James Peter Clifton's Obituary
James Peter Clifton (Pete), 78, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024.
He went to be with his Lord and Savior while holding the hands of his loving wife of 48 years, Sandra Clifton, and his daughters Stacy, Angie, and Cassie at Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Pete, the youngest child of Buford and Grace Clifton, was born in Memphis, TN on March 31, 1946. He attended Central High School and continued his education at Memphis State University, where he received an undergraduate degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in Economics. He spent the first 13 years of his career at Ernst & Ernst as a Certified Public Accountant. He later pursued investment banking, beginning at Union Planters, before moving to Houston, TX for five years. In 1996, he returned to Memphis as an entrepreneur working with various start-up companies as a CFO. Throughout his career, he made many lifelong friends.
Although his illness prevented him from many activities, for many years he enjoyed golf. Pete was also a passionate University of Memphis basketball fan. He watched every game, always debriefing with his friends afterwards about what the coaches should have done. Aside from his love for sports, Pete loved spending time with and serving his family. Despite limitations from his illness in his final years, Pete remained overwhelmingly positive and in good spirits, always so joyful to spend time with his wife and children.
He attended Grave Evangelical Church in Germantown for 18 years and was previously a member of Germantown Baptist Church. He loved God, his church and his small group at Grace. Pete was a very loving husband, father, son-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law, grandfather, and uncle. He was so loved by those who knew him.
Pete is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Stacy Clifton, daughter Angie Thiel (Paul), daughter Cassie Clifton, son James Christropher Clifton, and son Jason Clifton (Erin), and one grandson. He leaves one sister, Mary Jane Clifton, of Tampa, FL.
On Thursday, April 25th Pete’s family will host a visitation at 2pm and a funeral service at 3pm at Grace Evangelical Church in Germantown, TN.
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