Dr. Cavannah Mewborn Clark
Retired Professor At
University of Central Oklahoma Dead Jan. 28

 

By JAMES A. CARTWRIGHT
Special to the Chronicle

Dr. Cavannah Mewborn Clark, 91, the retired professor of language arts at the University of Central Oklahoma, who held sway over programs there that prepares aspiring schoolteachers wanting to become reading specialists, died on Jan. 28.
So astute in her field of expertise, Dr. Clark became UCO’s reading specialists diagnostician for both undergraduate and graduate programs there.
While at the university in Edmond, Dr. Clark became the “critic teacher” for beginning teachers in schools in the Oklahoma City school district; a district in which she had once taught and excelled.
Cavannah Mae Mewborn was born on Sept. 6, 1921, in Fay to Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Mewborn.
In 1939, she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in El Reno, and went on to graduate with a bachelor of arts degree from Langston University.
Mrs. Clark earned two master of education degrees at the University of Oklahoma: one with a specialty in English and the other with a specialty in reading.
She also received a doctor of education degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State University.
Mrs. Clark began her teaching career as an English and social studies teacher at Douglass High School in Crescent, and then she returned to the high school from which she had graduated in El Reno to teach English and to be Washington High’s librarian.
Next, she served as the librarian at Douglass High School in Lawton.
She, then, became an English and reading teacher at Douglass High School in Oklahoma City.
After that, Dr. Clark became a helping teacher at junior and senior Title I schools in the Oklahoma City Public School System.
Her outstanding contributions in the Oklahoma City district led to Dr. Clark becoming a professor of language arts at UCO.
At that school, she also became supervisor of reading clinic practicums, and supervised programs for juniors and seniors preparing to become reading specialists.
After her retirement, Dr. Clark was named professor emeritus in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at UCO.
The Cavannah Mewborn Clark Black Heritage Awards Program was named at UCO for Dr. Clark.
Even after she had retired, Dr. Clark served as a professor of English at Langston University’s Oklahoma City campus.
She also served as professor of reading and secondary education and supervisor of practice teachers at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas.
Dr. Clark was a member of the American Association of Teacher Educators, the American Association of University Professors, the National Council of Teachers of English and the Oklahoma Association of Teacher Educators.
Dr. Clark, a charter member of the Wildewood Christian Church, served there as an elder, as chairman of the Christian education department and as editor of the congregation’s newsletter.
At Wildewood Christian, she once served as chairman of the General Board.
In addition, Dr. Clark held numerous leadership posts with regional and national organizations of her denomination.
She held life-memberships in the Langston University National Alumni Association and the University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association.
Dr. Clark also held a life-membership with the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and was a member of the Nu
Vista Club.
Mrs. Clark previously served as president the Oklahoma City Alumnae and Oklahoma City Sooner City Alumnae chapters of Delta Sigma Theta.
She held a life-membership with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and once was a member of the executive board of directors of the Oklahoma City branch of that civil rights group.
Moreover, Dr. Clark was a member of the Urban League Guild of Oklahoma City.
Mrs. Clark was married to William A. Clark Sr. in 1945.
Dr. Clark is survived by a daughter, Cathy Clark Cannon; and a son, Dr. William A. Clark Jr.
Also, she is survived by a sister, Bette Mewborn Coleman.
Other survivors are three grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Wildewood Christian, 6900 N. Kelley Ave. Rev. William Simms will officiate.
Interment will be held at El Reno Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Temple & Sons Funeral Directors.