Reverend Clark Doster Standard

Reverend Clark Doster Standard, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2024, in the arms of his loving wife, Margaret. He was born on January 22, 1934, to W.T. and Pauline Standard in Rochelle, Georgia. From an early age, his life was filled with the love and joy that only comes from a deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ.

It was during a skit in elementary school where he first held hands with the love of his life, Margaret, playing a married couple. Little did they know this pretend union would turn into a lifetime of love and devotion. They were childhood sweethearts who grew to be partners in life and faith, married for 71 years. Their love was a testament to all who knew them, setting the standard and foundation for their family which has blossomed to fifty-two members.

Clark was the proud father of four children: W.T. Standard (Nancy), Marcia Slade (Doug), Angie Standard, and Jana Reese (Jody). In one of his most cherished roles, he was “G-Daddy” to eight grandchildren: Donnie Slade (Christy), Kim Wright (Chris), Todd Slade (Jennifer), Mac Jackson (Brooke), Daniel Jackson (Claire), Brittany West (Jared), Molly Brubaker (Ethan), Maggie Valentine (Carlo). He was overjoyed to see them welcome his twenty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

His home was always open and full of laughter and love where he could often be found standing in front of the stove frying cornbread or okra, batting away sneaky hands trying to steal a taste before lunch was served. A lover of nature, Clark instilled in his family an appreciation for the simplicity of watching birds, exploring the outdoors or taking in an afternoon on his back porch soaking up the sun. If the Atlanta Braves were playing, Clark could be found sitting in his recliner with the TV on mute and the radio tuned to the local station catching every play with a bottle of Coca-Cola and peanuts in hand.

From his childhood, it was clear Clark had a special calling on his life. Educated in the Wilcox County Public School System, he later attended North Georgia Military College and Mercer University, and graduated and received his Masters in Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary.

His first job, after marriage, was managing the WMJM radio station in Cordele, Georgia, where he was lovingly known as Dr. Jive. He then began working as a life insurance agent for New York Life. In July of 1959, he answered his life calling and became a dedicated Baptist preacher where he served for over 44 years, serving as the Pastor of Wenona, Unadilla, Britt David, Morningside, and Beallwood Baptist churches. After retiring in 2001, he continued serving the Lord as an interim Pastor in several churches.

When he could no longer preach from the pulpit he found a new ministry from his computer, where he began telling hundreds of people “What God Said” in daily devotional emails. Through this ministry, Clark was able to reach people all over the world. He had a gift of connecting with people in the simplest yet most profound ways. Whether in a sermon, a casual conversation or simply in the way he lived his life, he always pointed others to Jesus. His unwavering faith, deep compassion, and kindness touched countless lives. He never missed an opportunity to share the Gospel, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Though our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we rejoice in the promise of eternal life, knowing that he is now in the arms of his Savior, hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Clark was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, W.T. and Pauline Standard, his sister, Joe Ann (Raymond) Pryzbyla, his brother, William Thomas Standard II, and his son-in-law Jody Reese.

The family will host a brief visitation on Thursday, October 24th at 2:00pm at Wynnbrook Baptist Church with the celebration of Clark’s life immediately following at 3:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Valley Rescue Mission, International Friendship Ministry, or Samaritan’s Purse.