GREENSBORO â?? Mrs. Helen Akins Clarke, 85, departed this life on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 following a long illness. Mrs. Clarke, daughter of the late Theodore Akins, Sr., and the late Savannah Holt Akins and the widow of the late Walter Clarke, Jr., was born in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. Mrs. Clarke was an avid and dedicated worker in the former Warren Street Methodist Church before joining the Shiloh Baptist Church where she served as a loyal member of the Usher Board and other auxiliaries. In August 1997 she became a founding member of the Genesis Baptist Church and was one of the founding members of the Genesis Usher Board and became the first president. Mrs. Clarke served as president until her health began to fail. She was a member of the Genesis Missionary Circle and the Kitchen Ministry. She also was a volunteer in the church office until she could no longer make the journey. Mrs. Clarke was a loyal, regular and faithful member of Genesis and loved serving God. Mrs. Clarke worked as a Child Nutritionist for Guilford County Schools (Kiser Middle), until her retirement in October 1990. Mrs. Clarke leaves to mourn three children, Marshall L. Akins (Martha) of Phoenix, Arizona, Marche L. Clarke of Greensboro, and Brenda K. Clarke of Rehobeth Beach, DE., three grandchildren, Shawn Akins of Phoenix, Arizona, Bridgette Clark-Clarke (Victor) and Loren K. Green of California, and four great-grandchildren; three siblings Theodore "Ted" Akins of Greensboro, James Marvin "Penny" Akins (Mattie) of Greensboro, and Ruth Akins Bass (James) of Jamestown and many a hosts of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Genesis Baptist Church and family hour will precede the service from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Perry J. Brown Funeral Home is in charge of Services.