Obituary of Larry Bernell Clopton

Larry Bernell Clopton was born on March 23, 1954, to the late Grady Edward Clopton Sr. and  Dorcas Lynn Smithson Clopton Alley, in Nashville, Tennessee; where he was born and raised. He entered into eternal life suddenly and peacefully on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

He received his early elementary and middle school education at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic School, and high school education at Father Ryan High School and Pearl Senior High School.  He later graduated from Cohn Adult High School.  Larry received a degree in Computer Science from Columbia State Community College in 1994.

He was a devoted and dedicated member of St.Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, where he attended mass religiously and served as a Knight of Peter Claver.

He was able to merge his love of driving with his love of trucks by working for various trucking companies for many years. He later became the owner of his own bus company, ABC Transportation, and transported children to many charter schools in the Metro area. Larry also owned a cab company. He was a dependable and reliable driver who by God’s grace, never had an accident.

After a back injury, he changed profession and joined the staff of Project Reflect and later the successful charter school, created by his family members, The Smithson-Craighead Academy Charter School in Nashville, TN.  He served in many roles through the years, such as, bus driver, campus security, computer teacher, and in-classroom math support.

His hobbies included reading, playing video games, riding his beloved motorcycle, and taking many road trips, rain or shine. He was an avid football fan with a special place in his heart for the Tennessee Titans.   

Larry leaves to cherish his memory, one brother, Dr. Charles (Sylvia) Sanders of Silver Spring, Maryland; two children, Mrs. Karen Holloway (Gary) of New Johnsonville, Tennessee, and Anthony (Joy) Clopton of  Franklin, Tennessee; ex-wife, Edna Clopton; his 5 grandchildren, Joshua Holloway, Jillian Holloway, Jaya Holloway, Azariah Clopton, and Deana Clopton; two devoted friends, Lavondra Gaddes, Shuntay Johnson.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Catherine  (Micki) Muridan, his brother, Grady Clopton, Jr., and special friend Latonya Muldrew. He also leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and life-long friends.