Clark A. Maxwell, III

Born on October 2, 1957 in Columbus, Georgia
Departed February 9, 2023 in Palm Bay, Florida

Clark A. Maxwell, III, 65, of Melbourne, Florida, passed away peacefully with his family and pastor at his side on February 9, 2023 at William Childs Hospice House after battling colorectal cancer.

Clark graduated from Eau Gallie High School in June of 1975 and entered the University of Florida in September of 1975 where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity. Clark held the offices of Treasurer, Vice President and Assistant Pledge Marshal. Clark was also a member of Blue Key Society, a student leadership and honor society. Clark graduated with a BSBA degree in Real Estate in June of 1979. Clark was a member of Jaycees and was a 3rd degree Freemason from 1985-1993. Clark owned a successful commercial appraisal business for over 30 years here in Melbourne, Florida.

Clark was also known by many as “superman”. His strong determination to fight cancer with a positive mindset as an eternal optimist throughout the journey helped him to beat the odds. Clark grew up boating and fishing with his family. He had many fond memories of lobster and fishing trips to the Florida Keys and Canada. He also enjoyed annual ski trips to Swiss Mountain Village in Blowing Rock, North Carolina with his daughters and grandchildren. Clark was an avid runner, competing in over 20 5K races and one half marathon. He was also a long standing member of the “Boo-Birds”, touring spring training baseball games throughout Florida.

Clark was a regular participant in many church activities including a men’s Christian life group formed more than twenty years ago to study scriptures, read devotions and to remind each other of the promises of God. Clark is beloved by all in the group. The memories of his friendship, his courage and his transformation live in each of them. Clark was also very involved with Family Promise of Brevard, where he was passionate in supporting that families have a safe place to call home. We are assured of Clarks ultimate healing and wellbeing as Clark is one in whom Christ dwells and delights.

Clark is survived by his mother, two sisters, two daughters, and five grandchildren. His memorial service will be held on March 11, 2023 at 11:00 am at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne, Florida. Please join us in sharing memories.

In lieu of flowers, Clark asked for donations to be made to Family Promise of Brevard:

Family Promise of Brevard

Christopher Robin Adams from Melbourne
March 8, 2023

Clark would know me as Kit; I live across the street and write poetry. This is my tribute to Clark: Super Ti Man by Christopher Robin Adams I sit in the shade of a quite mature Bismarck palm. Ancillary shade drops in from a young saw palmetto and a rambunctious ponytail palm. A barren frangipani stalks me and waits for spring to get closer. From here, I look at Clark’s house, quiet with Adirondack chairs in front of the closed garage. A monster Spanish bayonet and few Hawaiian Ti plants don’t move in the warm afternoon’s windless blue. I sit at a table created by my father 70 years ago: a welded angle-iron frame painted black with a worn plywood inset, likewise black, and both speckled with paint from many years as a work table. Dad made it for our family of four just moved to Florida. All of this sets the stage, including a cool beer open, and a cigar in hand, a staple for writing poetry. this is the activity that makes me visible and how Clark and I would meet; he would be puttering in the yard or returning from trips out. He would see me, and I would call over, “Go, Gators!” and we’d wave. Sometimes, though, he’d walk across the grass, and we’d talk about Gator games, about days gone by. Somewhere in there, I learned his name. He shared his Hawaiian Ti plant cuttings which now line the north side of my house. We discussed work and our families. Turns out, our dads worked on the same programs at Patrick Air Force Base with the missile program. A good neighbor, he took in UPS packages and shared kind greetings. Now, he has passed. the quiet neighborhood is quieter. Its birds chirp about spring’s approach, and sandhill cranes scream as they pass over in loose formation. His family remains, and we talk of a near-finished memoir as one more legacy of Clark’s visit to earth. Kurt would say, “So it goes.” I’m still saddened. My pen moves, the beer lowers in the bottle, and the cigar ash lengthens. Sunset is near and will arrive. As it must.

Permalink

Please wait...

Clark A. Maxwell, III

Guestbook Entry

Recent Obituaries

Octavia Diamond Yuker

Charles Joseph Jordan

Bessie Iris Bonker Scholten

Emma Pruzina

Ewell “Stoney” Stonewall Neal, Jr.