Harriet Clack Burt

Mrs. Harriet Clack Burt, 88, died December 7, 2020 at The Quarry Senior Living Center in Vancouver, WA.

Harriet was the daughter of Lennis Tinsley Clack and Jesse Hoyle Clack. She was the younger sister of Mary Jean Clack Carter. As a child, she moved with her parents around the country, but her family home was in Knoxville, Tennessee. She attended the Fassifern School for Girls in Hendersonville, NC, where she rode horses, edited the Sapphire yearbook, and was active with the Thespians. Harriet graduated from the University of Tennessee where she was a member of Mortar Board and editor-in-chief of The Orange and White. As a reporter-historian for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she won the national Adelphian Award. She was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Tau Alpha, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Alpha Lambda Delta honorary societies. She was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She met her husband, Philip Burt, at the university. They were married in 1954 after her graduation.

Harriet taught Sunday school for children and teens with special needs at First Baptist Church of Clemson, where she was a member for over 50 years. She believed that all children are loved and accepted by God and that each person, regardless of abilities, deserves to know that Jesus and God love them.

Harriet also enjoyed being a Girl Scout leader when her three daughters were young, reaching out to girls across the community, teaching them leadership and outdoors skills. During a time of overt segregation, she made a point to include young girls from the Black community and welcome them into the troop, as well as arranging much needed transportation. She led her scouts on 5 and 10 mile hikes, took them camping, and gave them each a safe space in which they could grow and develop new skills and competencies across a broad range of activities.

She was an intrepid traveler, having lived in and explored much of the United States as well as the United Kingdom. With Phil, daughter Beth, and son Tim, she traveled across Europe. She loved swimming and snorkeling. She was a lover of dogs and was devoted to many over the course of her life. In her later years she could often be seen walking her service dog, Pip, at Larry W. Abernathy Waterfront Park in Clemson, and then in her adopted Portland, OR neighborhood. Through her travels and connections to online communities for dog lovers, she had many friends around the world.

Harriet is survived by three children, Konni Burt Shier, Syd Burt Hackworth, and Timothy Burt Whittemore; and two grandchildren, Lilly Marie Hackworth and Athena Justice Shier.  Sons-in-law are Darrell Shier, Brian Hackworth, and Thom Whittemore.  Mrs. Burt was predeceased by both parents, her husband, her sister, and a granddaughter, Olivia Tinsley Shier. Her eldest daughter, Beth Lynn Burt, passed away in March of 2023.

A joint service to celebrate both Harriet and Beth Lynn will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Clemson.

Memorials may be made to the A.S.P.C.A. and Jaycee Camp Hope.