Ida Bell Elmore Clemons
1918 -
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand: all other ground is sinking sand..."
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Ida Bell Elmore Clemons was born on December 10, 1918 in Patterson, Louisiana. Ida Bell or "Ike" as she was lovingly called, was a life-long and very active member of Saint Luke Baptist Church. She was a diligent servant of Jesus Christ and served as Sunday School Superintendent, Head of the Junior Choir, and Director of the Youth Department at St. Luke. Her love for children and education led to a position as Head of the Ding Dong Kindergarten in the late 1960. She was also Director of the New Salem Baptist Church Day Care Center. A praying woman of God and a lady of great faith and wisdom, her children still remember many of her wise sayings . Some of those sayings were "Rise and shine! Only the early bird gets the worm!" and "Take all you want but eat all you take" or "Be the labor great or small do it well or not at all." During her life she quietly and faithfully served the Lord by ministering to those in need of love, kindness, and mercy. She was a loving caregiver to all those entrusted in her care.
She served the Patterson community well. As an active member of the American Legion Axillary and as Auxiliary President she was able to facilitate and implement many positive changes in her beloved community. Ida Bell also served as Secretary of the Patterson Shield Benevolent Society. She was also on the Board of Directors at the St. Mary Parish Community Action Agency, and was Director of the Patterson Neighborhood Service Center.
Ida Bell married Ernest Cooper and to that union was born a son, Arnold Joseph Cooper who died at a very young age. After the death of her husband she wed Larry "Mojo" Clemons. There were no children born to that union, however, she became a foster mother of two daughters, Rutha Hills-Hamilton and Faith Ann Fields. Her daughters testify that they can fill an entire book with their memories alone. Everyone who knew her shall forever love and remember her as a very special, loving, and wise mother and grandmother. Her daughters feel very privileged to have had her in their lives for the time that they did. Ida Bell Elmore Clemons made her transition to eternity.
She served the Patterson community well. As an active member of the American Legion Axillary and as Auxiliary President she was able to facilitate and implement many positive changes in her beloved community. Ida Bell also served as Secretary of the Patterson Shield Benevolent Society. She was also on the Board of Directors at the St. Mary Parish Community Action Agency, and was Director of the Patterson Neighborhood Service Center.
Ida Bell married Ernest Cooper and to that union was born a son, Arnold Joseph Cooper who died at a very young age. After the death of her husband she wed Larry "Mojo" Clemons. There were no children born to that union, however, she became a foster mother of two daughters, Rutha Hills-Hamilton and Faith Ann Fields. Her daughters testify that they can fill an entire book with their memories alone. Everyone who knew her shall forever love and remember her as a very special, loving, and wise mother and grandmother. Her daughters feel very privileged to have had her in their lives for the time that they did. Ida Bell Elmore Clemons made her transition to eternity.
The Grace that she taught us and we still say today:
God is grace, God is good
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hand we must be fed
Give us Lord our Daily Bread.
Amen
Memories
Rutha - "I remember going to the Bible Band every Thursday night at Church of God and Christ. Some of my most memorable memories were when cousins from New Orleans and Morgan City came to spend the summer with me (Cynthia, LaLa, Karen, & Valerie)."
Tonya & Thais - "When Nanny took us to New Orleans with her to spend a few days with Aunt Sadie. "And when she would give us each a quarter and let us walk by ourselves to Vilo's grocery and let us get our own bag of potato chips to go with the sandwiches she made for our lunch. We would be so excited!"
Temia - "I remember a slender, tall good-looking lady, shoulder length hair, immaculately dressed in her Sunday best going to Church every Sunday. I remember her smile and teaching Sunday school at St. Luke. I also remember Aunt Ida Bell and Mrs. Johnson as the kindergarten teachers at the little church down the street from her house. Aunt Ida Bell and Aunt Mandy, and Aunt Ada were my grandmother's phone pals."
Tonya & Thais - "When Nanny took us to New Orleans with her to spend a few days with Aunt Sadie. "And when she would give us each a quarter and let us walk by ourselves to Vilo's grocery and let us get our own bag of potato chips to go with the sandwiches she made for our lunch. We would be so excited!"
Temia - "I remember a slender, tall good-looking lady, shoulder length hair, immaculately dressed in her Sunday best going to Church every Sunday. I remember her smile and teaching Sunday school at St. Luke. I also remember Aunt Ida Bell and Mrs. Johnson as the kindergarten teachers at the little church down the street from her house. Aunt Ida Bell and Aunt Mandy, and Aunt Ada were my grandmother's phone pals."