Missionary Alver Mae Clary

Minister Alver Mae Clary was born to Robert Wheeler and Lillie Mae Timmons on February 9, 1937, in Dade County, Florida.  She was raised by her Grandmother Ellen Slayton- Benton and her Aunt Fannie Jane Divinity; both preceded her in death. She was called to Rest on December 20, 2023, at 1:02 pm at Bainbridge Memorial Hospital ICU in Bainbridge, Georgia.

“Alver Mae”, as she was affectionately known, was saved at the early age of eight years old in Pelham, Georgia.  She attended school in Ochlocknee, Georgia, until she moved to Bainbridge in 1950.  In 1951, she joined the First Born Church of the Living God, which was located on Paulette Street in Bainbridge, under the leadership of Elder H. W. Willis.  In 1964, she was called into the Ministry and preached her trial sermon on January 11, 1964, under the leadership of the late Bishop R. M. Morris. She served faithfully at Morris Temple and was ordained as a Minister of the First Born Church of the Living God, Inc.  She served in a host of positions in her local church, district and Diocese and was the Greater Bainbridge District Missionary for over thirty years but had relinquished her position due to her declining health.  She was the longest serving member of Morris Temple Community First Born Church of the Living God, Inc., having served faithfully for over seventy-two years.

On March 20, 1954, she was united in marriage to Robert Clary, her husband of sixty-nine years.  They had three sons; one son, Larry Wheeler, preceded her in death.  Her three brothers Sterling Sutton, Leroy Timmons and Buster Higgs also preceded her in death.

Minister Alver Mae Clary leaves many loved ones to cherish her memories: a devoted loving husband Robert Clary; two sons Lenoris Keith Clary (Jennifer) and Robert Eugene Clary; seven grandchildren Larry Wheeler Jr., Fredrick A. Clary, Nina D. Clary, LaTasha Patterson, Tasia Potter, Gwendolyn D. Clary and Amrie Wheeler, seven great grandchildren and one great grandchild; a devoted niece Jacquelyn Sutton of Gainesville, Florida; a devoted cousin Ruby Douglas Peterson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, church members and friends.