Marie Clarke

Marie Clarke (June 27, 1915 – January 2, 2020) was an African American labor leader from Ohio. She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1986 by Governor Richard Celeste. She turned 100 in June 2015. Clarke was born in Columbus, Ohio; she died in January 2020 at the age of 104.

Work and organizing In 1946 Clarke, a single mother, began work as a mechanic at the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the time, Curtiss-Wright Corporation in Columbus, Ohio.

From 1980–1992 Clarke served as the secretary-treasurer of the AFSCME Local 1632 union and was a member of the AFSCME Local 1632 Chapter 108 as a retiree. John Lyall, president of AFSCME Ohio Council 8 spoke of Marie Clarke noting that "when we say we are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, we’re talking about people like Marie Clarke. She knew the power of solidarity and was a great believer in direct action. Her accomplishments should inspire us all." Clarke has said that “I have always felt that serving the public was a special kind of work. And I will always be proud to say I am an AFSCME member."