The legacy of Clarice Evelyn Thorpe began on January 23, 1933 as the younger daughter of Eural Endris and Bessie Love Thorpe in Durham, North Carolina. She departed this life on Friday, June 14, 2024.

Clarice, affectionately referred to by family and friends as “Clara” was extremely astute. She attended East End Elementary School. She graduated from Hillside High School in 1951. Following high school, she attended North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University, “NCCU”) and graduated in 1955.

She was employed at NCCU for two years, then moved to New York City in 1957. In New York, she was employed at Mobile Oil Company and IBM. She was also employed by the City of New York as a social worker. She attended the John Jay School of Criminology to qualify as an inspector and was employed in the Inspector General’s Office (Social Services Division) until retirement.

In Brooklyn, NY, she served as a member of the NAACP, NCCU Alumni Association of New York, the Crown Heights Neighborhood Association and the Brownsville Democratic League of Brooklyn. She was a delegate for District Council 37, Local 371 of NYC. She joined the Greater Bright Light Baptist Church of Brooklyn, NY where she served on the Missionary Board and the Usher Board until she returned to Durham in 1995. In Durham, she re-joined her childhood church, Mount Gilead Baptist Church.

Clarice was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings: sister, Mary Thorpe Morton (Theodore), twin brothers Eural Edward Thorpe and Earlie Endris Thorpe (Martha Vivian), Charles D. Thorpe and Billie Lee Thorpe (Maxine) and niece Deidre Thorpe Jones (David). She will be dearly missed by sisters-in-law Edna Thorpe of Sacramento, California and Ruth Thorpe of Hempstead, Long Island, nieces and nephews: Rita Thorpe Lamb (Claude) of Greensboro, Gloria Thorpe Doyle (Jerry), Valerie Thorpe Gill (Larry), Timothy Thorpe (April) of Durham, Karen Thorpe Stallworth (Darryl) of Dublin, California, Sherry Thorpe of New York, Thorston Thorpe of Atlanta, Georgia, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.

While no one could predict the challenges that she would face in her later years, she was a fierce competitor in the game of life to the very end. We know that she will receive the ultimate reward and wear the victory crown reserved for her by our redeemer, Jesus Christ.

It is with this knowledge that those of us who love and adore her find joy and hope, knowing that we will one day see her again. Until that day, we will continue her legacy of love and carry the fond memories of her blessed life.

The family will receive visitors at 3002 Independence Ave. on Monday -Friday, June 21, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Funeral service: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | Visitation service from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. | Funeral service starts at 1:00 pm.

Place of service:
Mt.Gilead Baptist Church, 404 Dowd St Durham, NC 27701

Interment:
Beechwood Cemetery
3300 Fayetteville St Durham, NC 27707