Gilford D. Clemons, 64, Was Devoted Family Man

Gilford D. (Gil) Clemons of Oak Bluffs died on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was 64.

Gilford, the only child of Gilbert D. Clemons of Piqua, Ohio, and Dorothy Wright Clemons of St. Louis, Mo., was born in Troy, Ohio, on April 16, 1942. At the age of 12 he moved to Boston, where his father had been stationed by the U.S. Army. There he met and married the love of his life, Jean Delores Mitchell of Melvin, Ala., and soon was delighted by the birth of his daughter, Cyndie, and his son, Robert.

Being the family man that he was, nothing brought Gilford more joy than his five wonderful grandchildren: Robbie, Sharise, Jesse, Franklin and Morgan. His love and devotion to his wife and children was truly evident in the manner he provided for his family. While a loyal employee at General Electric (GE) for 38 years, Gilford opened the Ace Cleaning Service and Children's Gallery Toy Manufacturing Co. in Boston with his wife, Jean. Showing his compassion for those less fortunate than he, Gilford employed many of the city's homeless and low-income population and even provided transportation to and from the work sites for his employees.

Gilford's appetite for maintaining a busy schedule had been in the making his entire life. So of course, when he retired from GE in 1997 and moved to Martha's Vineyard to live a relaxing life with his wife and family, that meant also finding another place of employment - the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.

Although Gilford had only lived on the Vineyard for a few years, he made friends quickly with his easy manner and great sense of humor, and he was known for his kind spirit and generous heart. Many times Gilford expressed the notion, "Besides your family, the only thing of value you have is your word." Gilford was always a man of his word; however, he did not only speak of kindness, his actions were that of a genuinely kind man.

Gilford was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, children and five grandchildren as well as his uncle, Maurice Clemons of Piqua, Ohio; his sisters and brothers in law, Alice Odom of Mobile, Ala., John and Barbara Davis of Gilbertown, Ala., and Otho and Johnnie Thurmond of Detroit, Mich.; cousins Leroy Clemons, Carol Clemons, Craig and Jeannie Clemons, Anita Basil, and Paul and Courtney Medley; his god-daughter, Linda Pearson Montero; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, and loving family friends Linda Griffith, Steven Morgan, Jesse Jeter and Robert Gorham.

A visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.

Donations in Gilford's memory may be made to the YMCA of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 881, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or to any Martha's Vineyard youth sports organization. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.