Mr. Clarence Anderson Chick

On the evening of May 4, 2017, the Lord took our beloved husband and father, Clarence, by the hand and lead him to his eternal home. On Thursday evening, Clarence asked his beloved wife of 55 years, Ruth, to go to their favorite date night spot, the Zesto, to get strawberry sundaes. After returning home, they prepared for bed. Clarence retired to his favorite recliner where he transitioned with the Lord.

Mr. Chick was educated in Newberry County Schools graduating from Drayton Street High School as an honors student. He served in the United States Navy on the USS Freemont in the Mediterranean from 1955-1959 and completed another four years in the Naval Reserves. He earned a BA in History from his beloved alma mater, Benedict College, Columbia, S.C., M.Ed. from South Carolina State College, Orangeburg, S.C., and Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. where he received his Ed.S and doctoral degrees. Clarence, the consummate lifelong learner, also attended Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., Roosevelt University and University of Illinois, Chicago, Ill.

Mr. Chick began his career in education as a History and Government teacher at Gallman High School. During the 1967-1970 school year, he became the first African American teacher at Newberry High School. Clarence was promoted to assistant principal at Mid-Carolina High School where he also served as coordinator of Adult Education for 9 years. In 1980, he was appointed principal of the newly constructed Mid-Carolina Jr. High School where he served until retirement in 1994. Under the tutelage of then national middle school guru, Paul George, Clarence convinced the Newberry County School Board to move from the junior high model to the middle school model.  Under Mr. Chick’s leadership, Mid-Carolina Middle School received numerous national and state recognitions including the National Blue Ribbon School for Excellence awarded by the U. S. Department of Education and the Palmetto Blue Ribbon awarded by the S. C. Department of Education.  As principal, Mr. Chick also took on duties as girls’ basketball coach.  He is listed as having the most wins in school history. Clarence always gave credit for the school’s success to his hard-working staff, “Mid-Carolina Middle School is the best school in the nation because I have the best staff.”  In 2014, Newberry County School Board approved a request from the family to honor Mr. Chick by hanging his portrait in Mid-Carolina Middle School.

Service to the Newberry community and citizen advocacy were important to Mr. Chick. He served on the Newberry Housing Authority and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Newberry City Council honored Mr. Chick with the key to the city acknowledging his 48 years of service on the Newberry Housing Authority, the longest tenure in state history. He worked as manager and lifeguard for the Newberry Recreation Department during the summer at McSwain Street Pool for 20 years.  Clarence would often show off his Navy training by swimming multiple laps in the pool without coming up for air. The McSwain Street pool was a positive source of community activity for children and families in the Cannon Town and surrounding neighborhoods for years. Mr. Chick taught many children and adults to swim at “The Pool” who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to do so. 

The Chick family has been a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Newberry for over 110 years. Clarence accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age.  He served on the Trustee board and other various church committees.

Clarence loved all sports especially, baseball, football, and basketball. He was a devoted football fan of Benedict College, South Carolina State, Clemson University, and the Carolina Panthers Football teams.

 Mr. Chick was preceded in death by his father Pettis Chick, Sr., mother Janie Hunter Chick, and brothers Hayne Thomas Chick and Pettis Chick, Jr., and his “best buddy” dog, Terri.  He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years 5 months, Lillie Ruth Davis Chick, four children Dr. Arva Chick Davidson (Bruce), Newport News, Va., Ezma Chick Douglas (Ray), Louisville, Ky., Pettis Phelan Chick, Newberry, S.C., and Vince Chick (Jack), Irmo, S.C.  Six grandchildren, who were the joy in his life Pettis Seth Chick, Newberry, S.C., Adam Hunter, Newport News, Va., Logan Rae Douglas, Newberry, S.C., Evan Douglas, Louisville, Ky., Reed Douglas, Burbank, Ca., Cole Douglas, Hanover, NH, and one sister, Ezma Chick Brimmer, Chicago, Ill., one special niece Sheba Brimmer, Bowie, Md., and nephew, Carlton Brimmer, Chicago, Ill., devoted sisters-in-law Janie Trapp, Blair, S.C., Cynthia Sanders, Columbia, S.C., Lucille Davis, Blair, S.C., close cousins Doretha Chick-Simpson, Newberry, S.C. and Bessie Crosby, Union, S.C., and a host of other relatives, and grand dogs.   Clarence was known for keeping a running to-do list of technology and household repairs for his devoted sons-in-law Bruce Davidson and Jack Douglas.

Flowers are welcomed but the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donation can be made in memory of Clarence Anderson Chick (Class of 1961), Benedict College, Eunice Bedenbaugh Endowed Scholarship Fund of Newberry County, 1600 Harden Street, Columbia, S.C. 29204-9973 or in memory of Clarence Anderson Chick, Bethlehem Baptist Church, P.O. Box 344, Newberry, S.C. 29108

The family will receive friends at the home (921 Bess Street, Newberry, SC).

Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Bethlehem Baptist Church (viewing one hour prior to the service). Burial with Military rites will follow in Newberry Memorial Gardens.

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