WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL

PHILIP E. (PETE) CLIFTON, SR
Pooler - Philip E. (Pete) Clifton, Sr. died, at age 87, following a long illness on March 9, 2007. He was a well known industrialist, former County Commissioner and former Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority. He also served on the Board of Directors at Memorial Hospital.

He was born on March 26, 1919 in Guyton, Georgia. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the US Army and served with the 27th Infantry Division (Wolfpack) in the Hawaiian Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1938 and went to work for Steel Products Company. On the 16th of June 1941, he married the love of his life, Rubie Cowart. They were married for 61 years until her death in 2001. She was his partner in life, as well as in business, and was responsible for much of his success. They had 2 children, Sandra Kay (1941) and Philip Jr. (1946), and one foster daughter, Emma Lou Sills Edwards.

When World War II broke out, he re-enlisted and served as a weapons trainer stateside. He was once again honorably discharged. When he returned home, he opened a small steel erection business called Clifton Erection Company, later to be well known as "Steel Erectors, Incorporated". Later on, he formed and ran "The Kay C. Company", "Rebars Incorporated", and "Savannah Steel Company", each providing many years of different services, mainly in the steel industry. Much of Chatham County's industrial and commercial infrastructure can be attributed to one of his businesses.

Pete served as Chatham County Commissioner from 1966 to 1973, and was appointed to the Georgia Ports Authority, by then Governor Jimmy Carter in 1973. He served the GPA for 13 years at the behest of 3 Governors and during his last term he was appointed Chairman.

Pete was a true civic leader, especially for West Chatham County. He spearheaded the efforts to build the Westside Boys Club, Westside Stadium, Camp Blue Heron (The Boy Scouts), Lake Mayer, and many other projects for the benefit of Chatham County, and especially its children. For these efforts, he was awarded many accolades, such as "The Herschel V. Jenkins Award" for recreational leadership (twice), "The Service to Humanity Award" (Jaycees), "The Industrial Man of the Year", "The Service to Mankind Award" (Sertoma), "Book of Golden Deeds Award" (Exchange Club), and "The Silver Beaver Award" (Boy Scouts), to name a few. Pete was a Charter Member of the Woodlawn Baptist Church and was instrumental in the building of the church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rubie Cowart Clifton.

He is survived by two sisters, Edna Sandefur and Lillian Wilder; his children, Kay C. Paul Culver and Philip E.Clifton, Jr.; eight grandchildren, Stephanie Williams, Reginald Edwards, David Clifton, Brian Paul, Brandon Paul, Leslie Clifton Shinn, Valerie Montanya, Peter Clifton; and nine great-grandchildren.

The family is grateful for his friend, Classie Mae Lonon, for her devotion to our family. The family is also grateful for the help of Alethea Bartley, who was a key caregiver, and friend of the family, this last year.

Visitation: 6:30-8:00 pm on Saturday, March 10 at Strickland Funeral Home in Pooler.

Memorial Service: 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 11 at Woodlawn Baptist Church; Graveside services to follow at Westside Memorial Gardens on Adams Road in Bloomingdale.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Boy Scouts of America (scouting.org) or Hospice of Savannah (PO Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416) or Woodlawn Baptist Church.