Reba M. Clinton

Reba M. Clinton, age 98, of Winter Garden, passed away Sunday, November 28th, 2021.  She was born in Wrightsville, GA  the daughter a  of the late Lizzie (Eady)  and Archie  Tanner and was employed as a railroad clerk.  

Reba leaves to cherish her memory, daughter, Clarice Clinton-Davis, of Winter Garden;  grand daughter Victoria Williams of Winter Garden; grandson Benjamin Williams, III of New York; great grandchildren - Crystal Williams, Benjamin Williams IV both of Orlando, Keilyn Solomon of Winter Garden; 9 great-great grand children,

The family will be receiving friends from 10:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 at City of Destiny Church in Apopka, FL .  Interment will follow the funeral service at Orlando Memorial Gardens.

Dear Mom,

 Thank you, Mom! Thank you for loving me. Thank you for all those words of     wisdom   that  are  resonating in my ear and providing solace during this trying time.

You prepared me for life and for your death. You said that when God called you that you would answer, and you did. You told me that you loved me, that you would regret leaving me, but your higher duty was to God!

You left me that night and I turned my head to shed a tear. When I turned back to look at you, I saw my Godmother. She was just smiling. I realized that she was reminding me of the deep enduring friendship that you shared. I turned away again and when I looked at you, I saw my aunts and uncles. It reminded me of the familial relationships that I grew up observing. By now, the tears were streaming down my face, and I turned away.

When I turned back there was a peaceful smile on your face that soothed my aching heart and dried up my tears. I saw you as a little girl growing up in Dublin, Georgia romping and playing. I saw the good times and the hard times: the loss of your brother under mysterious circumstances and the time that you were violated, and no one was held accountable. I saw the hunger for a better life that led you at age 16 to leave home, after graduating from high school, for greener pastures in Harlem, N.Y.

I saw you falling in love and marrying my father, which resulted in the birth of five children, with only1 surviving. Through the losses and the heartache, you were a caregiver for your mother, a loving wife and mother and Transit Authority Clerk.

You took great pride in the fact that you were a faithful member of Emanuel A.M. E. Church for over 40 years. You served as an usher and a senior class member to assist new members and assist the church in raising money and spreading the gospel to those outside the faith. Your reasonable service brought you joy and peace in leading others to Christ.

So, today I salute you for your strength and courage, for never giving up and instilling these qualities in me. Thank you. I love you, until we see each other again.

Your Loving Daughter,

Clarice

My Grandmother:  By   Benjamin F. Williams, Ill

My maternal grandmother was not just a grandmother, she was grandmotherly. She was a fount of wisdom and knowledge that was not gained from just sitting behind a desk for hours upon hours in an institution of higher learning. Her perspective was gained by living through the Jim Crow south, World War 11, the Al Capone era, the civil rights movement, #Me too, Black Lives Matter, and the covid pandemic. So, when she shared her views and opinions, it came from the blood, sweat and tears of life.

She lived 98 years which meant that she saw more than all of us, she never judged. She told you what she thought and why, then let you decide what to keep and what to discard. She understood that her idiosyncrasies and opinions could be shared but not always adopted by the listener.

If life was a hardship, church provided support and joy. The gospel was her cane. Spirituality  washer most enduring pleasure. Grandma loved Sunday service. When I did not pray, she prayed for me. When I embarked on my own spiritual journey, she did not judge me, but merely stated, "as long as you believe in something baby."

No matter where I was in my life's journey, I always sought my grandmother's opinion. Good, bad, or indifferent, she imparted the truth. She was my Rock of Gibraltar, steady unmovable. I could not fathom life without her. We are a small family, that has now been decreased by one. But I know that she is looking down on us, as our guardian angel, making sure that we are all okay. No matter what I may have done, what may have been said about me, or how many times I may have been scolded, Grandma always came to see about me to make sure I was all right in every capacity, day after day, and week after week.

From here on out the months of my remaining years will be aptly renamed June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March April and Reba-May, RIP.

Your Loving Grandson,

Ben