April 27, 2025
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. Kay 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. 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. 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 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.
She is 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; Kimberly 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; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Wanda Freeland, and Gary and Carol Freeland; and her nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30pm on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Belin United Methodist Church. The family will receive 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.
