- State: Florida
Clarence Allen Rease was born in Pensacola, FL on December 31, 1947 to Willie Moses Rease and Janie Belle Rease (Crutcher), both preceding him in death. He attended the Pensacola Public Schools, attending Washington High School. He relocated to Jacksonville, FL and graduated from New Stanton Vocational School in 1967, after his voluntary entrance into the United States Navy in 1966. He traveled to various overseas destinations in the Navy, including Malta, Copenhagen, and Scandinavia. Clarence received many commendations and honors in the Navy, including recognition from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eleven in 1970. Clarence was honorably discharged from the Navy in June 1972.
Clarence is from a great heritage of Christian faith and music. He was raised in the Apostolic Faith, both his parents being ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Clarence loved God and confessed Christ as his Savior and was baptized in a muddy creek at an early age. He was an avid reader of the Bible and loved to talk about the scriptures with anyone who would engage him. Gospel music was his favorite.
Clarence entered the Jacksonville Fire Academy in November 1972 and was a devoted employee to the Jacksonville Fire Department for 29 years, until his retirement in March 2001. While working for the Fire Department, Clarence held several positions: Firefighter on Engines, No.1, 12, 22, and 31, and Rescue No.6.
There were many things to love about Clarence. One of them was his wide-range of talents and interests. He was extremely intelligent, had an expansive vocabulary, and strived to be the absolute best at any task or hobby he approached. Clarence was an amazing cook. He loved his kitchen and had every professional cooking apparatus made. He was a fan of Food Network and insisted on preparing the best food from the freshest, cleanest ingredients. Clarence especially loved seafood – catching fish and eating it, preparing shrimp, and even fishing from his boat. He believed in family – feeding them well and making comfortable space for them. He was given to hospitality and caring for others, as evidenced by his feeding the homeless and volunteering at the local hospitals after his retirement.
Clarence was an extremely creative and avid photographer. He had a natural eye for candid shots and nature pictures. His natural eye turned into studying the craft and becoming proficient at it.
After a brief illness, Clarence departed this life surrounded by his loving family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Joel Sweeney, and three brothers, Alphonso Rease, Charles Rease and Benjamin Rease.
He leaves to cherish his legacy, his devoted and loving wife of 25 years, Sonia; two daughters and their spouses, Robyn Rease Burdette (Arnett) of Cranston, RI, and Inga Rease Simmons (James) of Jacksonville, FL; three additional daughters, Michelle Sweeney, Jacksonville, FL, Katrina Rease Jackson, Akron, OH, and Victoria Demps, Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by grandsons, Lawren and Christopher Simmons of Jacksonville, FL, Avery Winters of Akron, OH, and Malcolm Sessions III of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughters, Kara Winters of Akron, OH, Mariah Bulton and Michaela Washington of Jacksonville, FL; and a great grandson, Carter Sessions. Clarence also leaves siblings, his sister, Ethel DeLarge (David) of Pensacola, FL, and brothers, Melvin Williams of Dayton, OH, Willie Rease, Jr. and Oscar Rease of Pensacola, FL. He also leaves his godson, Alexander Willis, Gainesville, FL, and goddaughter, Brianna Hughey, Jacksonville, FL. Many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends will remember Clarence fondly and keep memories of his time with us.
