In lieu of flowers the family wishes for donations to be made to New Bethel AME Church Youth Department.

Mrs. Mary Louise Green Stokes-Clark was born on April 1, 1948, in Lexington, South Carolina to the late James Olin, Sr. and Emma Jane Green. She departed this life on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

Mrs. Stokes-Clark was educated at Rosenwald attending Grades 1 through 12. She was an active student starting in elementary school participating in Girl Scouts of America, school plays and pageants. During high school, she played the trumpet, cymbals and was a majorette; was a trainer for the Girls Basketball Team, held memberships in the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Science Club, Future Homemakers of America, and Ms. Hornet (school mascot). Also, she was recognized in her senior year as Most Talkative and Most Comical superlatives, and many believe that she missed her calling as a comedian.

Louise attended Benedict College and earned a Bachelor of Education Degree in May 1969. She also studied Business Education at the University of South Carolina and Cambridge College in Massachusetts in 1996 to acquire a Masters.

She was employed as a teacher in the State of Georgia from 1969 to 1981. In Georgia, she taught typing, shorthand, and Business Math; also coached track & field and cheerleading. Her cheerleading squad received the highest outstanding award at camp for the Dynamic Cheerleaders Association (DCA). In Swainsboro, Georgia, she was the treasurer of the Swainsboro Teachers Association for four years until she moved back to South Carolina when her mother became ill. After returning to South Carolina, she went to St. George High School to teach Business Courses, head the Drama Club, coach Cheerleading, Track, and was Yearbook and Student Council Advisor. The school's yearbook was dedicated to her in 1985. Additionally, she received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1989, was named the Coach of the Year in Track seven times and received outstanding awards as a cheerleader coach. After leaving St. George High School, she taught at Alcorn Middle School and was chosen as Teacher of the Year in 2000. She retired after teaching 30+ years but her teaching continued at both Alcorn Middle School and her home School District (Lexington One) at Gilbert Middle School in Gilbert, South Carolina. She was a devoted teacher and when she left Gilbert Middle School after 40 years of teaching it was finally the end of her lifelong career. She cherished everyday she walked into the schools that were her home for 10+ hours per day.

She was baptized at an early age and joined New Bethel A.M.E. Church. She worked in the church and community faithfully. She served many years on the Steward and Trustee Boards, was Class Leader, Church Financial Record Keeper, Church Secretary, Church Youth Department Leader, and on the Conference Level, she served many years as the Quarterly Conference Secretary, and for seven years, as YPD Director. She has received numerous awards from New Bethel including Steward Board award in 1997, dedicated service in 2004 and 2005, and Adult Lay Person of the Year in 2018.

In the community, she has worked with the NAACP as a local President of the Lexington Chapter, as a tutor to youths, worked with the Lexington Community Center, was on the Lexington Advisory Committee for the Town of Lexington, and was a Board Member with the K.E.Y.S. program under the Lexington Police department.

Mary Louise Green Stokes – Clark was married to the late James Edward Stokes Jr, and they had one son, the late James Edward Stokes II. Also, later in life she found love again and married the late Homer Clark. Additionally, preceding Mary is her brother the late Larry Green, Sr. of Lexington, South Carolina and nephew Montess Chestnut of Columbia, South Carolina.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories brothers, James O. Green, Jr. of Lexington, South Carolina, Willie David (Virgie) Green of Lexington, South Carolina, sister-in-law Carolyn Green of Lexington, South Carolina; aunts Costina Bobo of Honea Path, South Carolina and Arlene Thomas of Cleveland, Ohio; Step- Sons Howard Clark, Edward Clark (EC) deceased, and Travis Clark all of Lexington, South Carolina;  grandson Bryson Stokes of Lexington, South Carolina and two great grandchildren; nephews David Green, Jr of Lexington, South Carolina, Larry Green, Jr. of Lexington, South Carolina, Erick Green of Irmo, South Carolina, and Miguel Green of Chicago, Illinois; host of cousins, family, and friends.