Shirley Hallum-Clark

Shirley Higginbotham Hallum-Clark, 86, of Groves, died suddenly Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at Southeast Texas Medical Center, Port Arthur. She was born May 7, 1932, in Tyler, to Bessie Nell Bizzell Higginbotham and Robert Owen Higginbotham.

She was born during the deep depression and at an early age she and her parents moved to Beaumont. She attended Beaumont schools through graduation in 1950. She was small in stature, a very shy but happy child. Gifted with a beautiful soprano voice she loved to sing and did so at the Jefferson Theatre, on the radio, in church, and in her school choir. She briefly sang with the Melody Maids but was too short to travel with the group as she didn’t meet the five feet tall height requirement.

She had a gift for selling everything from seeds to school pictures and even won a contest selling popcorn. She loved to travel, dance, adored animals, and had a flare for photography.

Shirley married Cecil Hancock and together they had their daughter Pamela Susan. They divorced just a short while later. While working for Texas Employment Commission, she met Jack Hallum was married in May of 1964. They made their home in Port Neches. They welcomed their daughter, Polly Ann, in November of 1965. Together they managed the Port Arthur Community Retirement Home, worked for Christmas Around the World, and traveled the world. He was the love of her life. Jack died in March of 1997 after thirty-three years of marriage.

Shirley was always very active in the church. She attended First Baptist, Beaumont; Calder Baptist, Beaumont; Southside Baptist, Port Neches; and First Baptist, Port Neches. She moved to Pearland briefly in 2014 to be closer to her daughter, Polly, and while living there she joined Sagemont Church. She loved ministering to others and after Jack died began a grief recovery ministry for widows and widowers.

Shirley remarried again in January of 2018 to Gardner J. Clark, Jr. and they moved to Groves. She was so happy and in love. She had known Gardner since 1999 and had carried a candle for him all those years. Sadly, their time together as husband and wife was brief.

Shirley loved the Lord, she loved her family, she loved being with people, and she would give anyone her last dime if they asked.

She was heartbroken when Gardner left and was ready to go home to be with the Lord.

We love you Mother, Shirley Girl, Little Bit. We’re going to miss you terribly but are comforted knowing you are with Jesus, Jack, Nanny and Papa.

Survivors include her husband, Gardner J. Clark Jr.; daughters, Pamela Wallace and her husband, Michael, of Beaumont and Polly Weimar and her husband, Eric, of Pearland; step-grandchildren, Hudson Hallum and his wife, Candice; Heath Hallum and his wife, Stephanie; Amee Eady; and Adam Wallace and his wife, Karri; and eight step great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Bessie Nell and Robert O. Higginbotham; late husband, Jack L. Hallum; step-son, Lloyd Hallum; and step-daughter, Carolyn Poole.

A gathering of Mrs. Clark’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2019, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 2, 2019, at First Baptist Church, 1900 Magnolia Avenue, Port Neches. Her interment will follow at Frankston City Cemetery, Frankston.