Joyce Evelyn French Clark

Joyce Evelyn French Clark, 97, of Ocean Springs, MS passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025 in Ocean Springs. Joyce was born in Gulfport, MS on August 20, 1928 to Ruth and Everett French.

Our mother was many things to many people, Friend, Wife, Mother, Grandmother; she was loved. I found taped in her address book poems from different newspapers over the years entitled, “Friend”, “Penny”, “Why Don’t They Grow Up” and “What is a Grandma?” Mom’s childhood shaped the person she would become; because she was not raised with stability, she raised us with as much stability and love as possible. Bobby was her first, they kind of grew up together, Peggy got the middle years, and Shawn was given her later years: in essence we were all sort of only children, which means we were all spoiled in our own way. One poem in her book ended with the words, “I never realized as I dedicated my life to ring- around- the- collar that cleanliness is not next to godliness … children are”. She was our strongest advocate: loved us deeply, and for that we are grateful.

We hope that when death found her it whispered, “come now, the fight is done, it took her hand gently, like an old friend who understood why she was so tired and whispered, “You’ve carried enough, let me hold this weight for you.” We hope it promised, “Here is the quiet. Here you can rest.”

Joyce was predeceased by her first husband,d Robert E. Burke, Sr. and her second husband, David R. Clark. She leaves to cherish her memory, eldest son Robert E. Burke, Jr. (Jo) of The Woodlands, TX; daughter, Peggy Clark Bradford (Brad) of Ocean Springs, MS; and son, D. Shawn Clark of Moultonborough, NH; nine grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held; officiated by Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice in Joyce’s name.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Joyce Evelyn French Clark.