Clint W. Williford. Sr.

Clint W. Williford, Sr., age 95, passed away Tuesday morning, February 13, 2018, at Providence Assisted Living Home in Batesville, MS. Funeral services for Mr. Williford will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Batesville First United Methodist Church with family receiving friends beginning at 1:00 prior to the service. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Rev. Ed Temple will officiate the service. Wells Funeral Home of Batesville has charge of arrangements. Clint Williamson Williford Sr. was born on July 14, 1922 in Pope, Mississippi, the son of the late Abner Clinton Williford and the late Jessie Clyde Williford (nee Williamson). He grew up with two brothers, the late James H. and Wade Williford, and two sisters, the late Louise Williford Kovach and Sarah Lynn Williford on a small farm near Pope on Plum Nelly Road (now Chapel Hill Rd.) Clint was also preceded in death by 6 month old twins, Joseph and Josephine Williford. It was The Depression, and the big toys of his childhood were a twice hand-me-down bike and a red wagon, on a gravel road. He lived in the house his father built – “the best carpenter in the county.” When he was not quite nine, his father died unexpectedly. Neither he nor his siblings complained of this as unfair, but rather, “It was just the way things were. His older brother and sisters helped to hold the family together. Growing into his teen years, he did carpentry. As WWII broke out he followed his older brother James to Indiana to build an airfield through intensely cold winter nights. As Uncle Jim said, “Me and Clint made a pretty good team.” In December 1942, he joined the Navy, operating heavy equipment in the Advanced Support Base unit (a role similar to that of the Seabees). He landed on the beach at Bougainville Island and built airfields there. In 1946, he landed in San Francisco and had a “cold one” (photographic proof available.) Moving to Memphis, took a “temporary” job in the steam plant of Kennedy Veterans Hospital and retired 37 and 1/2 years later. He soon met a pretty nurse, Naomi Louise Bartley of Birmingham, on a blind date who apparently took charge of a proposal and got a 60 year commitment, marrying in 1948. Postwar housing was pretty hard to find. So, they rented rooms in a duplex, and Clint built a kitchen. Clint Jr “Bill” came along in 1952, and Louise and Clint adopted a precious baby girl, Susan, in 1958. Clint’s two brothers had married and also moved to Memphis, raising their families through the 50s to 70s and sharing wonderful Christmas and Thanksgiving feasts. All three brothers built ski-boats, and we spent many enjoyable summers at the lake. Clint was active in the Oakhaven United Methodist Church in Memphis, helped the Boy Scouts, was an active member of the community, and contributed his carpentry skills. Clint retired in 1982. He and Louise moved near Pope, Mississippi in 1985. They were members of First United Methodist Church in Batesville, and Clint a member of the local chapter of American Legion. Later they took on the role of raising Susan’s children, Chaeli and Lee Chambers, keeping these “retired” folks busy and young - and turning out two fine young people. Clint Jr. and Sharyn were close by in Oxford, raising their two sons, Jacob Allan, and Joshua Paul, giving Clint many years to share with his grandchildren as they grew up. Pope was home to Clint and Louise from 1985 to 2008 when she passed away. Clint continued on growing tomatoes and tending the home until 2016 when he moved to Providence Assisted Living. Clint also took great pride in his nieces and nephews, Jimmy Williford, Hart Williford, Beverly Williford Anderson, Linda Williford Marker, John David Williford and Paul Kovach. He was also preceded in death by a niece and nephew, Patrice Williford Butram and Lloyd Wade Williford. He spent nearly two years at Providence in Batesville making new friends and reconnecting with many from years past. Surrounded by family, Clint passed away at age 95 at Providence on Tuesday, February 13 of natural causes. A man of faith, we are comforted in knowing that he is in the eternal presence of our loving God and cherished ones. Clint was a quiet, sincere, and hardworking man. He “made things work.” His life spanned the agricultural age, plowing behind a mule; the industrial age, running a steam plant; and the information age, building a Ham radio and using a computer and digital camera. He, his brothers, sisters, and spouses made their own way and mark in the world. They won the peace, built the prosperity, and loved their families – exemplifying “The Greatest Generation.”Memorial contributions may be made to Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave. Batesville, MS 38606 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675-8517.