Clarence Edward Rector, Jr., 75, of Covington, Virginia, passed on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at LewisGale Hospital Alleghany in Low Moor, Virginia.


Clarence, affectionately called Edward, "Heck" and Rector by family and friends, was born on Tuesday, August 17, 1948, in Davidson County, North Carolina, to the late Clarence and Esther Mae Baucom Rector.


He graduated from Dunbar High School in Lexington, North Carolina in 1966. Heck worked as a Bellman at The Homestead 1766 Resort (now, the Omni Homestead Resort) in Hot Springs, Virginia, until retiring after 40 years of service. He played and enjoyed watching golf on TV and discussing politics.


He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Torrence Denard Bethea, and his brother-in-law, Louis Sheffield.

Clarence will be remembered and survived by three sons: Jose (Celena) Davis of Boiling Springs, SC; Jermaine Cardwell of Warm Springs, VA; and, Brian Cardwell of Staunton, VA; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; one brother, James Rector of Lexington, NC; three sisters: Mary "Bootsie" Rector and Brinnie Rector Sheffield of Lexington, NC, and devoted and caregiver, Elaine Rector of Winston-Salem, NC; an uncle Edward Baucom of Palm Coast, Florida; two nephews, Roy Rector of Winston-Salem, NC and Michael (Anita) Barton of High Point, NC; a niece, Tina (Thomas) Wyatt of Salisbury, NC, and two great-nephews, Zephin Rector and Joseph Owens of Winston-Salem, NC. He will also be remembered by two special cousins Wilma Broadie and Robert Curlee, close friends, Annette "Tiss" Smith, Charles Poole, William "Bill" Shepperd, Dennis "Dick" Holmes, Timothy "Voo" Hargrave and David Norman and a host of other family and friends.

A memorial service will be Saturday at Files Chapel Baptist Church at 1:00pm with family visitation at 12:30pm.