When Clemmie moved to Clinton eight decades ago, her thoughts and goals were well formed by her Aunt and Grandmother. A childhood of family love had carried her though the perils of the Tulsa Race Riots and the fiery cremation of the historic Greenwood district where she, her Aunt, and Grandmother lived.
Hidden for safety under a bed by her Aunt, Clemmie lived to tell this story to her three daughters. Shortly after these events, the family moved to Okmulgee where Clemmie attended the Okmulgee public schools, graduated from high school, and later returned to Tulsa where she attended Langston University majoring in home economics.
Her husband, Lowell Hightower, wanted a better life for his wife and their two daughters, moving first to Dixon and then to Clinton. Lowell was among the first employees at DuPont where he eventually retired.
During the war, Lowell served his country by loading munitions back home Clemmie cared for her daughters by working as head cook for the Officer's Club at Schick Hospital. Tales of her sweet potato pie are fondly recalled by those who loved this southern dessert.
Named "the cookie lady," Clemmie supplied the Martin Luther King committee meetings and the MLK annual event with a generous supply of cookies, which she solicited from church circles and businesses.
Clemmie was a member of the YWCA Board of Directors, an early trailblazer for the YWCA's mission and was in the first group recognized in 1973 as a YWCA Woman of Action. Clemmie was the last living member of this group of community leaders. She was also active in the Black-White discussion group at the YWCA in the 1970's.
The Clinton County Bar Association honored Clemmie with the Liberty Bell award which was presented to her for model citizenship with a special role as an advocate for women with substance abuse and for her leadership in New Directions.
As she aided our Clinton legislators in Des Moines, she was able to present Eastern Iowa concerns to them. Additionally, she was on the commission for the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. She was a tireless worker for the Republican party and brought the voices of the marginalized to the front. As a member of the Community Action Committee of Clinton and Jackson counties, Clemmie brought stories during the War on Poverty to the front.
For more than 16-years this dedicated and determined, courageous and wise woman, volunteered and worked with the women with substance abuse throughout the community. Recognizing her achievements, in 2001, Hightower Place was established and named in her honor.
Clemmie had many friends in Clinton: educators, lawyers and politicians. Clemmie's connections helped many individuals through tough times and more importantly helped the community overcome racial barriers still existing within Clinton.
She leaves a rich legacy of service for her family, for her community, and more importantly for her church, which she was a member for more than 75-years and now Rosie Judon is the oldest living member.
Many of us have been blessed to know her and call her our friend. It is only right that memories of this amazing woman continue.

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