Mrs. Clara B. Porter was born May 26, 1929 in Aiken, South Carolina to the late Ike and Carrie Isaac. She departed this life Friday, April 21, 2017, at White Oak Manor in Columbia, South Carolina after an extended illness. 

Mrs. Porter attended the public schools of Allendale County, South Carolina. She Porter became an in-home caregiver for the Gibson family. The Gibson children would often visit her even after they were grown.

Mrs. Porter’s lifelong dream was to be a beautician. She moved to New York to work; but once she returned to South Carolina, she immediately began to work towards her dream. She attended Waverly Beauty School and, upon graduation, worked at several salons. While living on Farrow Road, she met Ms. Lillie Mae and thus began a long friendship and work relationship. Their shop in Washington Carver Village (now the Colony) was the place to be on Saturday mornings. Mrs. Porter would often be heard laughing above everyone else in the beauty shop as she and the other beauticians put a hard press on their customers’ hair.

Mrs. Porter was a dedicated member of Saint John Baptist for many years. She was faithful to all aspects of her church.  She loved when a member of her church family would pick her up and bring her to the house of the Lord. When Mrs. Porter was in the church, everyone knew it because a crowd would be gathered around her.  The young people would try to see if she could recognize their voices and if she knew who their parents were. Mrs. Porter was a warm and friendly person who just loved being around people. Her beautiful smile brought a warm glow anywhere she was.

Mrs. Porter was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Etta Fanning; and her brothers: Clarence, Henry, Ike and Sam Isaac.

She is survived by one son, James (Barbara) Davis; her devoted goddaughter, Shirley (Samuel) Sutton and her family; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives and friends, including her church family.