June Sanders Clement

A joyful sound echoed on August 22nd, 2025, as a new pipe organist joined the Heavenly band. No one will tell Mama June to play softer in that glorious place!

June Sanders Clement, born July 20, 1937, in Jackson, Mississippi, passed away gracefully at home on August 22, 2025, in Lufkin, Texas. A private lady, she left us when she had a moment alone, but was almost immediately surrounded by family thereafter.

Mama June, as she was known to her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and to her children’s friends, was born in Jackson, and was raised outside Hazlehurst, MS, on the family farm known as Kaywood. Theirs was an idyllic life filled with outdoor activities, music, and joy. She is the daughter of Robert David Sanders and Kelly Peeler Sanders. June is preceded in death by her parents; her cherished stepmother, Catherine Williams Sanders; two brothers, William (Bill) Sanders and R. David Sanders; and her sister, Julia Sheila Sanders. Sister Sheila passed away just 10 days ago in Long Beach, MS, so this is an especially sad time for the extended Sanders family.

She is survived by her one true love, Dr. J. C. (Sonny) Clement, Jr., her son, Jay Clement and daughter-in-law Mary Anne Clement, her daughter Kelly Clement Spivey, and her son David Clement and daughter-in-law Lara Clement. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Katherine Spivey Morganti (and husband Bryan), Jake Clement, Sarah Clement Brooks (and husband Kevin), and Nancy and Steven Clement. Her great-grandchildren are Emma Brooks, Reagan Morganti, and Luke Brooks. Lastly, she is survived by her sisters-in-law, Bobbie Jean Sanders (Jackson, MS), and Toddy Porter Sanders (Jackson, MS), and all sorts of nieces, nephews, cousins, grand-cousins, and great-grand cousins in her extended family.

The young June Sanders excelled in school, and proved to be a wonderful musician, playing piano, organ, marimba, and oboe in her pre-college days, as well as being a fine singer. She was even the majorette in her school band, and loved telling us about the fire baton act she performed. She then attended SMU, and was asked by her roommate, Nancy Scott, to be an attendant in her upcoming wedding in July, 1957. At the rehearsal, Jimmy Clark’s best man was a dashing Texan named Sonny Clement, and Sonny was smitten by that Southern belle. It took June a whole week to fall equally deeply in love, and they were married August 16, 1958, in Hazlehurst, MS.

They lived in Dallas while Sonny finished dental school at Baylor, and then moved to Greenville, MS, as Sonny served in the US Air Force as an officer in the dental unit at Greenville AFB. Once his term of service was completed, the happy couple with their three young children moved back in 1964, to Lufkin, TX, where Sonny established his dental practice. Mama June happily threw herself into the life of a mother and wife, creating a loving home for those three busy children and her husband. They soon made many lifelong friends in those early days of parenthood, and life on Reen Street was the stuff of magic. All the kids played outside all day long after school, and only returned home when their mothers yelled from the front porches.

June was devoted to her children, and proved to be as adept at helping with advanced math homework as she was at whipping up meals for the household. She performed in many community musical shows, and taught piano as well. The children were raised spiritually at First Presbyterian Church, where June was the children’s choir leader. All three of her children knew that the only answer was “yes” when she asked them to sing a special part or participate in the musical productions there.

Throughout the years, she kept her family connected to their cousins in the Sanders extended family, with yearly trips back to Kaywood to bond with their many relatives. The cousins remain close to this day as a result of Mama June’s planning.

As her children got older, the Clement house on Copeland St. became the hub of activities. Her kids’ friends were all told to call her Mama June, and most of them still refer to her by that name. She took them into her heart as if they were her own.

Once her children got married and delivered grandchildren to Mama June, her true skill set showed itself. She would “borrow” the grandkids for weeklong stays at “Camp Clement,” full of swimming, trips to the Lufkin Zoo, shaved ice cones and Icees, and plenty of Dr. Pepper and delicious food. It was tough indeed to compete with Mama June, and it usually took a few days for those grandkids to settle back down when they returned to their parents. The grandchildren were spaced just far enough apart, that each “new” grandchild set had a solid 10 years of being the shiniest new babies to love on. It was sweet watching her pour love into them, and they all have fun stories of adventures with Mama June and Daddy Doc.

Late in life, Mama June and Daddy Doc were blessed with three great-grandchildren, and although they couldn’t quite roll around on the floor with those precious little ones, they loved their visits, and there are sweet photos of those times that we will cherish.

June threw a birthday party for herself every summer, and invited her brood to join her and Sonny at various beach locations along the Mississippi / Alabama / Florida Gulf Coast. Those trips were joyful, and we had traditional coconut cake, glowsticks, sand sculpture building, putt putt golf, and meals groaning with seafood and the like.

Outside of her family, June’s great love was music. In mid-life, she visited Angelina College to look into some music theory classes. There, she met organist Don McManus, who took her on as a student in pipe organ. It was incredible to hear her learn and grow on that grand instrument, and theirs was a friendship as pure as the sacred and classical music that soon poured from her hands at St. Cyprian’s, and later as church organist at First Presbyterian Church. She took special joy in the many times that her grandson, Jake, joined her in church playing trumpet with her organ accompaniment. Her music ministry was ended only by her death.

Mama June was also a whiz at tennis, with a wide group of friends made through those matches. Her needlepoint skills are also legendary, and every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild has many handmade belts, ornaments, pillows, and nativity scenes crafted with her skilled hands.

We grieve at the loss of Mama June, but we know that she is happy in Heaven, without pain, without illness, and is rejoicing at renewing her friendships with those many friends who went before her, as well as with her beloved relatives. We thank Hospice In The Pines and other loving caregivers for their kindnesses to her and to her beloved husband, Sonny Clement. A special word of gratitude is in order to her daughter-in-law, Dr. Lara Teal Clement, who ministered to her with such tender care in her last weeks.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church on September 6th, 2025, at 2:00pm. Interment will be held in a private ceremony at a later date. June insists that no one wear black to the celebration, as this should be a joyous time of remembrance. We would advise you to do your best to at least find a fun shirt or tie if you just have to wear that nice black suit.

As much as June loved flowers, the family asks instead that you consider a donation to an organization that fills your heart. Hospice In The Pines would be an excellent choice, but please follow your own convictions.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.