Clara Broyles

Clara Mae Broyles, age 79, of Fairfield, Ohio,
devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother
and sister, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014 at
her home surrounded by family. She was born in
Richmond, KY on July 15, 1934 to the union of
the late Clay and Helen (Laine) Phelps. At an
early age, Clara accepted Christ as her personal
Saviour and was baptized at the East End
Methodist CME Church, Richmond, KY. After
moving to Hamilton, she became a member of
Israel Baptist Church, and more recently,
Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church.
After graduating from Richmond High
School, Clara went on to receive her Bachelors
degree from Central State University in 1958.
Early in her career, Clara worked in the City of
Hamilton as a Women and Girls Activities
Supervisor at the BTW Community Center;
Inner City Director YWCA; and Girls Summer
Fun Director, Boys & Girls Club of America. In
these roles, Clara was able to positively impact
the lives of many young people within the community.
Later in her career, she worked as a
Social Worker for the Butler County Department
of Children’s Services. Her affiliations
over the years included: Fairfield Lioness Club,
BTW Community Center Board of Directors,
Hamilton YWCA Board of Directors,
Transitional Living, Inc. Board of Directors, City
of Hamilton Public Schools Communications
Committee and City of Hamilton Human
Relations Committee.
Clara loved traveling. She especially enjoyed
her trips to Paris, France, South Beach, FL, San
Diego and Altadena, California. A “People
Person”, Clara never met a stranger. She could
strike up a conversation with anyone and before
they were finished, she would know their entire
life story and she would have also shared with
them everything that was going on in her
children’s lives.
Clara is preceded in death by her husband of
33 years, Howard Lee Broyles. Left to cherish
her memory are her brother, George (Sandra)
Phelps; five children, Helen “Dee Dee” Washington,
Regina Wilkinson, Renee’ Broyles,
Howard Broyles, Jr. (Sherika) and Eric Broyles;
eight grandchildren, Arthur “AJ”, Micah, Daijah,
Nneka, Kelechi, Anaiah, Cianan and CaiLei;
three great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Jae’la and
Arvon; godson, Marquan Seago; sister-in-laws,
Charlotte Avery, Janis Lawson and Elaine Bowman;
long-time friend, Catherine Bradley; and a
host of other relatives and friends.