Clara Richard Obituary Clara Sonnier Richard December 13, 1933 － January 26, 2024 Franklin － Clara "Claire" Pearl Sonnier Richard passed away shortly before midnight January 26 at The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin, Virginia. She was 90. Claire was born at home in the Sulphur Mines in Sulphur, Louisiana on December 13, 1933. She was born to Agnes Ewing Sonnier and Antoine Sonnier, their first child of four. Antoine began work early as a teenager to support his family, he and his twin brother were bakers, unknowing that some of the barrels of flour their boss had them deliver contained moonshine. Antoine later worked as a builder of wooden oil derricks, an oil rigger, and as a cowboy. Claire was a 1952 graduate of Sulphur High School. She starred in several high school plays; for one of which she was awarded a trophy for Best Actress. Many people have remarked that she was considered a great beauty. Upon graduation from high school, Claire attended Sowela Technical School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. From mail carrier, she advanced to secretary for the plant manager at Cities Services Refineries (now Citgo) in Lake Charles. In Franklin, Claire worked as Director of Resident Activities and Junior Volunteer Director at East Pavilion, Southampton Memorial Hospital for over 30 years. During that time she started Volunteens, a volunteer program for young women interested in careers in nursing and health care. Claire was a self-described "Prayer Warrior" and was involved with several community churches including Emmanuel Episcopal Church, House of Prayer Holiness Church and Rock Church. She loved praying with and for others, and said she was always grateful to have been brought up in a faithful home and to know the Lord at an early age. One of Claire‚Äôs favorite roles in life was being a grandmother. She was ‚ÄòGrammie‚Äô on the west coast and ‚ÄòBammie‚Äô on the east coast. Her granddaughters were treated to ‚ÄòBammie Camp‚Äô every summer, a tradition that included nature walks, visits with friends, and lots of ice cream. Claire was also active and held offices in the Christian Women‚Äôs Club, Southampton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the local Parent Teacher Organization, and the Franklin Garden Club. She was an avid reader and enjoyed volunteering at the Franklin Library. Claire is survived by three siblings; Camille "Buddy" Paul Sonnier (Alice), Ralph "Pie" Luke Sonnier, and Zilda "Kitten" Sonnier Vincent. She is also survived by two children; a son, Mark James Richard and his three sons Roman, Deacon, and Anton, and by a daughter, Julie Richard Flournoy (John) and their two daughters, Maggie and Ava. The family would like to thank the staff and administration of The Village at Woods Edge for the excellent care and love with which they embraced Claire during her ten years as a resident there. Franklin is truly blessed by the Village community. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 10 at 2 PM at Wright Funeral Home, 206 West 4th Ave., Franklin, with Apostle Dr. C.S. Ricks officiating. The family will receive friends beginning an hour prior at 1 PM also at Wright Funeral Home. A reception will immediately follow the Memorial Service at The Hubs Vine, 1459 Armory Drive, Franklin. Claire‚Äôs final request, in lieu of flowers or donations, was this: "Mend a relationship, take a friend to lunch, write to a friend. Thank God for your blessings. If you don‚Äôt know Him, ask Him into your heart." Obituary published on Legacy.com by Wright Funeral Home and Crematory － Franklin on Jan. 30, 2024. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See also: 1) https://www.wrightfuneralhome.org/obituary/Clara-Richard 2) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/clara-richard-obituary?id=54239302 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's the compiled obituary as requested: ### Narrative Summary of the Obituary Clara "Claire" Pearl Sonnier Richard, 90, passed away on 26 January 2024 in Franklin, Virginia. Born on 13 December 1933 in Sulphur, Louisiana, she worked at Southampton Memorial Hospital for over 30 years. Claire was active in her community and church, and cherished her role as a grandmother. ### Narrative Summary of Funeral Services A Memorial Service was held on 10 February 2024 at 2 PM at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with Apostle Dr. C.S. Ricks officiating. The family received friends from 1 PM. A reception followed at The Hub's Vine, 1459 Armory Drive, Franklin. ### The Edited Obituary Clara Sonnier Richard December 13, 1933 - January 26, 2024 Franklin - Clara "Claire" Pearl Sonnier Richard passed away shortly before midnight January 26 at The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin, Virginia. She was 90. Claire was born at home in the Sulphur Mines in Sulphur, Louisiana on December 13, 1933. She was born to Agnes Ewing Sonnier and Antoine Sonnier, their first child of four. Antoine began work early as a teenager to support his family, he and his twin brother were bakers, unknowing that some of the barrels of flour their boss had them deliver contained moonshine. Antoine later worked as a builder of wooden oil derricks, an oil rigger, and as a cowboy. Claire was a 1952 graduate of Sulphur High School. She starred in several high school plays; for one of which she was awarded a trophy for Best Actress. Many people have remarked that she was considered a great beauty. Upon graduation from high school, Claire attended Sowela Technical School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. From mail carrier, she advanced to secretary for the plant manager at Cities Services Refineries (now Citgo) in Lake Charles. In Franklin, Claire worked as Director of Resident Activities and Junior Volunteer Director at East Pavilion, Southampton Memorial Hospital for over 30 years. During that time she started Volunteens, a volunteer program for young women interested in careers in nursing and health care. Claire was a self described "Prayer Warrior" and was involved with several community churches including Emmanuel Episcopal Church, House of Prayer Holiness Church and Rock Church. She loved praying with and for others, and said she was always grateful to have been brought up in a faithful home and to know the Lord at an early age. One of Claire's favorite roles in life was being a grandmother. She was Grammie on the west coast and Bammie on the east coast. Her granddaughters were treated to Bammie Camp every summer, a tradition that included nature walks, visits with friends, and lots of ice cream. Claire was also active and held offices in the Christian Women's Club, Southampton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the local Parent Teacher Organization, and the Franklin Garden Club. She was an avid reader and enjoyed volunteering at the Franklin Library. Claire is survived by three siblings; Camille "Buddy" Paul Sonnier (Alice), Ralph "Pie" Luke Sonnier, and Zilda "Kitten" Sonnier Vincent. She is also survived by two children; a son, Mark James Richard and his three sons Roman, Deacon, and Anton, and by a daughter, Julie Richard Flournoy (John) and their two daughters, Maggie and Ava. The family would like to thank the staff and administration of The Village at Woods Edge for the excellent care and love with which they embraced Claire during her ten years as a resident there. Franklin is truly blessed by the Village community. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 10 at 2 PM at Wright Funeral Home, 206 West 4th Ave., Franklin, with Apostle Dr. C.S. Ricks officiating. The family will receive friends beginning an hour prior at 1 PM also at Wright Funeral Home. A reception will immediately follow the Memorial Service at The Hub's Vine, 1459 Armory Drive, Franklin. Claire's final request, in lieu of flowers or donations, was this: "Mend a relationship, take a friend to lunch, write to a friend. Thank God for your blessings. If you don't know Him, ask Him into your heart." ### Vital Statistics Summary | Name | Clara Claire Pearl Sonnier Richard | |---------|----------------------------------------| | Age | 90 | | Birth | 13 December 1933; Sulphur, Louisiana | | Death | 26 January 2024; Franklin, Virginia | ### Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Residence | |------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------------| | Clara Claire Pearl Sonnier Richard | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Agnes Ewing Sonnier | Parent | | Antoine Sonnier | Parent | | Mark James Richard | Child | | Julie Richard Flournoy | Child | | John Flournoy | Son-in-law | | Roman Richard | Grandchild | | Deacon Richard | Grandchild | | Anton Richard | Grandchild | | Maggie Flournoy | Grandchild | | Ava Flournoy | Grandchild | | Camille Buddy Paul Sonnier | Sibling | | Alice Sonnier | Sister-in-law | | Ralph Pie Luke Sonnier | Sibling | | Zilda Kitten Sonnier Vincent | Sibling | ### Other Relevant Information 1. Graduated from Sulphur High School in 1952. 2. Starred in several high school plays and won a trophy for Best Actress. 3. Attended Sowela Technical School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 4. Worked as a mail carrier and later as secretary for the plant manager at Cities Services Refineries (now Citgo) in Lake Charles. 5. Worked as Director of Resident Activities and Junior Volunteer Director at East Pavilion, Southampton Memorial Hospital for over 30 years. 6. Started Volunteens, a volunteer program for young women interested in careers in nursing and health care. 7. Self-described "Prayer Warrior" involved with several community churches including Emmanuel Episcopal Church, House of Prayer Holiness Church and Rock Church. 8. Known as "Grammie" on the west coast and "Bammie" on the east coast to her grandchildren. 9. Held offices in the Christian Women's Club, Southampton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the local Parent Teacher Organization, and the Franklin Garden Club. 10. Avid reader and volunteer at the Franklin Library. 11. Resided at The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin for ten years before her passing. ### Publication Details | Place | Name | Date | |------------|----------------------------------------------|------------ | | Legacy.com | Wright Funeral Home and Crematory , Franklin | 30 January 2024 |