Clifton Spears, Sr. (Clif), age 89, passed away on January 12, 2019 in Simpsonville, SC.
Born July 12, 1929, he was the son of Joel Clifton Spears and Jincie Lane (McDuffie) Spears of Greenville, SC. Clif was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife and mother of his children, Mildred (Connor) Spears, and his brother Joel Issac Spears and his sister Donnie Jean (Spears) White. He is survived by 4 loving children and their spouses: Wanda Spears Clark (Douglas F. Clark) of Simpsonville; Clifton Spears, Jr. (Richard B. Moody, Jr.) of Columbia; William Bradley (Billy) Spears (Kimberly Harris Spears) of Anderson, and Joel Russell (Rusty) Spears (Kimberly Fox Spears) of Belton; 8 grandchildren: Layne Rice (Greg); Reagin Foster (Paul); Brad Spears (April); Chelsea Spears (Branyon Burke); Chloe Paris (Wes); Maggie, Connor and Nora Spears; 10 great-grandchildren: Luke, Harper and Knox Rice; Collyn Curlee, Kendall, Luke and Brooks Foster; Grayson and Emma Spears; and Ella Burke; and other family members and friends; and especially his very close nieces, Debbie White and Sandra White, and very dear close friend, Marti Yates.
An entrepreneur at heart, Clif successfully built and sold several businesses before setting his sights on the marine industry. That vision, originally materializing in 1965, became Carolina Sports Center with locations in Greenville and later in Anderson, SC and would span over 40 years of his work life. Among his business dealings and ventures, he also invented a special flexible textile spool that was later used in many South Carolina and Georgia textile mills.
He was a man that was always reading, thinking and growing. He had a thirst for knowledge and with great conviction could assure most that he was an expert in just about any field or topic.
He always told you the truth even if it sometimes was not what you wanted to hear. But everyone always knew where they stood with him. He either liked you or he didn’t; there wasn’t a lot of gray.
Clif found joy through his love of food, cooking, fishing, boating and most of all his family. And even though Clif was short in stature, he had a giant heart with a lifelong determination to always try do the right thing.
Known by his family as “Poppy”, he had boundless love for his family and friends and never put himself first. His generosity was limitless, as was his advice and guidance, and those of us left behind are all immeasurably better for having had him as our family’s leader.
As he waves goodbye to us one last time with his signature “Jincie wave” and that special little glint in his eyes, we know he’s off to be reunited with Mildred and his loved ones, happy and free from pain and on to his next adventure.
Here’s to you, Poppy! You will truly be missed.
Memorial service to remember and honor Clif’s life will be held Friday, January 25, 2019 at 1:00 pm in the Chapel of the Cremation Society of South Carolina - Westville Funerals, 6010 White Horse Road, Greenville, South Carolina
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the: Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 or visit their website: give.hrc.org/page/23336 to make a donation by credit card in memory of Clifton Spears OR “Make A Tribute” donation to the American Heart Association at Heart.org