Clifton Samuel Black, 47, of 1118 Burke Village Lane, Apt. D, departed his earthly home on July 17, 2012 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. He was born May 28, 1965 to the late Mable Alvera Black and the late Clifton Samuel Hatton in Los Angeles, California.

He attended Dorsey Denior High in Los Angeles, Ca and Mt. Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, NC.

Clifton confessed Jesus Christ as his Saviour and attended Morning Star Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach.

Clifton was preceded in death by his mother, Mable Alvera Black; his father, Clifton Samuel Hatton; his maternal granmother, Retha Murray ; his paternal grandmother, Minnie Hatton; two uncles: Curtis Hatton and Marion Hatton.

He leaves to cherish loving memories: four daughters: Temika Black of Charlotte, NC, Janisha (Ronnie) Black, Sable (Willie) Witherspoon, and Shakira (Yana) Witherspoon, all of the city; one son, Lytrell Arbery of the city; six grandchildren: Destinee´, Amirah, Arhianna, Ambriana, Kalann and RaShaud; four sisters: Cynthia ( ) Jackson, Sherry (Jimmy) Smith of California, London (Aron) Carpenter, of the city and Lya (Tony) Williams of Iowa; three brothers: Isiah (Pandora) Hall, Lorenza Black of California and Jamal (Anastasia) Hatton of the city; four aunts: Hazel Crockett of California, Margretta (John) Tanner, Johnetta Sinclair and Carolyn Coleman, all of the city; a truly devoted and special friend of 27 years, Deborah Witherspoon; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends.

A funeral service celebrating Mr. Black’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 23, 2012 in the chapel of Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach, officiating. The family will greet friends from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour in the chapel.

“Our family chain is broken. Nothing will ever be the same but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. We will always love and miss you Clifton.”

For a copy of the funeral program, click here.