It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I, Curtis Lee Clifton, announce the death of my father, Benny Earl Clifton, at the age of 85. Benny departed this life on the morning of Tuesday, January 17, 2023, after a long illness.

Benny was born on October 4, 1937, in Statesboro, Georgia, the son of Pickens and Lonnie Morris Clifton. He received his education from various schools, including Brooklyn-Cayce High School. As a young man, Benny traveled all over the country selling magazines before moving back to Columbia, where he met Clarice Christine Windham, who would eventually become his wife of 62 years and the mother of his children.

After settling in the Dentsville area, Benny went to work for Ruth's Salads Company, where he ran a route for many years and made many lifelong friends, some of whom still live in the Columbia area. He raised his family in Dentsville until 1972 when his love of the ocean and the great outdoors led him to a career as a commercial fisherman, first in Savannah, Georgia, and later in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, which he pursued for many years until opening his own fish market, first in Mount Pleasant, and eventually in Columbia, South Carolina, where it remains a thriving business to this day.

Benny was a pillar of the community for over 45 years. He was a good-natured person who never met a stranger and helped many people who were down and out during the course of his life. He was a Mason and a Shriner in the Jamil Temple. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Curtis Lee Clifton and James Allen Clifton, his grandson, Brandon Lee Clifton, his brothers, Preston Clifton and Jerry Freeman, and his sister, Gloria Paige.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Ira Clifton, Powell Clifton, Geneva Bramptam, Donnie Woods, Barnell Clifton, Lenora Crawford, and Linda McKinney.

The graveside service for Mr. Clifton will be held at 2 o'clock on Wednesday, January 25th, at Elmwood Cemetery, located at 501 Elmwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 5 until 7 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext, Columbia, SC, 29223.

You may reach Shives Funeral Home for any questions at (803) 754-6290 or Elmwood Cemetery at (803) 252-2133.