Clifford Dell Grubbs
Clifford Dell Grubbs was born July 12, 1926, to Earl and Nellie Wiggans Grubbs near Barnesville. He died August 8, 2016 at the age of 90.
On a furlough home from the Army during WWII, he met Virginia Adair at a family wedding and later drank nearly a pot of coffee at the Atlanta Junior High tournament just to get to talk to her. They were married on July 5, 1951, and enjoyed more than sixty-five years of life together. They lived on their family farm in the Hopewell community west of Atlanta until two years ago when they moved to Macon.
One of his earliest jobs was as a substitute rural mail carrier for the route handled by his uncle, Ben Wiggans. A route which he covered on horseback in bad weather. His son, Rick and granddaughter, Riki, have followed that same career path, making four generations who have worked for the U.S. Postal Service.
Clifford was always a farmer at heart, but he also worked at Toastmaster for twenty-five years, supervising a line and even traveling out of the country a few times on behalf of the company. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. In 1960, he was ordained a deacon in the Primitive Baptist Church. He and his family attended Chariton, Mt. Salem, Little Zion, Atlanta, or Goldsberry in Macon County most Sundays with dinner on the grounds.
He was also active in the Atlanta community, hosting many PTA events when his children were in school and supporting the local ball teams until his health finally kept him from attending.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Thelma Grubbs in childhood; and one great-granddaughter, Ellery White who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and children Rick and Joyce Grubbs of Macon, Kathy and Wendell Nickerson of Bethel, Martha and Kris Palmer of Bethel and Kenny and Denise Grubbs of Macon, along with eleven grandchildren: Riki and Justin Anderson of Macon, Felicity and Dan White of Omaha, Nebraska, Serenity and Michael Bohon of Kirksville, Joseph Nickerson of Omaha, Nebraska, Charity and Ryan Long of Omaha, Nebraska, Caleb and Becca Palmer of Casper, Wyoming, Jennie and Nathan Mayes of Bethel, Jordan and Courtney Palmer of Kirksville Meghan Palmer of Bethel, Kristi Thompson and Bryan Grubbs of Macon. Additionally, twenty-four great grandchildren: Bentley and Carrie Anderson, Jesse, Claire, Ada and Macy White, John, Andrew, and Jake Bohon, Elena, Adele, and J. Paxton Nickerson, Nola, Violet, Roman, and Remington Long, Ethan, Ava, and Hudson Palmer, Arianna, Wesley, and Eden Mayes, Piersen and Valerie Palmer and with a host of other family members and friends including his dear cousin, Norma Grubbs of LaPlata.
He leaves behind a legacy of faith and faithfulness to all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services will be at 10 AM Saturday, August 13 at Elliott Funeral Home in Atlanta with visitation Friday from 5 to 8 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Chariton Cemetery, north of Callao.
Memorials are suggested to the Chariton Cemetery.
