Giant Among Pastors CAW Clark Passes at 93

DALLAS -- The Rev. C.A.W. Clark Sr., who spent more than half a century preaching from the pulpit of a South Dallas church, died Sunday. He was 93.

"This is the passing of an era. We won't see his likes again," the Rev. Gerald Britt Jr., vice president for public policy at Central Dallas Ministries, told The Dallas Morning News for its Monday editions. "He was a master of the pulpit. He influenced generations of preachers."

Services will be Aug. 4 at Clark's Good Street Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Sandra Clark Funeral Home. Viewing will be all day on Aug. 2, followed by a celebration of life service Sunday during normal church services.

Born Caesar Arthur Walter Clark on Dec. 13, 1914, in Shreveport, La., Clark was ordained in 1933 and led his first pastorate at the Israelite Baptist Church in Longstreet, La., at the age of 19, according to his church Web site.

He joined Good Street in September 1950 and remained there until his death. Good Street became one of Dallas' first black megachurches, opening its doors to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1956. Clark, a friend of King's father, encouraged the younger King in his work.

At Good Street, Clark oversaw the opening of day care centers, a credit union, low-income housing and a legal clinic.

"Everybody who knows anything about black Baptist life is familiar with C.A.W. Clark," Cleophus LaRue, author of the book "The Heart of Black Preaching," told The Dallas Morning News in 2006. "He was regarded as one of the great black preachers in the 20th century."

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Comment by VICTOR RICHARDSON on July 29, 2008 at 6:49pm: Dr. C. A. W. Clark embodied that which those of us who aspire to be great preachers seek, with such finesse. Certainly his voice will be greatly missed! May God dry the tears and lift the comfort of the hearts of both his physical and spiritual .

Comment by Sherrie on July 29, 2008 at 6:12pm: While I never met Dr. Clark, I am touched that he crossed the centuries, and sowed bountifully for the Lord. While he will be missed, I sense through the Holy Spirit that Dr. Clark is still with us in many ways; the way he spoke, and preached, and taught and prayed, a humble man whose heart's desire was for the Lord God Almighty. May we be blessed to continue on as part of the same God, same Lord, same Holy Spirit Dr. Clark is with. My prayers go out to all the family, near and far whose hearts are touched by Dr. Clark's life.
In Jesus, Amen.

Comment by Ernestine Crutcher on July 29, 2008 at 5:19pm: Those who trust in Him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with Him in love:Because grace and mrecy are with His holy ones, and His care is with the elect.
Wisdom 3: 19

Comment by Denise on July 29, 2008 at 5:12pm: I love Rev. CAW Clark.. He was awesome!

Comment by C.D. Grant, M.Ed. on July 29, 2008 at 4:42pm: May the Lord bless and keep the family during this time. The great man of God will be missed by many. In all things we have to give thanks!!!

Comment by MINISTER COBEY FARMER on July 29, 2008 at 9:44am: I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING DR. CLARK WHEN I STARTED PREACHING AT 14 YEARS OLD IN ATLANTA GA. HE WAS TRULY A PREACHERS PREACHER AND A PASTOR TO ALL THAT HEARD HIM PREACH. HE IS ONE THAT I WOULD SAY THAT COMPLETED HIS WORK AND LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND, IN ALL THAT MET OR HEARD HIM PREACH. WHEN I FIRST MET HIM HE WAS SO HUMBLE AND IMPART GREAT WISDOM IN MY LIFE. I WILL MISS THE BISHOP OF PREACHING DR. CAW CLARK. LOVE YA

Comment by Pastor Ronald Kendrick on July 29, 2008 at 2:24am: Dr. C.W. Clark will forever be remembered as one of the best preachers that that has ever been known! Going to miss some good old fashion preaching!!!

Comment by Rev Jeff on July 28, 2008 at 11:15pm: What a great preacher and great man of God, I have a number of his sermons of video and audio, my favorite is still "The Worms Got Him"

Comment by Terrance Milem on July 28, 2008 at 11:09pm: A giant among preachers of the gospel. I had an opportunity to hear him in person in 2003. It was an evening that I will never forget. He will truly be missed but he has left a legacy that will live on through preachers throughout the world.

Comment by Melvin Kerr on July 28, 2008 at 11:01pm: He was a preacher's preacher. He visited Kansas City many times. I was so inspired, when I visited Dallas as a young man in my 20's I wanted to visit his church. Funny, the day I went, he was out of town. I did enjoy the service. "He was the master of the pulpit"........well said. A great evangelist.