Golden Rule manager remembered for her commitment – Muskogee Daily Phoenix

Brenda Clark, who died Saturday at the age of 58, is being remembered for her commitment to and love for the workers she supervised at Golden Rule of Muskogee.

Golden Rule Executive Director Taylor Foster said Clark was a "true hero" to the nonprofit's developmentally disabled workers. He said Clark worked at Golden Rule for 38 years, serving as assembly contract manager in her latest role.

"She was the most selfless person I ever knew," Foster said. "Until two weeks ago, she never took a full week off work."

That week off came when Clark went to the hospital, he said.

"For her, it was work first," Foster said.

The State Use Program presented Clark with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. The State Use Program promotes employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities.

Foster recalled having to trick Clark into going to the awards presentation.

"I told her she had to come with me for training," Foster said, recalling the time he told Clark to buy a dress because she was "representing Golden Rule."

He said Clark never sought accolades for herself. She preferred to make a difference with Golden Rule's workers. Foster recalled the various degrees of emotion they expressed after being told Clark had died.

"A lot of people here felt they had lost a mother, a sister, a mentor and a good friend I know I had," Foster said. "She had impacted their lives for a lot of years her reward was watching people grow, she took pride in helping to raise her 'kids,' as she called them."

Area resident Belva Cothern said Clark was an awesome sister.

"If you needed her help, she would help to the best of her ability," Cothern said. "If she could not help, she would find someone to help you."

She recalled times when family would gather at Clark's house or at their parent's house.

"She made sure we had plenty to eat she liked helping people when they needed something," Cothern said. "I loved her very deeply, and she'll be forever missed."

Services for Clark will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Greenwood Cemetery, Porter, under the direction of Cornerstone Funeral Home and Crematory.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com

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Golden Rule manager remembered for her commitment - Muskogee Daily Phoenix