Paula McClain

Athens - Paula Jean McClain, 60, of Athens, returned to Mother Nature Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at her home. 

Born May 22, 1964, in Athens, Ohio, Paula’s greatest joy was being “Mawmaw P” to Shade Aubrey, Ever Merritt, Etta Odessa, and William Dallas -- her four grandchildren. Each moment around her was highlighted with a smile and loads of laughs. She loved being with her family and had wit like a well-written song. She enjoyed listening to music from the moment she woke until the last one repeated a dozen times. She missed her mother, Pearl, every day and spoke of her memory with love and honor. Paula’s name will decorate our homes and always be a part of us around campfires, out on the river, in the kitchen and in the short aimless trips on dirt roads. She loved to share stories and jokes; she wholly embraced the patients at O’bleness, where she worked for over twenty-five years, and where she deeply impacted each life she interacted with, both co-workers and visitors. 

She was the daughter of the late David and Pearl Smith McClain. Paula graduated from Alexander High School in 1982. 

Paula is survived by two sons, William Mitchell Black and Luke Andrew (Stephanie) Black; three brothers, Bill (Lisa) Hart, Dave (Jenny) McClain and Pat (Laureen) McClain; two sisters, Denise McClain and Debbie Cornelius, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Lynn Ross, and one nephew, Adam Ross.

We would like to thank her special friends and co-workers who have broken the internet with their outpouring of love. She was so loved and will be impossibly missed. 

Details on Paula's Celebration of Life will be announced at a later time -- if you would like to join in the celebration, please send a message to pjmcc64@gmail.com (Paula's email) sharing your best memory of her -- the family will respond to each message with a direct invite. Alternatively, please consider signing the guestbook at www.ehwfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted with the Hughes Funeral Home in Athens.