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Visitation for Melvin Clarence Posey, Sr., who passed away on Sunday, August 26, will be held on Monday from 6-8 at Greenview Memorial, with the services held on Tuesday morning at ten o’clock, Dr. Kenny Barfield officiating.
He was born on December 17, 1913, in Franklin County, Alabama, to the late William Edmond and Irene Smelser Posey. He was also preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Harold Posey, Edward Posey, Carrie Mae Hester, Curtis Posey, Ada Culp, and Harvey Posey,
Clarence Posey graduated from Belgreen High School as valedictorian and youngest graduate of the class of 1931, moving to Florence and beginning work at Rogers Department Store in 1935, where he became manager of the furniture department in 1938. He was married to the former Elizabeth Longshore the next year and celebrated their 59th anniversary before her death in October 1998.
In 1948, he began a partnership with Eason Shumake under the name of Shumake-Posey Furniture, a friendship that lasted long after the business was separated in 1964, after which it continued operating as the Posey Furniture Company on Tennessee Street in downtown Florence, eventually opening a second location on Highway 72 in 1977. Even after semi-retirement, he continued to work part-time almost into his nineties.
During his career, he was active in business life in Florence, serving several years as chairman of the Retail Merchants Association, and helping to organize Downtown Florence Unlimited, serving two terms as president. He was also a member of the National Retail Furniture Association and the Alabama Retail Furniture Association.
Mr. Posey leaves behind a rich heritage of Christianity in action. He and his wife were active members of Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ. He taught a Bible class for more than fifty years and served as an elder of the congregation from January 1961 to January 2001. He also served as a board member of the Christian Student Center at UNA for seven years, chairman for one. He was also a supporter of Mars Hill Bible School, where all his children graduated and all his grandchildren attended. He was the first president of the school’s Endowment Association and served for a time on the President’s Development Council.
He is survived by daughter Susan Hunnicutt and her husband Richard of Florence, son M. C. (Chip) Posey, Jr. and wife Brenda of Florence, son Richard (Dick) Posey and wife Nancy of Hickory, NC, along with grandchildren, Amy Hunnicutt Presley and husband Stacey, Russellville, David Hunnicutt of Huntsville, Janet Posey of Gainesville, GA, Michael Posey and wife Sasha of Millbrook,AL, Laura Posey Troup and husband Chad of Nashville, John Posey of Florence, Carrie Posey of Huntsville, and Benjamin Posey of Gainesville, FL, along with five great grandchildren, Elizabeth Presley; Avery, Stuart and Griffin Troup; and Harper Posey.
The family would like to express gratitude to the staff at Green Oaks, where he lived his final years, and the sitters who cared for him with such compassion.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Posey’s memory to Mars Hill Bible School, 698 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL, 35630 or the Sherrod Avenue Senior Saints Fund.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers, and past and present elders and deacons of Sherrod Avenue Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
An online guest book may be viewed and signed via http://www.greenviewmemorial.com/ .
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home
