Etta Jean Clifton

Etta Jean (Jean) Anderson Clifton (March 15, 1936-January 3, 2015) Jean Anderson Clifton, Savannah GA- Jean A. Clifton, age 78, entered heaven's gates to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 3, 2015, due to complications from liver disease. Jean was born March 15, 1936, a daughter to the late Harry and Tyra Anderson and her beloved sister Yvonne Anderson Drummond, whom she dearly loved. She graduated from Commercial High School in 1954, was a member of the Ladies Cobra Club, and was briefly employed by Johns Manville in Garden City as an administrative assistant. In 1955, she married her sweetheart Alex (Harold) Clifton. She enjoyed telling the story of how Harold asked her on a date and her initial response was "no". However, Harold refused to accept no for an answer and showed up 15 minutes later. Due to his persistence and the encouragement of Jean's Aunt (Bertie Waters), she accepted his request. She was smitten by his confidence, work ethic, and perseverance. After marrying the love of her life, Jean worked as a domestic engineer and enjoyed keeping her husband's books for several business ventures. While helping Harold build several businesses, including Clifton Equipment Rental Company, Jean also found the time to be an excellent homemaker. She enjoyed participating in her children's school and extracurricular activities. Jean taught her daughters the most by exemplifying unselfish acts of unconditional love and kindness and by demonstrating determination in all things. Her daughters were her greatest joy in life. Jean had an unwavering faith in God. She was a lifelong active member of the First Baptist Church of Garden City. She especially loved her Lydian Sunday school class and enjoyed being apart of activities they engaged in. In addition, she loved her family gatherings, shopping for bargains, and playing cards with her friends, but she obtained the most joy by doing for others. Jean was a 12-year survivor of pancreatic and bile duct cancer. God blessed her to live to see all of her grandchildren get married, graduate from college, and to see many new great grandchildren born. Jean and her family credits God first and foremost for her amazing previous recovery, but also gives great thanks to Dr. Stephen Carpenter and Dr. Bud Robinson for their love, support, and encouragement in helping her overcome the deadly disease. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Alex Harold Clifton of Savannah, Georgia; her two daughters, Pamela Clifton Shores (Ray), of Richmond Hill, and Gina Clifton Mincey (Perry), of Rincon, Georgia; four grandchildren Christina Shores Ricker (Brian), Lauren Mincey Sapp (Davy), Brett Matthew Mincey (Carly), Paige Mincey Mercer (Matt) and 5 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two-step grandchildren Mitchell Shores (Kim), and Bryan Shores (Desiree); 4 step great grandchildren and 6 step great-great grandchildren. Her celebration of life will be held Wednesday January 7, 2015 at 10am at the First Baptist Church of Garden City, with visitation together with family to follow in the church social hall. Private immediate family burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First Baptist Church of Garden City at 35 Nelson Avenue, Savannah, Georgia or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Etta Jean Clifton, please visit our flower store.