Barbara Mauldin Clements

Published 4:00 am Sunday, January 24, 2016

    STARKVILLE – A memorial service for Barbara Mauldin Clements will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Starkville. Graveside services at Odd Fellows Cemetery will immediately follow the memorial service. Welch Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

    Mrs. Clements, 70, of Starkville, died Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. A longtime resident of Starville and retired Starkville Public School teacher, Mrs. Clements

was born on May 29, 1945, in Mobile, Ala., to Sam Mauldin Jr. and Annie Mae Hollimon Mauldin. She graduated from Semmes High School in Mobile in 1963, then earned her associate of arts degree from Meridian Junior College in Meridian. She went on to earn her bachelor of science in elementary education from Mississippi State University, and later a master of education in elementary education with a specialty in remedial reading from the University of Mississippi.

     Barbara taught elementary school 32 years, primarily focusing on the education of first- and second-graders, before retiring in 2002. The impact she had on her students was evident whenever former students would see her around town, eager to share with her their latest success stories, even if it had been 20 or 30 years since she taught them. She uncannily always remembered her students and took pride in their growth and success.

     She has been described as superhumanly kindhearted and generous and extraordinarily devoted and loyal to the ones she loved. She was a consummate encourager and was a compassionate and loving friend and teacher. She was known to store extra clothing, coats, belts and shoes for students in her classroom (or from other classrooms) who were in need, and students knew if they didn’t have a snack for the day, Mrs. Clements would always have one ready for them.

    Barbara was a member of First United Methodist Church in Starkville and the United Methodist Women’s Circle Ruth Bible Study Group. She was an avid supporter of her beloved Mississippi State University and loved attending and watching Mississippi State football and basketball games – she was “True Maroon” to her core. She adored her two grandsons and loved spending time with them and her children. She especially loved her family’s annual trip to Destin/South Walton, Fla.

    Through two and a half years of chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments and procedures, she said her best coping mechanism would be to close her eyes and go to what she called her “happy place” – the white sand beaches of the Gulf, where she could see her grandsons playing in the surf.

     Barbara is survived by her father, Sam Mauldin Jr. of Waynesboro.; her children, Daphne Clements Shannon (Jimmy) of Diamondhead and Joel Clements Jr. (Jennifer) of Starkville; her grandchildren, Davis Shannon and Gray Shannon of Diamondhead; her siblings Linda Mauldin Kirkwood of Waynesboro and Sam Mauldin III (Linda) of Waynesboro; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

    She is preceded in death by her mother, Annie Mae Hollimon Mauldin.

     Memorial donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 300, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, online at pancan.org or to First United Methodist Church of Starkville’s “Back Pack Buddies” ministry, which aims to help provide nutritional support to area school children, 200 West Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759, 662-323-5722.

     Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, from 5-7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church. The memorial service will be preceded by an additional hour for visitation beginning at 10 a.m.  

    A guest book can be signed and condolences can be sent via www.welchfuneralhomes.com.