Maxiene Clarke Wilson

Maxiene Gray Baker Clarke Wilson died July 23, 2023. She was 99 years old. Maxiene was born in Brookneal, Virginia and moved to Portsmouth, Virginia as an infant. She was a 1940 graduate of Cradock High School, a 1941 graduate of Keyes Coastal Business College and upon graduation, went to work as a secretary. During World War II, she worked in civil service for the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Norfolk, and then at various other locations during the war, including Newport, Rhode Island. Maxiene met Bill Clarke in Portsmouth during the war, and they were married in November of 1943. They had four children; three boys and one girl, and lived in Portsmouth, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina. They were eventually divorced and after several years, Maxiene was married a second time to Charles Henry Wilson. Maxiene and Charlie made their home in Portsmouth. Maxiene was a long-time member of Highland Baptist Church in Portsmouth, a past Matron of Esther Chapter #37, Order of the Eastern Star and a Portsmouth Board Member of the American Heart Association. She was very active in the community and spent time in travels, including Elderhostel and Painting Trips. Maxiene retired from civil service in 1984 and began college at Old Dominion University. She obtained her degree in Fine Arts in 1988, at the age of 64. After graduation, she taught Art at Tidewater Community College. She spent many hours in artistic endeavors including painting and sculpture and produced many beautiful paintings in different genres and mediums, including oil and watercolors. She was an accomplished sculptor. She belonged to several Art Clubs in the Tidewater area and enjoyed painting with the various groups. She also enjoyed Arts and Crafts and Sewing. She had a wonderful green thumb and could grow anything. Her orchids were superb. Maxiene was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Pauline Baker of Portsmouth; her sister, Ruby Baker Doleman of Portsmouth; her son William Randolph Clarke, Jr., of Gatesville, North Carolina and her daughter, Dana Maxiene Clarke, of Portsmouth. Her survivors include her two sons, Gray Baker Clarke and wife, Teresa, Timothy Robert Clarke and wife, Susan all of Virginia Beach; her daughter-in-law, Joan Clarke of Gatesville, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, Tammy, Billy, Patrick, Quinton, Ann, Mandy, Alex, Dana, and Tina; and eighteen great-grandchildren, Thomas, Kendall, Wesley, Alexis, Cody, Will, Alyssa, Morgan, Mollie, Brianna, Trevor, Landon, Owen, Brooklyn, Jordan, Samuel, Henry and great-granddaughter-to-be, Colette. Services will begin at 5:00 pm on Monday, July 31, 2023, with the viewing held at Loving Funeral Home, 3225 Academy Avenue in Churchland, Portsmouth, Virginia 23703. The funeral service will be held at Loving Funeral Home at 6:00 pm on Monday, July 31, 2023 with Pastor Kevin Wilson of Highland Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be private.