Lonnie Lee Clifton Sr. was born July 5, 1924 to the late Cornelius and Louise Dickens Clifton in Franklin County, North Carolina and was called home to be with the Lord December 19, 2020 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, NJ.
He attended Royal Elementary School in Louisburg, NC and gave his life to Christ at a young age joining Saints' Delight Christian Church, Louisburg, NC where he remained until moving to New Jersey in 1953.
Lonnie married his soul mate Annie Brodie Clifton on September 12, 1942 in N.C. Their union was blessed with four children.
They were share cropping farmers and he joined the US Army April 28, 1944 where he received several medals including 1 Bronze Service Star, Good Conduct and World War II Victory Medal. After returning from the military, he attended a Masonry Trade School.
He moved his family to New Jersey in 1953, making their home in Cliffwood, NJ. He worked tirelessly in several jobs to support his family, until he secured a permanent position at U.S. Metal Refining Co. in Cateret, NJ and retired in 1989. He worked long hours which didn't leave much time for hobbies; however, he loved to fish, fishing off the docks and sometimes going up to Montauk Bay on the big boats with his brother-in-law Fab Perry and other friends.
After his wife became ill in 1991, he became her only caregiver until her death in 2006.
In 1959 he joined Providence Baptist Church in Cliffwood, NJ where he became a part of the Deacons Ministry later becoming the chairman. He loved his church and the duties assigned to him, after retiring he also became custodian of the church. He was also a faithful member of Butler Lodge #42.
He was the patriot of the Clifton family and hosted the family reunion at his home in Cliffwood from 1969 until 2005 after the death of his older brother.
He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years Annie Clifton, two brothers Cornelius and Theodore Clifton, one sister Gladys Maye.
He leaves to mourn four children Lonnie Clifton Jr. (Cleide), Cliffwood, NJ, Mary Cross (Frank) Red Bank, NJ, James Douglas Clifton (Virginia) Orland Park, IL and Annie Strickland, Louisburg, NC; two sisters Julia Perry, Hillside, NJ, and Naomi Massenburg, Hampton, VA; one brother Sylvester Clifton, Raleigh, NC; one daughter-in-law Esther Clifton, Eatontown, NJ; six grandchildren Lisa & Michael Cross, Alisha Clifton-Hammary, Larry Clifton Jr., Lonnie Clifton III and Tyler McKinnon; twelve great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
To the Clifton Family,
Sending my condolences to the family. Mr. Clifton was always friendly and smiling and had a heart of gold. May God continue to strengthen you during this time.