Reggie Lavell Clark was born on January 8, 1978, in Houston Texas to the proud parents of Peter and Linda (Collins) Clark. He graduated from Sealy High School where he was a member of the fighting Tigers that won the 1995 3A State Championship. He attended Wharton Junior College (Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration & Electrical Technology) and Houston Community College (Audio Recording Technology – Electronic Music Production).

Reggie was one that never lacked confidence. A competitor at anything anyone wanted a challenge; from playing basketball, bowling, paintball, video games, playing spades to racing hot wheels cars. A self-proclaimed gourmet chef, family and friends enjoyed his unique spin on popular dishes. Anyone around Reggie would've been subject to one of his light-hearted expressions:

• "I tried to told you."
• "If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans."
• "Don't argue with stupid people because people won't know who's the stupid one."
• "Now tell me how you really feel."
• "How are you, sorry to hear that."

Reggie went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, January 15, 2021. A man of many talents and titles: Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Athlete, Musician, Vocalist, Song Writer, Producer, DJ, Gamer, Cook, Baker, Coach and Mentor. The title he loved the most was "Daddy."

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Linda Clark’s COVID-19 Experience: I finally found me!

By Linda Clark | Student in the class called LIFE

When you keep going, there is always a new level to be reached in life but I did not learn this until last year.

2021 was the most excruciatingly painful time of my life. A few COVID-19 events took me to a place I never thought was possible. The hurt, the pain, the anger, and I was verbally ready to attack everybody. I was hurting and I didn’t care how anyone else felt or thought. It took Faith to give me strength, Hope to get me through and Love to lift me up.

Before COVID-19, I was a healthcare provider for my children. Being a mom to four children was a job I took great pleasure in doing. As a mom, I did everything to keep them safe and well. If one of them got sick, mom was there to make it all better. Anything from a big hug, a kiss on the cheek, holding their hand and rubbing their forehead.

From birth until adulthood, if they were hospitalized, my bag was packed as well. Spending time in the hospital without another Clark member as your roommate was against the Clark Code Of Conduct. That is until COVID-19 entered our lives.

What do you do when you have one child in the hospital in Houston fighting for his life, and another child is being transported to a hospital a hundred miles away? Both without the comfort of Family. As my only daughter was traveling to Conroe, the closet hospital that had room for a COVID-19 patient, she received the text that her baby brother has died. My only living son had to deliver the devastating message while not knowing his sister’s fate.

Sometimes our burden seems more than we can bear. I was standing at the bleak intersection of life’s road, prayer and meditation is all I knew to do. Things don’t always turn out the way we want them to, but in time, you learn to accept what God allows.

When going through a rough patch in life, spend as little time as possible there. Consider it as an opportunity to learn about yourself and who you really are. But don’t linger there or wallow in it. Look ahead keep moving, and LIVE.

It took the death of two of my sons and my daughter’s near-death experience with COVID-19 before I finally found me along with my purpose and my vision in life. These three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.

Rest in peace Patrick & Reggie, Mom is going to be just fine. I will attend college for the first time to become a counselor. I am also working on creating the women’s shelter and farmer’s market we talked about. This is only the beginning of Novella’s Faith.