Hometown: DeRidder, Louisiana
Present City: Dallas
Education: DeRidder High School; Louisiana Tech, B.A., psychology and English; Southwestern Seminary, M.Div.
Profession: Audiovisual director, Baptist General Convention of Texas; public relations director, Baylor University; designer of Center for Educational Technology, Baylor University; partner in Cross Clanton Cross, Waco; principal in David M. Clanton and Associates; marketing director, Baptist Standard.
Tell us about your family.
Jann and I are retired and have been married for 57 years. We have two grown sons, one living in Washington, D.C., and the other in Houston. We also have three grandchildren.
How about your work or volunteer life?
I have enjoyed working with the Wilshire staff to photograph many events and general pictures that have appeared on the website and in various Wilshire publications. Photography continues to be a fulfilling practice for me. I have a portfolio website at davidclanton.com.
Any favorite hobbies?
Since retiring I have taken classes in drawing and watercolor. I spend a great deal of time in my studio, where I pursue abstract digital photography and watercolor painting. I enjoy taking portraits of people, many of which I use as reference for my watercolor paintings. Digital processes have opened new opportunities for artistic expression. I have also enjoyed studying studio arts, including watercolor and acrylic painting.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
I attend Mark Wingfield’s Discovery Class online. Mark and I go back several years — we both worked on the Baptist Standard staff when Marv Knox was editor.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I’ve been a Wilshire member for about 16 years. I am in the Fellowship of the Ordained currently. Having worked with Baptists for my entire career, I’ve traveled widely and have been blessed to experience a wide spectrum of Baptist pastors and denominational workers. Jann and I have been members of several excellent churches in Dallas and Waco. We helped start Church in the Cliff in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. Today, Jann continues to attend and support a Black women’s church in Dallas. Jann is a prolific writer of more than 20 books and hymns, exploring feminine names for God in the Bible.
What’s something interesting most people would not know about you?
Having deep roots in Louisiana, I have a collection of cookbooks on Cajun and Southern cooking. I love making shrimp-okra gumbo and a pot of red beans and rice when the weather gets cold. I am of the belief these dishes will bless your heart if you let them.