PRISCILLA BAKER CLIFTON
Oct. 10, 1910 - July 5, 2010
MOUNT OLIVE -- Priscilla Baker Clifton of Mount Olive passed away peacefully at Kitty Askins Hospice Center of Goldsboro on Monday.
She was born in Farmville on Oct. 10, 1910, and was raised there. She also lived in Virginia and Atlantic Beach (long before the bridge), where her father operated a ferry and a hotel on the beach. She was affectionately known as "Pat" most of her life.
She married Frank Thomas Clifton, of Florence, S.C., Aug. 29, 1936, in Fayetteville. She lived with her mother in Farmville during World War II when Frank served in Africa and Italy as a captain in the U.S. Army.
She came to Mount Olive in 1947 when her husband Frank opened Clifton Tire Service on West James Street next to the Kraft Studio, and they rented an apartment in the home of Ellis Weeks on S. Church Street. They joined the First United Methodist Church the same week they moved to Mount Olive, and she was a loyal member until her death. She worked at Clifton Tire Service as bookkeeper all the years it was open. She also worked for or was involved in many local businesses and organizations over the years, including Charles Thompson Insurance; Town of Mount Olive; Mount Olive College, in Dr. Raper's office, during an early fundraising campaign; Mt. Olive Pickle Company, payroll; Southern Wayne Country Club, office manager; charter member of Southern Wayne Country Club; the Cotillion Club; The Garden Club; ACIA Thrift Shop; Meals on Wheels. She loved the game of bridge, which she learned at age 9, and for many years was a member of several local bridge clubs.
Mrs. Clifton was preceded in death by her husband Frank in 1984, of Mount Olive; and her parents, John Ivey Baker and Pearl Hardy Baker; brothers Patrick Baker, John Baker, and Robert Baker; and sisters Ruby Baker Taylor and Zylphia "Dippie" Baker Crenshaw.
She is survived by her children, all of Mount Olive: Frank Thomas Clifton Jr. and wife, Quita, Jane Clifton Pfaffenberger, and husband, Bill, and John Ernest Clifton. She is also survived by her grandchildren Frank Thomas Clifton, III, and wife, Laura of Wenatchee, Wash.; Shuree Clifton, of the Mount Olive area; Sean Clifton and wife, Nancy, of Kennewick, Wash.; Shannon Williams Andrews and husband David of Wilmington; Eric Clifton Williams and wife, Megan, of Cary; Jonathan Will Clifton, of Houston, Texas.
She has 10 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church or the Chapel for the Kitty Askins Expansion Project would be appreciated.
Mrs. Clifton has chosen to offer her body to The Brody School of Medicine for medical research at East Carolina University, as did her sister Dippie before her.
A visitation and reception will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 5 until 7 p.m. on Wednesday. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Tyndall Funeral Home is helping with arrangements.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on July 6, 2010 1:47 PM