Israel L. Clements was elected to the Board of Commissioners in May, 1881 but died less than a year later. He was the first African American elected to public office in Winston or Salem.
Upon his death a resolution by the Board called him “..one of our most faithful and upright citizens, and a good and true officer.” And “… one who was recognized as a Standard for morals and probity among his own race and also a most faithful and efficient upholder of law and good government in the town.”(4-138)