Clara Mae Smedley Barrow was born December 28, 1924, to the late Sam Smedley and Dora Lampley Smedley. At an early age she joined St. Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Skipperville, Alabama. She joined the Eastern Star and Lady's Aide organizations and was the Director of the St. Rose Choir for 77 years.

Clara Mae Smedley Barrow was called home to be with the Lord on September 7, 2021, at Dale Medical Center in Ozark, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her father, Sam Smedley; her mother, Dora Lampley Smedley; her husband, Franklin Barrow, Sr.; one daughter, Levonia Mae Barrow; four sons, Franklin Barrow, Jr. (Mary), Lewis C. Barrow, Rozell Barrow, and Ricky E. Barrow; two brothers, Willie C. Smedley (Nettie) and David Smedley (Mertle); three sisters, L. Versie Carr (L.C.), Lillie C. Walker (Holman), and Vera Blackmon; and one granddaughter, Cynthia L. Barrow.

Clara Mae Smedley Barrow leaves to cherish her memories one daughter, Dorothy Barrow Watkins of Ozark, Alabama; three sons, Charles O. Barrow of Ozark, Alabama, Jerry A. Barrow (Brenda) of El Paso, Texas and Anthony Barrow (Hope) of Ozark, Alabama; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Eva McCleod of Ozark, Alabama; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; four adopted sons, Howard Walton and Pastor Oscar Lane (Betty) of Clio, Alabama, Lorenzo Dickerson of Fort Myers, Florida, and Edward Coleman (Rosa) of Ozark, Alabama; Darren Brew of Ozark, Alabama; two adopted daughters, Shirley Timmerland and Alice M. White, both of Ozark, Alabama.