‘I’m Coming Wherever You Is,” Says Clemmie G, an Addict Turned Activist Who Saves Lives

By Gregory Crofton

Nashville filmmaker Tom Neff sent the email invite in a low-key fashion — “Come see the latest doc, “Clemmie G.: Unfiltered.”

Still, people came out in droves to watch a preview screening of his new documentary at the Belcourt Theatre. Lots of passionate people.

The film, about the work of community activist Clemmie Greenlee, lasted 40-minutes but took 21 years to produce. Neff shot the film in spurts when he could, and shooting over that period of time is one of its strengths.

Greenlee is a community activist who helps mothers of murdered kids recover their lives and women escape addiction and sex work. She has an incandescent spirit that seems to fuel her. She doesn’t judge, and shows unconditional love when out on the streets doing her work. She’s also funny and entertaining, and knows how to work a room.

“You got to see me, not just hear me,” she said during a post screening Q&A. “You got to feel where I’m coming from.”

In the doc’s marvelous opening scene, she talks straight to the camera and you see the charisma and raw honesty that enables her to lead the Nashville Peacekeepers, a nonprofit that fights against drug use, street violence and provides clothes and food to those in need, especially young people.

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The crowd that came out to the Belcourt on Thursday was charged up, breaking into applause at different moments in the film. To its credit, management hosted the event as a fundraiser for Greenlee on a busy night in its largest theatre.

Neff worked the hallway before the screening, shaking hands and greeting friends and associates. Many in attendance already knew of Greenlee’s work, some were members of Mothers Over Murder, which is part of Nashville Peacekeepers.

Others like myself were familiar with Neff as a documentary filmmaker. His most recent project was “Mr. Temple and the Tiger Belles” (2018). He also teaches at Middle Tennessee State University, and is a founder of the Documentary Channel. Neff first met Clemmie while shooting “Chances: The Women of Magdalene,” another one of his docs, released in 2006.

“Clemmie G.: Unfiltered” has the right pace, thanks to sharp edits by Barry Rubinow, and conveys rough but compelling stories like when at age 13 Clemmie was left alone to give birth on a bucket. Thankfully someone showed up to help find her a bed to lay down on. Clemmie also recalled being jailed 20 times before realizing she always saw the same faces there, which to her meant the fix was in, and she knew something needed to change in her life.

She recovered at 42 when her now sister-in-law helped pull her out of a crack house using prayer and relentless support. Clemmie lost her son a few years later to gun violence, and then lost a nephew. In the doc, Neff takes us to these funerals and we listen to eulogies and witness people aching with sadness and pain. This type of access will leave you stunned.

Somehow Clemmie made it through those lows, and in 2007 the Nashville Scene named her Nashvillian of the Year. But by late 2017, there came another test. While out on the road doing work for Nashville Peacemakers, Clemmie began feeling sick as she spoke to inmates at San Quinton prison. She was soon diagnosed with Broken Heart Syndrome, an actual medical diagnosis. Within about six months, they found a donor and she had a successful heart transplant.

Howard Gentry, criminal court clerk for Davidson County, also attended last week’s screening. He appears in the documentary in conversation with Clemmie. Gentry spoke after the film and stressed how now is the time for the greater Nashville community to show Clemmie the love and financial support she and her team needs to do the work they are meant to do.

The plan is for Clemmie to tour with Neff’s documentary as it shows at film festivals around the country. That way they can fundraise and bring awareness to the mission of the Nashville Peacekeepers. One goal is for the organization to have its own building to operate from, preferably in North Nashville, a business and cultural hub for the Black community.

I was able to make an audio recording of the joyful question and answer session after the screening. Please click below and listen in. Clemmie never fails to entertain while communicating things close to her heart.