On August 9, 1932, in Lecompte, LA, Lydia Marie was born to the late Sam George and Julia Weinberg Clark. One of eight children, she was the baby girl. Lydia Clark Beloney departed this life on Monday, February 3, 2020.  She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Union Baptist Church in Lecompte, LA.

Lydia graduated in 1950 from Peabody High School in Alexandria, LA where she was voted Miss Peabody. In 1954, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics from Grambling State University.

She began her teaching career at Washington High School in Lake Charles, LA as a Social  Studies, Science and Home Economics teacher. She organized the first class in restaurant training and taught the first occupational class for boys. It was there, where she met the love of her life, Ivory J. Beloney. Together, they sponsored clubs and organizations to encourage students to strive for excellence.

In 1968, she received a Master's Degree in Education from Southern University and furthered her education in Administration and Supervision attending both Southern and Louisiana State Universities.

She was certified in 1971 as a Central Office School Lunch Supervisor and later became the  Director of School Food Services for Calcasieu Parish serving 57 schools. In her new role as Director, she implemented centralized menus and organized deliveries from a central warehouse to all schools in the system. The model was widely recognized by the State of Louisiana for its economy and efficiency. Lydia believed that a hungry child could not perform well in school thus, she implemented the first breakfast program in Calcasieu Parish. She also created a program for school lunch manager certification.

She was the Director of the Gulf Assistance Summer Feeding Program in 1973.  She retired from Calcasieu Parish School System in 2010 with 52 years of service.

Lydia served on several boards, commissions and organizations. She was a member of the Mayor's Commission for Women for the City of Lake Charles and a member of the Southwest Louisiana Supervisor's Association. She held membership in various professional organizations, such as the Calcasieu Association of Educators (CAE), the Louisiana Education Association (LEA), and the National Education Association (NEA).

In 1976, she was elected Vice-President of the Louisiana Food Service Association (LFSA) and she represented Louisiana at the National Food Service Convention in Chicago. Then, in 1977, she was elected President and again represented Louisiana at the National Food Service Convention in Hawaii.  She was National Chairperson for National School Lunch Week for 4 consecutive years 1988-1991. Needless to say, she loved food. It was her passion.

She was an active, committed member of Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church where she, along with Sister Ivy Mouton, chaired the Bell Tower fundraiser to move the 145 year old church bell into the new bell tower. The bell rung for the first time in many years on February 21, 2016. In May of 2019, she received the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church Mother's Spirit Award for her tireless work in the church. Her commitment to the church was her way of giving back to God for the many blessings that He had bestowed on her.  She loved her Evergreen church family and Reverend Campbell.

Lydia was a charter member of the local chapter, Zeta Psi Omega of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and owner of Toni's Enterprises managing 20 real estate properties. She was an avid NBA   basketball fan and her favorite team was the Golden State Warriors until recently when she decided that she liked Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks. She also loved old westerns. The TV was always tuned to INSP.

Ms. B, as she was affectionately called, loved to feed people. She always had food cooked and was ready to pile it on. Visitors would always leave with a full stomach and a to-go plate; that was her greatest joy. She enjoyed what we called Soul Food Sunday dinner with her friends; cooking a big meal just last Sunday before her death. It was her passion.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter, Dr. Tonetta B. Morrison and fiancé' Melvin  Aaron of Baton Rouge, LA; niece, like a sister,  Johnnie Rideaux and husband, Ozie Rideaux of Lake Charles, LA; nieces, Patricia Doucet of Baton Rouge, LA, Lydia Davis (Cyrus) of Upland, CA, Althea Clark (Lionel) of Lecompte, LA, Cheryl Clark of Los Angeles, CA; nephews, Henry Wesley, Jr. (Ora) of Shreveport, LA, James Lewis, Jr. of Carson, CA, Daniel Clark (Pam) of Houston, TX, Julius Carter (Grace) of Houston, TX, Steven Clark (Pam) of Los Angeles, CA, Samuel Clark, Jr. of Baton Rouge, LA and Michael Clark (Barbara) of Long Beach, CA; dear friends, Charles Honore, Zona Arceneaux, Ivy Mouton, Mabel Bailey, Michael Green, Merrick Thomas, Verlin Chretien, neighbors, Pearlie Dean, the Sterling and Riggs Families who have been neighbors for 55 years;  and a host of sisters-in-law,  brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivory J. Beloney; parents, Sam George and Julia    Weinberg Clark; 7 siblings, Sadie Carter, George Clark, Jr., Samuel Clark, Tena Wesley, Elaine Clark, Julia Lewis and Pearl Cobb.