Marshall Morrow Clements, Lifelong resident of Dixie County went to his heavenly home on Sunday, February 3, 2019. He was 85 years old. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Frances Valentine Clements; son Hugh; daughter Lori (Tim) Powell; grandchildren Joy Powell, Daniel Powell (Brooklyn) and Holly Clements Clark (Chris); brother Mitchell Clary; and two step-sisters Bobbie Jean Biles and Linda Gail; nephews, nieces and a host of cousins and beloved friends.
‘The Judge” as he was affectionately known, graduated Dixie County High School as President of the Class of 1951. He worked in the power plant of the City of Gainesville after high school graduation. In 1954 he began working with Buckeye Cellulose Corporation in Taylor County as their youngest Power Plant Operator.
He worked 22 years there. During the period of 1968 to 1973, he served as the last Municipal Court Judge of Horseshoe Beach, Florida, signing an order abolishing that court and transferring the case files to Dixie County Court pursuant to Florida constitutional revision in 1973. He met Mary Frances Valentine at a church service in which she sang a beautiful gospel solo.
She became the love of his life and in 1961 they were married. Their first home was the old log house built before the War between the States by his great-grandfather, James D. Butler. The house still stands and their son Hugh lives near it on Butler Homestead.
He ran for Dixie County Judge in 1976 and was elected to begin serving in that position as a Florida State Judge, January 1977. He retired in 2003 as the longest serving Judge in Dixie County’s history. During his time in the bench, he presided in hundreds of trials and thousands of legal matters in the County Courts of Dixie, Lafayette, Taylor, Madison, Suwannee, Hamilton and Columbia Counties (the seven counties which compose the Third Circuit of Florida).
Judge Clements served 3 terms as one of 20 Directors of the Florida Conference of County Court Judges, elected by the other Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit. Judge Clements became a born-again Christian at the age of 15. He and his wife are members of First Baptist Church of Cross City, Florida.
They are sponsors of CBN Operation Blessing Flying Hospital, supporters of Samaritan’s Purse Ministry, Florida Baptist Children’s Home, Shriner’s Hospital for Children and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Judge Clement was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Medal for his international effort to eradicate polio worldwide. He served several terms as Director in the Dixie County Rotary Club.
Judge Clements loved the LORD, he loved people, even those who some perceived as unlovable. His rule and guide has always been the answer to the question posed by Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with you GOD? ” Funeral Arrangements are with Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City 325-498-5400.
There will be a private family graveside service at a later time. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Marshall M. Clements please visit our Sympathy Store.
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