Clarence Dean Browder

    Clarence Browder, age 79 of Anna, passed away into Heavenly eternity at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2023 at his home after health issues resulting from Covid-19 and physical injury causing long term, permanent physical disability and paralysis. He was born on August 16, 1943 in Ava, the seventh of nine children born to John and Emma (Higgerson) Browder. He married Charlotte Ann Cavaness on March 9, 1963.

    He is survived by his wife of  60 years, Charlotte Browder of Anna; daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Bryan Keller of Anna; son, Carroll Browder of Dahlonega, GA; grandsons, Tyler Keller of Carbondale, Brent (Samantha) Keller of Springfield, MO; Jacob Browder of Lilburn, GA; Eli Browder of Dahlonega, GA; granddaughter, Christine Browder of Ranger, GA; great-grandsons, Noah Keller of Springfield, MO and Cash Adams of Ranger, GA; great-granddaughters, Paisley and Prestley of Ranger, GA; brothers, Donald Browder of Ina and Danny Browder of Ocala, FL; sisters, Claudine England of St. Louis, MO, Darlene Campbell of Benton, LA and Brenda (Tom) McCann of Murphysboro; his mother-in-law, Gladys Cavaness Smithey of Anna; brother-in-law, Robert (Carol) Cavaness of Jasper, WY; sisters-in-law, Donna (Terry) Jenkins of Marissa, Janet Braun of Evansville, IN and Nancy Gearhart of Tamms; other relatives and many friends. Clarence was preceded in death by by his grandparents, Andrew and Mary Browder and Joseph and Effie Higgerson; his parents, John and Emma Browder; brothers, Darrell and John W. Browder; a sister, Zella Kimery; father-in-law, Charles Cavaness; step father-in-law, Joseph Smithey; brothers-in-law, Harold Modglin, Ralph Born, Robert Campbell, Don Kimery, Richard Philips and Nick England; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Browder and Anna Browder; a nephew, Glenn Browder and nieces, Becky Mifflin and Gloria Kimery.

    Clarence was a 1961 graduate of Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, He was actively involved in FFA. He was an honorary FFA member, a certified EMT  and a licensed Southern Baptist minister. Clarence was a long-term, devoted grain farmer. From the age of 16, he owned and farmed land in Grand Tower and Wolf Lake. He left the farm in 1982 to go into the ministry.

    Clarence grew up attending and was a member of Galilee Baptist Church in Wolf Lake before becoming a member of the First Baptist Church in Grand Tower. There he taught a junior boys Sunday School class, served as an ordained deacon and associate pastor. He served as full-time pastor at the First Baptist Church in Cypress and later attended and became a member of United Missionary Baptist Church in Buncombe.

    Clarence retired from Ameren in 2008. A few years after retiring, he took a job as a fleet driver with Shawnee Mass Transit Service in Vienna. He had to give that up after an injury causing permanent, irreversible physical disability and paralysis. He will be sadly and deeply missed by family and friends but will always be remembered for his love of farming, Massey Ferguson tractors, fast cars and trucks. Clarence was a humble, tender, loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He always looked for the good in people and was always willing to help someone in need. With burdened hearts and sadness, we say goodbye to one of God’s best.

    Funeral services for Clarence Browder will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023 at United Missionary Baptist Church, 125 United Missionary Lane, Buncombe, IL with Rev. John Campbell, Rev. Michael Browder, Rev. Darrell Neathery and Rev. Paul Sadler officiating. Interment will follow at Ebenezer Hall Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. until the service hour at 11:30 at the church. Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

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