Clifford Lee Moore's Obituary
Clifford Lee Moore was born in San Francisco, California on March 18, 1959, to Annie Belle Walker and Leroy Moore. His mother and the “village” in the Western Addition raised him. That village included the Mrs. Irene Cain, Aunt Jessie Albert, and Aunt Mae Ella Walker. Clifford learned the value of hard work at an early age. As a teenager, he worked at the neighborhood corner market and had a paper route, too.
In his formative years, Clifford attended New Stranger’s Home Baptist Church in San Francisco under the pastorate of Reverend E. U. Jones. In the late nineteen-eighties, he was baptized by the Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco and was a member of the Gospel Chimes Choir, the Young Adult Sunday School Class and the Young Adult Thursday Night Bible Study Group. In 2006, Clifford joined Beth Eden Baptist Church in Oakland under the pastoral leadership of the Reverend Dr. Gillette O. James. At Beth Eden, Clifford was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, the Scholarship Committee, and the Men’s Ministry. Often he assisted with the various culinary ministry at Beth Eden. On October 20, 2013, he was ordained as a deacon. When his illness caused an early retirement, Clifford lent his time and talents to the completion of the Beth Eden Baptist Church Family Life Center by working as Mr. Thomas Henderson’s assistant.
Clifford was proud to be a San Franciscan. He attended John Muir Elementary School, Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, and Lowell High School. While in high school, Clifford was introduced to Bennie Jean and Richard Moore (not related) of San Francisco, California. The Moores had four daughters and no son until they met Clifford. “Dad” (Richard) Moore provided fatherly advice to Clifford and attended all his sporting events. Thus, a father-son relationship was born that lasted until Dad Moore’s transition. Over the years, Clifford spent numerous weekends and holidays with the Moore Family. Within the family, the two men were referred to as “King” and “King Jr.”
Clifford attended San Francisco City College, where he played football, was named “Player of the Week,” and was inducted into the San Francisco City College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was Dan Marino’s Wide Receiver and a teammate and housemate of Hugh Green. As a Pitt Panther his coaching staff included Jackie Sherrill, Serafino “Foge” Fazio and Jimmy Johnson. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, Clifford met Mae and Walter McElroy. He enjoyed Sunday dinners and holidays with the McElroy family for many years and the McElroy’s became his surrogate parents. Clifford maintained a loving relationship with the McElroy’s and their children until Clifford departed this life.
At Pitt, Clifford met the love of his life and best friend Rhonda Pittman Hart, whom he lovingly referred to as “Pittman.” It was difficult to convince Pittman to leave her family and friends on the East Coast and move to California. But, he prevailed. They entered holy matrimony on Friday, April 10, 1981, at New Stranger’s Home Baptist Church with Rev. Jones officiating. Despite the difficulties in their relationship their love, friendship and mutual respect had no end.
Upon returning to the San Francisco Bay Area his principle employers included the San Francisco Chronicle, Pacific Gas & Electric, and AC Transit. Clifford was a sportsman. He enjoyed basketball, football, golf, bowling, track and field, windsurfing, baseball, and tennis, to name a few. He also loved racquetball and he played at least three mornings a week at the Active Sport Club in Oakland with a cadre of other players. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers fan. If the Cowboys were in town, he and Pittman were at the games. Clifford was a people person – he loved people and made friends wherever he went. Mindful of the effect he had on people, Clifford always maintained a Christian spirit and never complained about adversity. He also loved to travel.
His mother, Annie Belle Walker of Oakland, California, and his sister, Joyce Geter of San Francisco, California, predeceased Clifford. He leaves to cherish his memories his father, Leroy Moore of Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Joseph (Carol) Foster of El Paso, Texas; his sisters, Barbara Walker of Sacramento, California, Arlene Moore of Oakland, California, as well as, Carolyn Moore and Eileen Renee Moore of Vacaville, California; and Yolanda Moore Brown of Suisun, California; five aunts, Mae Ella Walker of Oakland, California; Rose Ragler of Pittsburg, California; Dottie Anger of St. Paul, Minnesota; as well as, Florence B. Frazier of Steelton, Pennsylvania; and Barbara (Willard) Crawford of Rochester Hills, Michigan; one uncle, Gus Walker of Chicago, Illinois; four nieces, Margrietta Geter of Sacramento, California; Josietta (Norris) Dillahunt of New Berm, North Carolina; Ta-Neshia Roosevelt of Sacramento, California; and Denita Foster of Atlanta, Georgia; two nephews, the Reverend Guysell (Tiffany) Geter and Michael David Jauntai of Sacramento; and three godchildren, Garrison Boone of San Francisco, California; Aaron Jacobs of Oakland, California; and Teralynn Barganey of Oakland, California.
Clifford’s memory is also cherished by Pittman, and his mother-in-law, Nancy E. Pittman of Oakland, California, along with eight sisters-in-laws, Lisa Hart of Cartega, Costa Rica; Brenda (Martin) John of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Tammie (John) Hart-Smith of Ridgeley, West Virginia; Andrea (Richard) Williams of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and Pamula (Kim) Hart, Robin Hart, Jennifer Hart, and Kristen Hart, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He will be missed by Bennie Jean Moore and family of San Francisco, California, and the Mae and Walter McElroy Family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; his very special friend Stephanie Riley Turin of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the members of the Lowell High School Black Student Union, his Active Sports Racquetball Crew, his Beth Eden Church Family, a host of cousins, and friends from various walks of his life too numerous to mention.
Viewing/Visitation:
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
510-654-0123
Celebration of Life:
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Viewing: 9:00 am to 10:30 am
(There will be no parting view)
Homegoing Service 11:00 am
Beth Eden Baptist Church
1183 Tenth Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Internment:
Immediately following Homegoing Service
Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
Repast:
Immediately following internment
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
959 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
If you are inclined to send flowers it was Clifford’s wish that in lieu of flowers donations be made (in his name) to the building of the Beth Eden Baptist Church Family Life Center. He donated his time and his talents to this endeavor. To God be the glory.
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