Clarence Word

Clarence Paul Word Jr., age 76 of Troy died Thursday, November 17, 2016 in Luverne. Paul was born and raised in Eufaula , Alabama . During his career in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Paul amassed 1,113 points and became an NAIA All-America. He helped lead the Trojans to a pair of Alabama Collegiate Conference regular season championships, as well as the 1962 Alabama Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship. Troy won more than 75 percent of its games with Paul, and won at least 20 games twice. After his playing days were over, he went on to be an extremely successful coach, winning 614 games in 38 years. He helped guide two state champions in Alabama, in New Brockton High School in 1968 and Abbeville Christian Academy in 2002, earning Alabama Coach of the Year honors along the way. He was inducted into 3 separate Hall of Fames; AISA Hall of Fame for his work in Education, Wiregrass Hall of Fame and the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the chapel of Green Hills Funeral Home in Troy with Reverend Mack Lowery officiating. Burial to follow in the Green Hills Cemetery. Visitation will also be held Sunday from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Green Hills Funeral Home.

Survivors include; wife of 57 years, Joan Dykes Word of Troy, son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Renee Word of Montgomery, daughters and sons-in-law, Amy and Jim Jinright of Troy and Leigh Ann and Bill Scarbrough of Thomasville, his grandchildren, Andrew Word, Amelia Word, Aaron Word, Aly Scarbrough and Maggie Scarbrough, and also his beloved pets, Buddy, Scooter and Molly. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Paul and Alyne Stephenson Word.

Serving as pallbearers will be, Jeff Hollis, Nicholas Paul, Andrew Word, Aaron Word, Bill Scarbrough and Jim Jinright. Honorary Pallbearers will be the John Archer Alumni Association Team Members at Troy University.

In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to the John Archer Alumni Scholarship fund ,C/O Mike Amos, 301 Adams Administration Building, Troy, al., 36081

The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the word family.