Arthur Louis Clemons

Arthur Louis Clemons was born June 20, 1931 to Nina Mae (Craig) Clemons and Arland Cewood Clemons in Lovejoy, St. Clair, Illinois.  He was the third of four children of that union.  Arland Clemons, Jr. (Uncle Pete), Jewel Josie (Clemons) Murphy Kirtland (Aunt Jewel), and Burton Delano Clemons.  All relocated from Lovejoy Illinois to Cleveland, OH y’all.  Walter Williams raised them as his own.

Art graduated from Glenville High in Cleveland Public Schools.  Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Army in 1951 where he served as a chef and as the “first Black man” in Army Intelligence O.I.C. (now the CIA) during the Korean War.  He earned the National Defense Service Medal and Army Occupational Medal (Germany) before being honorably discharged in 1954.

While in the Army, he met James Goldson from Norristown, PA who would introduce him to his baby sister, Katherine Goldson.  On their 3rd date, Art told Katherine that he was going to marry her! After she came to from laughing hysterically, she found herself in Shaker Heights, Ohio with five babies.  During a father and son talk, Art told his sons it took just one look and he was hooked.  He said, “That’s my gal!”

Art was a family man.  He LOVED his family!  He and Katherine had five children: Eugene aka Gene, Michael, Johnathan aka Donnie, Arthur aka Poochie (Chaundra), and the only girl Kitt Clemons Pulphus (Terrance).  The kids thought it was comedy hour when Dad came home from work.  After singing “daddy’s home, daddy’s home!”, they would demand he tell them what happened at work that day.

Art served as General Manager of Cedar Lee Chrysler Plymouth, owned by his brother Burton.  This was the first Black owned Chrysler dealership in the Cleveland Metropolitan Area.  He had many stories about car sales – like a woman driving on the wrong side of the road in a test drive, and another woman diving out of the car while it was moving, leaving him in the passenger seat, headed for a brick wall!  He later continued as a car salesman at Blaushield’s Chevrolet and Zalud Oldsmobile until his retirement at Shaker Hardware.

He and Katherine, baby bro Burton and his wife Gene were attending a revival hosted by the late GREAT Sister Shaw at Williams Temple COGIC, where all four had such an awesome encounter with God that the saints said, “We’ve never seen 4 people get saved like that!”  Only in their 20s, they gave their lives to our Lord and Savior and never waivered from their commitment to Christ.  Though we all are sifted by the enemy of our soul, they remained faithful unto Him! 

Everywhere Art went, people would always be laughing and instantly loving him, just as we did at family functions.  He was a natural comedian!

His only daughter, Kitt, would become his and Katherine’s primary caregiver.  Kitt sacrificed her life to care for him 16+ years as his health declined.  The medical community was forever amazed at how he out-lived all of their diagnoses.  He said to his daughter, “Thank you for being my caregiver and for your sacrifice.  I love you Kitt!”  The Bible says that we are to honor our mothers and fathers, and Kitt has been a true model of this commandment.  To all the caregivers out there, the Clemons family recognizes and loves you for your efforts!

Before Dad left, he was laughing and said “It is well with my soul!  I am now laying down my burdens, praise the Lord!”

Art was pre-deceased by his brothers Burton and Pete, by his sons Donnie and Michael, and by his granddaughter Miranda.  He is survived by sons Gene and Artie, daughter, Kitt, his sister Jewel Kirtland, a host of nieces and nephews and his beloved grandchildren.

Grandchildren: Eugene Clemons, Jr., Raquel Clemons Scott, Johnathan Clemons, Jr., Drew Clemons, Monique Clemons Kennedy, Angela Clemons, Ian Clemons, Milton Clemons, Mikayla Clemons.

Great-grandchildren: Chase Scott, Makyii Bunrout-Clemons, Serenity Franklin, Jeremiah Kennedy, Camille Kennedy, Daveanna, Ja-khi, Christian and Takoda Clemons.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arthur Louis Clemons, please visit our floral store.