Ruth Goolsby Clifton

Ruth Goolsby Clifton died at The Pines in Davidson, North Carolina, on September 17, 2016, almost three months before turning 103. She was born in Clay County, Georgia, to the late Charles Walker Goolsby and Mattie McDaniel Goolsby.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Cecil Lamar Clifton, Sr., and sons, Charles Reuben Clifton and James Richard Clifton. Surviving her are her son, Cecil Clifton, Jr., daughters-in-law Jennie Clifton and Cathy Clifton Goss, and grandchildren, Derek Clifton, Jennifer Clifton Sapp, Britten Clifton Langley, David Clifton, and Michael Clifton. She also had 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Family was the focus of Ruth's life. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family, and preparing food for them was one of her greatest joys. Her cream- style corn was the best ever.

Having lived in Avondale Estates, Georgia, for almost 30 years, she and her husband retired in 1984 to Lake Hartwell near Lavonia, Georgia, where they enjoyed many happy years as members of the First Baptist Church of Lavonia. They married in Albany in 1941, and returned there in 2001, becoming members of Gillionville Baptist Church.

A graveside service will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery in Albany at 1:30 on Friday afternoon, September 23. The family will be at Mathews Funeral Home in Albany from 11 till noon that day.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Residents' Fund, The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, NC 28036 or to Hospice and Palliative Care Lake Norman, 705 Griffith Street, Suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036.