Josie Nesbitt Clemons was born on December 30, 1945 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She attended the local public schools and graduated from Anderson High School in 1964. She later attended Winston Salem State University and graduated in1983. She left to be with her Lord on Monday, January 16, 2017 surrounded by her family at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC.

Josie was very active with the Anderson High School Alumni and the Brown Alumni Chapter of the WSSU National Alumni Association. Josie was a lifelong member of Hanes Memorial CME Church where she was an active member of the Steward Board, the Lay Department, the Senior Ministry, the Kitchen/Food Ministry, and the History/Archives Committee.
Josie was the heart of her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Janie May Nesbitt; and father, William Knuckles.

Left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory are her children, Victoria (George) Blocker of Washington, DC and Bernard (Devonshire) Clemons of the city; her grandchildren that will miss her greatly, DeAndre, Demario and Breyahn Clemons; great-granddaughter, Malia Ollock; Josie's siblings who will cherish fond and loving memories, John D. Nesbitt, Sr., Carolyn (Curtis) Pauling, Gwendolyn (Judge) Kornegay, Mamie Nesbitt, Kenneth W. Nesbitt, Wilma B. Perry, & Linda K. Nesbitt all of the city, Harold L. Nesbitt of Fayetteville, NC, Mary N. McGee of Durham, NC, and Barbara N. Bonner of Jacksonville, FL; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends to include her longtime best friend and sister, Stella Henriquez of Hampton, VA.

A celebration of Josie's life will be held at 12noon Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Hanes Memorial CME Church with Rev. Clarence W. Cox, III officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Saturday at the Church.