This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: BROWN, BRIDGES, BELCHER, WILLIE Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/22899/mb.ashx Message Board Post: BROWN, Clifford, Sr. We, the children of Clifford Brown Sr., announce the death of our father. Our father died Monday morning June 9, 2008 at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Clifford was born November 4, 1928 in McKinney, Texas, the eldest son of Isaac and Clara Bell (Bridges) Brown. In the late 1930s, Clara Bell relocated her family to Kansas City, Missouri where Clifford and his younger brother, Alfred, graduated from Lincoln High School. In 1948, Clifford enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became one of the first African American Corpsmen. Our father was always very proud of his service to our country. In August 1953, he married our mother, Ressie Mae Belcher, of Schaal, Arkansas. They had six children, one daughter, Yolanda, died at birth. He earned a BS degree in Biology from the University of Kansas and two masters degrees from the University of Missouri at Kansas City: in Hematology/Microbiology and Hospital Administration. He worked at Menorah Medical Center for 17 years as a Medical Tec! hnologists, supervising the Hematology Department. In 1974, he relocated his family to Kalamazoo to take a position with the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company Quality Control Department. He retired after 20 years of service. Clifford became very active in the performing arts community in Kalamazoo. He acted, directed and served as a board member of the Civic Players and committee member of Kalamazoo Black Civic Players. He was instrumental in assisting the growth and development of the Civic Black Theater in the 1980s while accepting lead and supporting roles in Civic mainstage productions and Black Theater productions. He is best remembered for his outstanding and memorable portrayal of the "the Lion" in the 1980's production of The Wiz and his direction of Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope. He is survived by his wife Candyce, five children, three step-children, fourteen grandchildren, two great- granddaughters, one cousin, Maxine Willie of Dallas, TX; and a host nieces and nephews! , family and friends who love him and will miss him. Visitation will b e Thursday (today) from 5-9 PM and services will be Friday June 13 at 9:00 AM. Internment will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery with full military honors. Both visitation and funeral services will be held at L angeland Family Funeral Home-Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 14, 11:00 AM at Allen Chapel AME Church, 804 W. North Street. Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 6/12/2008. (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.