Francis Charles "Chip" Clark

Francis Charles “Chip” Clark, whose passions were mountain fishing streams, the law, and his Irish heritage, died Feb. 13 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 73. Clark, of Gibsonville, a career banking attorney and a Morehead Scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill, was an attorney at First Union Corporation and subsequently Wachovia Corporation, and was a director at Bell Davis & Pitt of Winston-Salem.

Born April 13, 1951 in Asheville to Patrick Francis Clark and Anna Catherine Heazel Clark, he is survived by his wife of 31 years, Margaret “Meg” Clark; and son Cullen Roberts Clark and wife Frances Ellison Clark, and granddaughter Margaret Ayers Clark of Wilmington.

A 1973 history and political science major at UNC, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon, Clark graduated from Washington and Lee University law school in 1976. He served eight years on W&L’s Law Council, and was a chapter volunteer and law liaison for 12.

Clark devoted 30 years’ service to the board of directors of McLeod Centers for Wellbeing, during which McLeod grew from one location to 10 and now has 88 beds for federal inmates with addictive diseases. His expertise helped shape legal, financial and real estate decisions, always focused on how decisions would impact patients’ well-being. 

An avid fly fisherman and college basketball fan, he and Meg have been strong supporters of the athletics programs at Davidson College and Elon University and closely followed the careers of several friends in coaching. Chip was happiest hip-deep in a trout stream, and he traveled the world to pursue fly fishing, often in the company of his son.

The family sends its most heartfelt thanks for the dedicated help of Drs. Daniel Nussbaum, Doreen Chang and Blynn Shideler at Duke University Hospital.

Also surviving are siblings Catherine Clark Latta, Kevin O. Clark and wife Cheryl, and Cullen P. Clark. He was preceded in death by two other sisters, Mary Constance Clark and Monica Heazel Clark. Chip had 54 first cousins, many of whom call Ireland home, and he was a regular visitor there.

A memorial gathering will take place from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Project Healing Waters in memory of Chip. PHW is an organization that serves wounded service members through therapeutic outdoor recreation activities like fly fishing. This honors Chip's father's military service as a field surgeon in the Korean War and Chip's passion for fly fishing. Link to donate to PHW in memory of Chip Clark: https://give.projecthealingwaters.org/campaign/666244/donate

The Clark family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com.