A memorial service for Clifton Lee Harkey, retired educator, will be held at Shandon Baptist Church at 4:00 pm, on May 7, 2016. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, at the church. Mr. Harkey passed peacefully in his sleep on May 2, 2016.

Born September 3, 1928 in Wadesboro, NC, he was the son of Edward "Ned" Harmon Harkey and Pauline Lee Harkey. He was married July 23, 1950 to Ann Woodward Colcock of Allendale. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War, after which he earned degrees from Clemson in 1959 and the University of South Carolina in 1966.

Mr. Harkey worked as teacher in the Brookland-Cayce High School, principal of John C. Calhoun Elementary School in Clemson, SC; and served in several administrative positions in Richland County School District One, including principalships at Schneider Elementary School, Caughman Road Middle School, and as Richland District One Hearing Officer. Following retirement from the schools, he worked for several years as South Carolina Fraternal Coordinator for Woodmen of the World. He was selected by the Woodmen as South Carolina Fraternalist of the Year in 2001.

A long-time member of Shandon Baptist Church, he served as Deacon Chairman, Church Training Director, Sunday school teacher and Department Director, and Chairman of Church History Committee. He was a leader in the church's Senior Citizens Ministry, where he founded and edited the group's newsletter for 20+ years. He was a singer in the Celebration Choir for 25 years, and sang in the first fifteen years of Shandon's Singing Christmas Tree.

Survivors include his beloved wife of, Ann, 65+ years; sister, Mary Eva (Mrs. William) Haak of Okemos, MI; daughter, Susan Elizabeth Harkey of Columbia; sons, Edward "Ned" Gregorie Harkey and his wife, Claudia, of Irmo, and Charles Everett Harkey and his wife, Michelle, of Peachtree City, GA; eight grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, brother, Dr. Joseph Harkey, and sons-in-law, Tony Higgins and Robert Howard.

Memorials may be sent to Shandon Baptist Missions Fund, 5250 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.