Mrs. Winnie Darvin Clark

March 31, 1927 - May 20, 2020

Winnie Bell Darvin-Clark, affectionately known as "Ma Winnie" to those who knew and loved her, died with her son by her side on May 20, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ma Winnie was born Winnie Bell McKnight on March 31, 1927, in Porterfield, Tennessee to Ella and John McKnight. She was raised in Nashville, Tennessee where she graduated from Pearl High School and attended Fisk University. In Nashville she joined Hopewell Baptist Church to start her Christian mission. She moved to Washington, DC in 1954 where she worked for the federal government and continued her academic pursuit of obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of the District of Columbia, in 1970. She was a committed public servant who worked as an editor until her retirement from the US International Trade Commission in 1990. Winnie joined Purity Baptist Church in 1954 continuing her service to Christ there until her move to Durham, North Carolina in 2002. She was a faithful servant at Purity where she used the gifts the Lord graced her with to serve the body of Christ. Her talents included the gift of writing and editing. She was editor of the Purity newspaper and was instrumental in writing a book titled, "Reviewing the Past to Improve the Future" which recounted the history of Purity Baptist Church. She would later guide the creation of a similar historical account at Mount Level Baptist Church in North Carolina. She served on the Purity Board of Christian Education and as a teacher for the Women's Bible Class. Her love for fellowship and encouragement to others in the name of Christ was exemplified with her membership in Purity's Missionary Circle, No. 4. She was appointed president in 1993, an office that she held for more than 10 years. She also sang with the Senior Choir. On August 15, 1993, Winnie Clark joined the ranks of discipleship at her ordination and consecration service as a deacon of Purity Church. Ma Winnie moved to Durham, North Carolina in 2002. She immediately united with Mount Level Baptist Church where she continued her service to God with active participation in church and community activities. Mrs. Winnie Clark was a senior missionary at Mount Level. Her organizational talents and her call to share God's love greatly enhanced the organizations involvement in global missions and participation in the Lott Carey Mission Program. In 2015, she moved to Heritage Greens Retirement Community in Greensboro, North Carolina to be closer to her son. She soon became an Ambassador for Heritage Greens welcoming new residents. Ma Winnie was a member of the decorations committee, actress in house plays and runner-up in Ms. Heritage Greens Pageant. She loved gathering with family and friends, enjoying the game of Spades, Scrabble and Bingo. Ma Winnie will be lovingly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her one faithful son, Charles H. Darvin, III, LTC USAF Ret., and his wife Jane; her grandson, Charles H. Darvin, IV; her granddaughter and spouse, Crystal and Dr. Thomas Biles; three great-grandchildren, Sydney, Sinclair and Gerrod; a host of loving grand nieces and grand nephews, as well as devoted longtime friends from around the world. A public viewing has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Scarborough & Hargett Celebration of Life Center, Inc., 309 N Queen Street, Durham, NC 27701. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, May 28, 2020 at Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 316 Hebron Road, Durham, NC 27704. In lieu of flowers, a donation in the name of Mrs. Winnie Clark may be made to the church she loved, Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church.