Moses Archie Clements

Into eternal rest, Moses Archie Clements, on September 23, 2017. A lifelong resident of West Purdy, VA, Moses graduated in 1971 from Brunswick Academy and was named a Merit’s Who’s Who Scholar. He attended Virginia Tech and graduated from the School of Engineering in 1977. While at Tech, he worked for the agricultural engineering department and was a founding member of the National Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.
Moses was the son of the late local farmers Archie B. and Ida Conner Clements, and from 1977-1989, he returned home and operated the Clements family farm in Purdy. He was named Farmer of the Year in 1983 by the J. R. Horsley Water and Soil Conservation Organization. Like his father before him, Moses was an an excellent farmer who shared the bounty of his large garden, especially his excellent watermelons, with countless friends and neighbors. He accepted employment with Greensville County in 1989, eventually rising to become the assistant director of the Water and Sewer Authority, where he oversaw many projects that raised the standard of living for county residents.
Mr. Clements is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Debra; his sons Robert Archie Clements and wife Trista, and Adam Decker Clements and wife Michele; and by five granddaughters: Sumer, Cora, Alyce, Anna, and Caroline. He is also survived by his sister, Connie Ellison and husband Andrew, and two nieces, Jean Prince Ellison and Stephane Dene Satterwhite, and two nephews, James Moses Ellison and William Asa Rowland. As well, he leaves behind numerous faithful and loving cousins, inlaws, and friends. The support and love of his community and friends sustained Moses and his family during his inevitably unwinnable battle with ALS.
Moses Clements held strong convictions on the importance of education. He served for many years as the treasurer and chairman of the Scholarship Committee for the Greensville/Roanoke Rapids Tech Alumni Chapter. Numerous recipients of the award, as well as many other college students, received regular notes and small monetary gifts from Moses during their years in college, along with the admonishments to: “Do us proud!”, “Study hard!” and “Get that degree!” The Scholarship was renamed by the organization in July in honor of Mr. Clements. As well, the Southside Virginia LandSharks Parrot Head Club, of which Moses was a founding and very active member, dedicated the Moses Archie Clements Memorial Scholarship in June, to be given annually to a local student who will be attending Tech. Moses Clements loved life, and enjoyed being in three places above all others: cheering on his beloved Hokies in Lane Stadium, singing along with Jimmy Buffett at concerts, and watching the sun set over the water at his “Metal Mansion” at Lake Gaston. All of these were enjoyed more when he was with the many friends he held near and dear. He was one of life’s true givers. The friends, family members, and complete strangers who benefitted from his acts of kindness are innumerable. His only desire in the giving of his time, talents, and money was that the recipient “pay it forward”, spreading kindness to others.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday, September 25 at Owen Funeral Home, 303 S. Halifax Rd, Jarratt, Virginia where the funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 26. Interment will follow at Emporia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Clements requested donations to Purdy Baptist Church, where he was a lifelong member, and long time deacon, the ALS Foundation, or one of the scholarship funds mentioned above. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.owenfh.com.