Frederick Clifton

Frederick "Fred" Clifton, son of Lupert Morton Clifton and Laura Cockram, was born 20 Aug 1895 in Patrick, Co VA, and died 12 Sep 1989 in Patrick, Co VA. He married Selona Helms. She was born 26 Jan 1898 in Patrick Co, Va, and died 29 Jul 1976 in Patrick Co, Va.

County Historian Dies Early Tuesday Morning

Patrick County historian Fred Clifton died early Tuesday morning, Sept. 12, at Patrick Co. Memorial Hospital.

had been a resident of Blue Ridge Nursing Home in Stuart for the past several years, but prior to that time spent his life in Vesta.

Clifton has been referred to as a "one-man Chamber of Commerce for Patrick Co; and a goodwill ambassador for the county," because of his many philantropic endeavors, and his love for the county that was his home.

A historian, educator, school teacher and principal, Clifton taught school for 19 years in Patrick Co, and was a Postmaster for 29 years at Vesta, and a retired merchant.

On Wednesday, Aug 20, 1987 Clifton celebrated his 92nd birthday at the dedication of the Fred Clifton Park, near Lover's Leap, off Rt. 58 on the mountain.

The dedication had been planned to coincide with Clifton's birthday by the local board of supervisors and William F. and Carolyn Franck, who donated the 72-acre site to the county and $200,000 for the park's development, in Clifton's honor.

At the time of the dedication of the park with the land from the Martinsville couple, Clifton said, "I'm just an old country boy. I don't deserve all of this."

At the dedication, Franck so aptly expressed the sentiments of those who knew Clifton: "He's meant a lot to the ordinary, basic-type people who love him a lot, and he speaks everybody's language. He loves Patrick Co and these mountains, and the past memories that mean so much to the people"

Senator Virgil Goode dedicated the park to Clifton, "and in naming this park The Fred Clifton Park, it's a fitting tribute to an individual who has worked so hard on preserving the history and heritage of Patrick Co and this part of Virginia," Goode said.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Mae Clifton of Martinsville and Lena Clifton Kersey of Viola, Del.

The funeral will be Thursday morning, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. at Mountain View United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Elders J. M. Vipperman and J. B. Conner, and Revs. M. G. Goodpasture, Norman Biggs and Eugene Hubbard. Burial will be in the Cockram Family Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made, if desired, to Mountain View United Methodist Church.

Family night will be held Wednesday (tonight) at Moody Funeral Home from 7-8 p.m.The Enterprise, Stuart VA - Aug 4, 1976

Mrs. Selona Helms Clifton

Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Selona Helms Clifton, 78, Vesta, from Mountain View United Methodist Church Saturday 2 pm. Burial was in the Cochram family cemetery, Meadows of Dan. The Revs. Norman Biggs and Rufus Wood and Elders Bennie Clifton, J. M. Vipperman and E. E. Cassell officiated.

Mrs Clifton, a lifelong resident of Patrick County, is the daughter of the late Abraham Madison and Rosabelle Thomas Helms. A retired Vesta Post Office employee, Mrs. Clifton and her husband operated Clifton's Store in Vesta for many years.

Survivors include her husband, Fred C. Clifton, Vesta; two sisters Mrs. Bertie Gover, Eden, NC and Mrs. Myrtle Hancock, Vesta, and two brothers. A. H. and Frazier Helms both of Meadows of Dan.

from Nettie Clifton

            Fred and Selona Clifton

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        08 Mar 1928