Andrea Elizabeth Clarke (1945-2025)

Andrea Elizabeth Clarke was born in Cambridge, MA on March 19, 1945 to the late James Howard Clarke & Mildred Rae Johnson (Clarke).

Andrea graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School in 1958. She spent her early years In Cambridge and her summers on Marthas Vineyard. She attended nursing school for a time and moved south to Asheville in 1965. She lived in NYC, New Orleans, and St. Thomas for a time, but called Asheville home for many years.

Andrea was a storyteller, whether from behind her lens or as a playwright. Her passion for photography started early, and even until today has impacted many with her timeless captures. From being hired to take James Brown’s photos while he was on tour in the Bahamas, to her photojournalism of the Anguilla Revolt of 1969 (featured in The Daily News of the Virgin Islands), those are only a snippet of her adventures.

While living in New York, she was directing off Broadway productions, and in New Orleans, was a director of a community theater. After moving to Asheville, she joined the Montford Park Players, directing many plays over the years. Andrea was a metal smith; she learned to weld on her own and created beautiful sculptures. She knew how to do African basket weaving and would teach children how to make them. She was a master caner and seat weaver, running her own business, called “Abraxis Sits,” in the early ’70s. She continued to repair antique wicker furniture up until last year and did exquisite work.

Andrea was an activist since her early years, speaking up for injustices ranging from civil rights to human rights. She was also passionate about being a historian and took it seriously. From documenting family ancestry to preservation initiatives, it was important to her to tell the stories and pass down oral history. Over the years she has been involved with a multitude of non-profit organizations and on local boards. In the early 1980s Andrea also received her real estate license.

In 2009, “Twilight of a Neighborhood,” a project with the North Carolina Humanities Council, highlighted her photography collection of East End Asheville pre-urban renewal. Her collection has been used in many articles and magazines locally and nationally, as well as being on exhibit many times. This digital collection is housed at Buncombe County Pack Library Special Collections in Asheville.

In 2018, while Andrea was President of United Community Development, which is dedicated to building self-reliance and economic development in Asheville’s African-American community, she was honored as a “Local Hero” for her activism.

In 2020, Andrea was recognized with the distinguished Sondley Award by the Historic Resources Commission for her documentary photography. She proudly challenged the name and was changed to The Historic Resources Champion Award after conversations initiated by her, regarding inclusivity and documentation of African American History. Andrea was involved with the ACLU and the NAACP always advocating.

After many years in the making as a testament to her love of preservation, and her desire to honor her late grandfather’s memory, Andrea curated the James Vester Miller Historic Walking Trail. This was a true labor of love for her. It was important to her that people knew his contributions to the cityscape and landscape of Asheville. The trail was launched Juneteenth 2021 at the YMI, and the website a year later in collaboration with UNCA.

In 2023, Andrea was awarded “Laureate of the Year” with OpenDoors Asheville. The Laureate of the Year is the highest honor bestowed by the organization upon a member of the community who selflessly serves the underrepresented and marginalized people in Asheville.

Fall of 2024 to spring 2025, her photographs were on exhibition “Remembering Asheville’s East End Community” at the Asheville Museum of History, where she was also a member of their Board of Trustees. Andrea was also a member of the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Committee, as well as a member of the Urban Renewal Impact project; garnering the Harlin J. Gradin Humanities Award with her peers.

There is no way to add all the accolades Andrea has beneath her wings, or all the volunteer work she did. But it is notable to say she never turned away anyone in need of help. Her front door was literally always open; she insisted it to be that way. If you needed shelter, clothing, food anything she would make It happen.

Andrea was a coveted caretaker to many elders over the years, but she took care of everyone. She loved music, especially jazz, gospel, and would say you need to listen to opera loud. She enjoyed plants and all her tinctures. She was fiercely independent, truly humble and a phenomenal woman. She never lost her accent and her smile lit up a room; but she had that look if she did not agree. She was a pillar in the community and a steward of Black history. Her absence will be substantial; but her legacy is profound.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James & Mildred, sisters Ida Ruth Clarke Galloway, Judith Rae Clarke Lombard, and Joanne Clarke Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory her siblings, James H. Clarke Jr. (Cambridge, MA), Jennifer A. Clarke-Ramsey (Sacramento, CA), nieces, nephews, and many cousins. And by many friends and her Walton Street neighbors.

A very special memorial celebration will be announced at a later date.