Clarke, age 87, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Murrells Inlet, SC, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, to be with her Lord and Savior.

Kay was born in Charleston, WV, on March 4, 1938, to the late Denzel Dale and Virginia Marie (Graham) Freeland. She graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School and attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music as a voice major. Due to illness, she came home to heal and enrolled at Morris Harvey College (now The University of Charleston), where she met and fell in love with her husband, Keith, of nearly 65 years. After his graduation, they were married on his birthday and left for Seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Kay’s love for singing and choral music led her to serve as music director and/or organist at a number of churches over the years. She was former president of the Charleston (WV) Women’s Club and former president of the West Virginia United Methodist Conference Minister’s Wives’ Fellowship.

Kay’s passions in life were her family, music, and her church. She was a model servant of Jesus Christ, loving and inspiring all she encountered, never having spoken unkindly about anyone. She welcomed her role as a stay-at-home mother to her three children, and loved the time spent with her three grandchildren and her great-granddaughter.

In the last 20 years, Kay was a faithful member of Belin United Methodist Church, where she was an active member of the choir and served as a certified Stephen Minister

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter-in-law, Kelley Jo Harrison Clarke; a sister, Jane Freeland Fischer, and a brother, D. Dale Freeland, Jr.

Surviving are her husband of nearly 65 years, Rev. Dr. D. Keith Clarke; sons, Jeffery P. Clarke and wife Valerie, Mark A. Clarke and wife Anne; daughter, Kimberley Kay (Clarke) Williams and husband Timothy; grandchildren, Quenton A. Clarke and wife Krystal, Noah A. Clarke and wife Faith, Marina E. Clarke and her fiance, Brendan English; her great-granddaughter, Rienna L. Clarke; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Wanda Freeland, and Gary and Carol Freeland, and her nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Belin United Methodist Church.

The family received friends following the service.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to the caregivers of The Key for the months of care and kindness given to Kay.

Memorials may be made to the Belin United Methodist Church Music Fund, 4182 US 17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

An online guestbook is available at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com (http://www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/).

You may also leave condolences at www.barlowbonsall.com