Clara Bell Hairston's Obituary
Clara Bell Petty was born March 16, 1928 in Columbus, MS as the third born to Ester Petty and Willie Mae Green. As a young girl, she was a sharecropper that attended Concord, an area school. Clara accepted Christ as her personal savior at a very young age and was baptized at Union Missionary Baptist Church. She had three children, Ella Mae Macon, William Ester Anthony, and Diane Hairston.
As a young adult, Clara moved to Tuscaloosa, AL where it became her permanent home. She served as a professional caregiver to many and always showed compassion and dedication to her clients. She joined and attended Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and served as a faithful usher, Sunday school teacher, and sang in the choir. She loved watching wrestling, spending time with her family, and singing gospel songs. She was one of the family's historians and many times, family called her when they needed to know the history of the family.
Clara gained her crown and wings when she transitioned peacefully on January 23, 2023 at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, GA.
Clara leaves to cherish her memory to her surviving relatives, Son William E. Anthony, Flossmoor, IL; Daughter Diane (William) Hairston-Nash, Conyers, GA; Siblings Annie Petty and William (Annette) Petty; Grandchildren, Christopher (Cynthia) Anthony, Sabrina Anthony, William Anthony Jr., Arlexus Hairston, Andreus Hester, Sharon (Reginald) Lane, Gregory Macon, and Tamika (Nelson) Hairston-Miles; Adored nephews and nieces, Bessie Armistead, Antoinette (Jamie) Eatmon, Dessie Moss, Leo O'Neal, Leon O'Neal, Curtis Petty, Donald (Phyllis) Petty, Marcus (Tabitha) Petty, Phaedra Petty, Sedrick (Judith) Petty, Queen (John) Pickens, Helen (Charlie) White, and a host of great grandchildren and other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her Father Ester Petty; Mother Willie Mae Green; Grandmother Mariah Jones; Daughter Ella Mae Macon; Brothers James Petty, John Ester Petty; Sisters Charlotte Cason, Nettie O'Neal, Sadie Penny, Delores Petty; Great Grandson Nicholas Miles.
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