In loving memory of Willie Absalom Clarke

December 5th, 1978- July 29th, 2026

Willie Absalom Clarke, 47, was born at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. The second child of Dawn Clarke and the fifth child of Herbert Bess Jr., Willie was a devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. After a three-year battle with lung cancer, he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Willie attended Pleasant Hill Elementary, the Woodward CAMAS program, Bramble Middle School, and Withrow High School before earning his GED. He began cutting hair as a teenager and later formalized his craft by attending Cincinnati Barber College. Willie also worked in factories as a forklift driver and studied to become an electrician at Gateway Community College.

Willie will be remembered for the care he showed his family, the skill he developed as a barber, and the lasting place he holds in the lives of those who loved him. Willie was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Bess Jr. He leaves to mourn and cherish his memory his mother, Dawn Clarke (Renie); his sons, Willie Clarke Jr., Alfred Johnson (AJ), and Gyovani Brown-Clarke (G); his daughters, Alania Johnson (Willita) and September Rogers (Tember); his sisters, Angela Covington, Lakeisha Bhoolai-Norman (Quentin), and Jannie Bess Wright; and his brothers, Herbert Bishop, LaDawn Clark, Javon Covington, and Gregory Ciers (Martina). He is also remembered by a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A memorial service following cremation will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home,

7272 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.

A Celebration of Life repast will follow at 5:00 p.m. at The Vue Event Center, 8790 Colerain

Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45251.