Mr. Clifton Jones Jr., Former District 5 Savannah Alderman

Mr. Clifton Jones Jr., a respected community leader and former Alderman for the City of Savannah, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2024, at Hospice Savannah, Inc., after a brief illness. Born on June 13, 1932, in Savannah, GA, to Clifton Jones Sr. and Catherine Morgan Campbell, Clifton dedicated his life to public service and community improvement.

Educated in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Clifton graduated as part of the first class of Alfred E. Beach High School in 1950. He attended Savannah State College, now known as Savannah State University (SSU). He served honorably as a U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

Clifton's career was marked by a deep involvement in numerous organizations that sought to enhance the lives of those in the Savannah area. He served on several boards, including the Savannah Branch NAACP Board of Directors, the Housing Authority of Savannah Board, the Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care Center Board, and the W.W. Law Foundation Board. His active participation also extended to the Chatham County Democratic Committee, the American Legion Post 500, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 600. Moreover, he was a charter member of the Beach HS Athletic Hall of Fame Association, established in 2007.

In a significant testament to his leadership abilities, Clifton co-founded the Liberty City-Richfield-Southover Community Improvement Association (LCRS) and presided over it for over twenty-six years. Under his stewardship, the community faced and conquered various challenges—from limited streetlights to inadequate infrastructure. Clifton's efforts led to substantial improvements such as the installation of streetlights, the establishment of a sewer system, the paving of streets, the construction of the Staley Avenue overpass to alleviate traffic obstruction caused by trains and the initiation of curbside mail service in the Summerside area. These community enhancements were made possible through his dedication and collaboration with the City of Savannah, Chatham County and the U.S. Postal Service.  

Clifton's remarkable contributions to the community were recognized through his election as Alderman for Savannah's 5th District in 1996, alongside the City’s first Black Mayor, Floyd Adams Jr.. He served diligently for 16 years from 1996 to 2011. Subsequent to leaving office, he was granted emeritus status, a reflection of his lasting impact.

Beyond his administrative accomplishments, Clifton was recognized with numerous awards and accolades throughout his lifetime. A notable honor was the 2009 award from the Haitian Historical American Society for his role in helping erect the Haitian Monument in Savannah's Franklin Square, which commemorates the contributions of Black men from Haiti to the American Revolutionary War in Savannah in 1799. One of the statues at the monument is modeled in Clifton's likeness. Additionally, he received numerous proclamations, honors, and awards, including a section of Stuyvesant Street being renamed "Clifton & Ernestine J. Jones Street" in recognition of his and Ernestine's, his late wife, service to the community.

A devoted family man, Clifton married the late Ernestine Jenkins on January 29, 1956, and together they shared more than sixty-two years of marriage, raising four children: Edwin, Daryl, Glynda, and Karen. He is survived by his children and daughter-in-law Una Satchell Jenkins; three grandchildren, Jameelah, James, and Jameel; seven great-grandchildren; his special niece Gloria Brown; sister-in-law Eloise Barnes; as well as a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, cousins, friends, and close friends Clarence Holmes and Joe Lovett.

Clifton was an active member of the Historic Second African Baptist Church, and he previously served as a deacon at Beth Eden Baptist Church. In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching MSNBC political news, 24/7, baking, and spending time at The Savannah Checkers Club, where he was a long-standing member and relished the joy of playing checkers, and he loved to fix things himself.

Clifton Jones, Jr. leaves behind a rich legacy of community service, leadership, and unwavering dedication, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held on December 23, 2024, at Second African Baptist Church in Savannah, GA, providing family and friends an opportunity to pay their respects and celebrate the life of a remarkable individual.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Savannah State University, to the Education Scholarship Fund established in memory of Ernestine J. Jones and Nathaniel "Bunny" Jenkins (Ernestine's brother), who were educators. Checks should be made payable to: Savannah State University. Please mail checks to: Savannah State University, University Advancement, 3219 College Street, Box 20439, Savannah, Georgia 31404. The purpose of the Ernestine J. Jones and Nathaniel “Bunny” Jenkins Scholarship is to provide need-based scholarship support, as determined by the appropriate representative(s) of SSU, for a student(s) who is majoring in Education, and who has expressed an aspiration to become an Educator.