PEBLE CLARK
February 26, 1931- July 19, 2025 Peble Clark, 94, of Melbourne, Florida departed this earth on July 19, 2025. She was born Peble Robinson on February 26, 1931, in Preston, Mississippi, the third of twelve children — eleven daughters and one son – the daughter of Harvey Alfred Robinson and Thelma Mae Robinson.
Peble was a wife and mother and a consummate, perfectionistic homemaker. Those who truly knew her, knew that she was an authentic Southern Belle and Steel Magnolia – a force to be reckoned with. She was a mom and homemaker with a secretarial certificate from a small business college in Meridian Mississippi, but her self-confidence, drive, certainty in her decision-making and detail orientation were just as suited to have become a business leader. Her confidence, grit and determination were impressive and irrepressible, and those qualities served her well throughout her entire 94 years.
Her single-minded purpose as a mother seemed to be to instill unwavering confidence in her eldest son, Bruce and her twin boys, Paul and Steve, commencing by reading aloud to her sons, over and over, the Watty Piper classic children’s story, The Little Engine that Could – “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”
She exhibited that same confidence in her own life, sometimes bordering on overconfidence, still believing until her final days that she could do anything she put her mind to, including continuing to wear fashionable high heels with no fear of falling. She simply saw no danger. What was so impressive about Peble was that no matter what happened or how many broken and fractured bones she suffered, she never gave up, despite daunting challenges that early on would have incapacitated most men and women. Even in rehab after falling multiple times, she wagged her finger at her son, Steve, telling him, “Don’t you go into my house and throw away my high heels before I get home!” She always rallied back, no matter how severe the pain was or how insurmountable her predicament seemed. She always had a sharp mind, always persevered and always had a positive attitude up to her last day on this earth.
Peble Clark lived the first 21 ½ years of her life’s journey in her beloved Mississippi — her youth in Preston and after having graduated high school at age 16, her happy days as a young secretary/career girl in Meridian. She lived most of her life, 55 years, in Ohio, where she married and raised her boys together with her kind, compassionate and loving husband, Hardy. Anyone who knew Peble knew she disliked the cold weather and gray skies up North. That is why she made the bold decision to leave the North behind and to live the last 17 ½ years of her life returning to the South, living in the warmth and sunshine of Melbourne, Florida.
Peble was predeceased by her loving husband, Hardy Clark, whom she married on December 6, 1953. He passed away exactly 49 years, 11 months later, on November 6, 2003. Peble was also predeceased by her father, Harvey Alfred Robinson; her mother, Thelma Mae Robinson; her sister, Christine VanDevender; her sister, Lorraine Willoughby; her brother, Roy Robinson; her sister, Opal Dunn; her sister, Dorothy Ball; her sister, Grace Chandler; her sister, Glenda Mercurio; and her sister, Dianne Robinson.
Peble is survived by her son, Bruce Wayne Clark and his wife, Joy; her son, Paul David Clark and his wife, Kim; her son, Steven Roy Clark; her grandson, Cody Austin Clark and his wife, Lisa; her grandson, Matthew Ryan Clark and his wife, Sandy; her grandson, Nathan Wayne Clark and his wife, Stephanie; her grandson, Jonathan David Clark and his wife Madison; her great granddaughter, Gemma Alyce Clark; her great granddaughter, Nora Rose Clark; and her great grandson, Rusk Louis Clark.
Peble Clark will not be forgotten. Her resilience and strength were an inspiration to all who knew her.
Peble Clark’s remains were cremated, and preparations were handled by Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home & Crematory, 1010 E. Palmetto Avenue, Melbourne, Florida 32901, (321) 723-2345, brownliemaxwell.com. No services will be held in Florida.
Two Memorial Services and burials of cremains will be held for Peble in Mississippi and in Ohio.
The Mississippi Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Webb & Stephens Funeral Home, Highway 16 W., DeKalb, Mississippi 39328, (601) 743-5602, webbstephens.com. Visitation will be 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Service will be 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM; Burial immediately thereafter at the Robinson family plot at Chamberlin Cemetery East, Kellis Store Road, DeKalb, Mississippi 39328.
The Ohio Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Arnold Funeral Home, 4817 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Canton, Ohio 44709, (330) 455-0349, arnoldfuneralhome.com. Visitation will be 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Service will be 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM; Burial immediately thereafter beside her husband, Hardy Clark, at North Lawn Cemetery, 4817 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Canton, OH 44709.
