Erna Louise Service Clark was born in Cohasset, Massachusetts. She came to Buffalo when she was in eighth grade, as her father was a real estate agent in the area. She attended Hutchinson-Central High School from 1928 to 1932 and graduated from Boston University in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in education. She married James E. Clark in 1938.
She worked as an investigator with the state Labor Department and retired at the age of 54. Mrs. Clark then worked as an administrator with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1968 to 1981.
Mrs. Clark was a founder and charter member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Buffalo Alumnae Chapter, which was founded in 1942.
Mrs. Clark's brothers, Russell and Cleon Service were active members of the community and are Uncrowned Kings. Her husband of nearly 30 years, James E. "Buster" Clark, died in 1967. The couple has a son, James E. "Buddy" Clark. Mrs. Clark was 97 years old at the time of her death.
