Elizabeth “Hope” Clifton, age 92, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025 in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
Hope was born in Washington, D.C. to Shepherd and Dorothy Clifton and lived there through her high school and college years. In 1950, after achieving the rank of captain in the ROTC, she received a special invitation to attend the Ceremony of the National Community Christmas Tree on the south lawn of the White House.
Upon completing her bachelor’s degree at George Washington University, her interest in pursuing a career in art led her to training at institutes in both Chicago and Baton Rouge. With this background she was able to land a graphic designer position at Nashville’s Baptist Sunday School Board in 1959. She quickly made friendships that endured a lifetime, and during her 35-year tenure at what eventually became Lifeway, she was recognized several times by her employer for her excellent performance.
Although details of her background are sketchy, it is certain that she was able to obtain a private pilot’s license and thoroughly enjoyed several years of flying. As she began attending services at House of Blessing church, she developed a strong friendship with Ron and Janet McDonald. Considering Hope had never married and had no living close relatives, she was invited to be a housemate and was eventually considered to be part of our extended family.
Hope’s love for the Lord was always evident and she let her light shine in so many ways. In the early 1970s, as much of House of Blessing’s attention was focused on Israel, she became very passionate about the Jewish people and a desire to see them accept Jesus as their Messiah. Over the years, she amassed as many items pertaining to Jewish culture as her living space would accommodate. Her personalized license plate proudly displayed the word “TIKVAH”, the Hebrew translation of “Hope”.
Another of Hope’s passions was God’s creation and her firm belief in the accuracy of the biblical account. She was an early adherent of the teachings of the authorities at Answers in Genesis and generously donated to the building of the Creation Museum and other aspects of the ministry. She loved hunting for fossils in the wooded hills surrounding the house in the Goodlettsville area.
All of us who came to know Hope as part of our family over the last forty years will treasure our memories of her and are comforted by knowing she is enjoying her heavenly reward.
Graveside service to be held at 10 am, Thursday, June 19 at Joelton Hills Memory Gardens. https://www.andersonandgarrett.com
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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