Ms. Sylvia Jean Francis Clifton, age 81 of Nashville, TN, passed away on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
She was born on January 22, 1940, in Pulaski, TN, to Raymond Brown Francis and Geneva Phillips Francis.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Wayne Francis; her sister, Faye Francis; and her oldest son, Ricky Clifton.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Villard “Bill” Clifton; her son, Kenneth Clifton (Elizabeth Roderick); her daughter, Denise Clifton Joscelyn (Jeff Poole); her granddaughter, Lindsay Joscelyn Loftis (Carter); her grandson, Matthew Clifton (Chrissy); her great-grandson, Aiden Clifton; her brothers, Raymond “Buster” Francis and Len Francis; her sisters, Judy Ogle and Sandra Pickett Simons; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Sylvia went to Giles County High School where she played basketball and played the drums and saxophone in the band for 4 years. She began working at Kuhns as a sales clerk when she was 12. She continued that job until she was 18. She also worked at Murphy’s, Shoney’s, and People Express Airlines and kept children in her home alongside her own 3 children. She met Bill at a party when she was 15. They dated 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days before they decided to run off and get married in Corinth, MS.
She was an active member of Haywood Hills Baptist Church for many years, where she was baptized on October 22, 1963. She taught Sunday School, served on a variety of committees, sung in the church choir, worked the church youth camp for 9 years, and started the library there. She then moved her membership to Brentwood Baptist Church and was there for over 25 years. After moving to assisted living at McKendree Village in Hermitage, Bill and Sylvia moved their membership to Victory Baptist in Mt. Juliet.
Sylvia was a homemaker. She also volunteered at Central State Mental Hospital after moving to Nashville, TN. She later volunteered transporting patients for American Cancer Society and delivered Meals on Wheels 1 day a week for a number of years. Throughout their lives together, Sylvia and Bill enjoyed traveling to all 50 states. Sylvia has made many friendships over the years while enjoying one of their favorite hobbies of line dancing. She enjoyed helping others and giving to those in need. She was an amazing cook and often brought meals to the sick or the grieving – her secret ingredient was love. She loved to go visit friends, neighbors, and family. Before she had to give up driving, she kept the road hot and was always on the go. She loved to dance, sing, and have a good time. She enjoyed meeting new people and always making them feel welcome. Sylvia had so much compassion for others. She was a force to be reckoned with. She always put God first and focused on showing his love to others. She was a Diva, had a great sense of humor, and loved to make others smile. She was not afraid to show up as herself and never met a stranger. Sylvia had a positive outlook on life and was confident that no matter what was thrown her way, God would see her through. Some of her other hobbies were reading, sending cards to her loved ones, going to the movies, shopping, going out to eat, taking tons of pictures, and making memories. She enjoyed putting together family gatherings and entertaining guests. Sylvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, and a woman of faith.
Visitation will be at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Dr. Chuck Groover from Victory Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet. Interment Christ Church Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Family and Friends will serve as pallbearers. Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 615-331-1952.
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