May 29, 1939 – July 14, 2022
“Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;”
Alfred Lord Tennyson
A master craftsman by trade, Clifford was a man who spoke his mind freely with convictions, lived his life fully doing things in his own way. Admired by all he can in contact with, he always advocated for the underdog which left lifelong impressions throughout the community and his present will be missed by many.
Clifford Edward Thompson, Sr., 83, of Colonial Heights, Virginia passed away peacefully on July 14, 2022. Because of his lovely smile and his beautiful dimples, early in his life he received the nickname, “Possum”. He was born in Reidsville, North Carolina to Helen Thompson Johnson and reared by Willie and Elnora Spencer. Mrs. Spencer lovingly called him, “Clifton” and so did everybody else. He was educated in the public elementary schools of Chesterfield County attending Port Walthall, Kingsland and Carver. At 13, he moved to Winston Salem, North Carolina and attended Skyland Middle School and Atkins High School.
After high school Clifford returned to Colonial Heights, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Ann “MaAnn” Newsome. The courtship grew. After five years, they married on August 1, 1962, He was affectionately called, “Dad, Pops, Papa and Grandpa”, by his children and grandchildren.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Clifford leaves behind his wife, MaAnn of 60 years; four sons, Clifford Jr. (Edna), Mark (Jacquelyn), Kevin (Natasha), and Donald (Anita) all of Chesterfield, and one daughter, Brenda Lynne (Tony) of Woodbridge, VA; thirteen grandchildren the apples of his eye, Torey (Lisa), Cherish (John), Brandon (Stephanie), Tracy (Travis), Brittany (Maurice), Donald Jr., Jolisa (Erik), David (devoted who will always remain near and dear to his heart), Kayla, Briona, Marlon, Ashley and Aiden; seventeen great grandchildren the sugar plums, Jon, Marcus, Sierra, Zacarias, Malikye, Jaiden, Tori, Jessiyah, Amaya, Jaxson, Nora, Caleb, Aubree, Taylor, Tyson, Noah, and Desirae; one sister, Brenda J. Fluellen; niece, Alexis B. Fluellen of Lawrence, KS; and a host of other relatives and friends. Clifford also leaves four SPECIAL friends, Ms. Wilma Swann, Ms. Sylvia Thompson, Mr. Leonard Bayley and Dr. Ethel M. Bayley will always be remembered
A memorial service will be held 4:00 P.M., Friday, July 22, 2022 at the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, Dr. Angel Allen, eulogist.