Cruise-Porter, Clara Jane

Clara Jane Cruise-Porter, of 3827 Cruise Dr., Pulaski, Va., departed this life March 30, 2006 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

She was born October 12, 1943 in Shiloh, N.C. to the late Maryland and Irene Harney. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, Thomas D. Cruise; a daughter, Yolonda Cruise Tayo; mother-in-law, Odell Cruise Conner; three brothers; and one sister.

Clara is survived by her husband, James D. Porter; father-in-law, John Russell Conner, Dublin, Va.; mother-in-law, Annie Porter, Baltimore, Md.; children, Thomas W. (Bridget) Cruise, Upper Marlboro, Md., Daryl W. (Chanthini) Cruise, Kernersville, N.C., Stephanie E. (Lynwood) Cruise-Whyte, Christiansburg, Va., Cedric D. Cruise, Atlanta, Ga.; sisters, Hattie Harney and Bertha Christopher, Newark, N.J., Alphine Hatten, Plainfield, N.J., Estella Toxey, Chesapeake, Va.; brother, James Harney, Newark, N.J.; and son-in-law, Michael Tayo, Greensboro, N.C. She also leaves to cherish her memory nine grandchildren, Tyler, Stephan’o. Lamar, Carastan, Brandon, Bradlee, Cyerra, Mina, and Laurel; sisters-in-law, Delores Porter, Baltimore, Md., Wilda Cruise, Dublin, Va.; brother-in-law, Bishop Alton Porter, Columbus, Ga.; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends including the “Lunch Bunch” at Jefferson Mills.

Homegoing service will be at Randolph Avenue United Methodist Church, Friday, April 7, 2006, 2 p.m. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service at the church. Interment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin, Va. Arrangements by Penn’s Funeral Home.