Larry Eugene Clements was born February 5, 1948, in Malvern, to Pauline Harrison and William Eugene Clements. He met his Savior face-to-face on February 14, 2024. Larry was saved and baptized under the ministry of Bro. Curtis Brown at Norwalk Missionary Baptist Church in Norwalk, Calif. He surrendered to the Gospel ministry in August 1965 at the age of 17. Larry has served the Lord and His churches faithfully ever since.
Larry served the Lord humbly and passionately, and he always stayed true to the Word of God. He received his Bachelors, Masters and PhD from California Missionary Baptist Institute, and his Doctorate of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. He loved the Lord and His churches, pastoring Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Arroyo Grande, Calif. (1971-1973), Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Hayward, Calif. (1973-1980), First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in South Gate, Calif. (1980-1984), and Pauline Missionary Baptist Church in Monticello (1984-2003, 2014-2023).
Larry also served the churches of the American Baptist Association as a member of the Baptist Sunday School Committee, Clerk, and as Editor in Chief of Bogard Press (2003-2014). Larry taught in California Missionary Baptist Institute (Dean of Students) and Texas Baptist Institute, as well as serving on Missionary Training Module Board of Directors.
Larry loved mission work and traveled extensively, preaching the Word of God in Mexico, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Kenya, Israel, China, the Philippines, and New Zealand.
Larry was an avid walker, setting and accomplishing mileage goals every year.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Deborah Lee Van Ginkel; his step-father, Quentin ''Larry'' Lawrence; and a brother-in-law, Leland Hoover.
Larry is survived by his wife, Patricia Lynn Clements of Monticello; one sister, Paula Hoover; brother-in-law, Tom Van Ginkel; his five children, Daren (Jennifer) of Sachse, Texas; Julie (Richard) of Monticello; Mark (Jenny) of Texarkana, Texas; Tim (Cassie) of Keota, Okla. and Deborah Sue of Monticello; 13 grandchildren, Noah (Chae), Jude, Mahlah (Abel), Lucy, Nathan, Camryn, Lily, Will, Rhoda, Addison, Titus, Irene and Elias; 1 great-grandson, Elijah David Clements; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle (''Green Bug'').
Funeral services were held 3 p.m. Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Pauline Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Rob Leonard and Bro. Doug Clements officiating. There was a visitation preceding the funeral service from 2-3 p.m. in the church.
