Reginald Clark
Despite not having a father or a steady income, Reginald Clark did not let these obstacles define him. Serving as a private in the United States military, Clark was well known throughout his community when he was back in his hometown, Auburn, Alabama. Born on November 3, 1906, to Mattie Clark, Clark’s father passed away when he was five and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Joseph Frazier, in a house that they owned in Auburn. Home ownership was difficult for Black families at this time, so this shows that their family was hard working and well-off financially. His stepfather was a mason and they brought in three other children into the household. Clark attended Lee County Training School and attained his high school diploma from there. He served as a waiter before he became a soldier. Later in life, he moved to Georgia to complete basic training at Fort Benning. Because of this he was stationed near his family and hometown unlike many soldiers in WWII. While he was there, he served as a technician and a mail orderly. During World War II, mail orderlies would organize and send off the mail that soldiers got from their families. Because of his role in providing mail for soldiers, he might have been a popular figure on base. After almost three years of service, he was discharged from the military on September 20, 1945. Although Reginald did not have a wife or any kids, he left his mark on the people he knew because his funeral service was held in Auburn at White Street Baptist Church, attended by his mother and stepfather. He passed away of illness on September 20, 1948, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Contributed by Walker, Parth, Ford, Alif, and Aiden from Auburn High School