Clifford Woodsworth Herbert, Jr. was born on October 18, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the third child and firstborn son of Clifford Wadsworth and Avada Elena Herbert (both deceased). During his early childhood and teenage years, Cliff was affectionately known as “Junie” and lived with his parents and siblings in the Lillian Wald Houses on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan. He attended P.S. 188 on Houston Street in Manhattan and later graduated from Jamaica High School.
Cliff loved growing up on the Lower Eastside and fondly remembered working alongside his mother in the neighborhood laundromat and selling home-made corsages on street corners during the holidays. As a young adult, in early 1960, ‘‘Junie” moved with his family to Hollis and then to Laurelton, New York. He loved playing basketball and frequently walked from Laurelton to Murdock Park to meet and play ball with his friends. Taking his four younger siblings with him, big brother “Junie” would buy each of them a 5-cent bag of chips to keep them quiet during the long walk, and it worked.
In 1962, Cliff began working alongside his father and brother-in-law, Willie Davis (deceased) at WCBS Television Station. He was employed as a porter, a messenger, and a log clerk while attending and completing a course at the RCA Institute in New York. He graduated first in his class in 1967. Cliff and his first wife, Rochel Wilkinson, moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he was offered employment at WZZM Television Station. In 1969, while in Grand Rapids, their daughter Courtney was born and Cliff became the proud, doting father.
Cliff loved to joke and have fun, so while in Michigan, the opportunity arose to play the part of Wonder Mother on the Bozo Television Show. Playing the character of Wonder Mother (the clown) was a natural for Cliff and he rose to the part. The young audience was gleefully and delightfully entertained by him. Cliff next went to work at the Michigan State University TV Station, WMSB in Lansing, Michigan. He did a brief stint there before being promoted to assistant Studio Supervisor. From there he returned to the Big Apple and worked for a time at the PBS TV Station WNYE in Brooklyn.
In 1972, Cliff met Roberta Harrison, the love of his life, and her daughter Stacie. The three of them relocated to Capitol Heights, Maryland. In May 1973 he began his career at WTTG Television Station (Washington, D.C.). On September 19,1981, Cliff and Roberta exchanged wedding vows before a large host of family and friends who traveled from all over the United States to share in that happy occasion.
Cliff’s keen abilities, expertise, and skill in camera work soon became apparent to all. He became a Senior Technician on the FOX News Morning Show, and he formed the first Electronic News Gathering (ENG) crew in 1977. In 1983 he captured the action of Super Bowl 17 in Tampa Bay, Florida and almost all the Washington Redskin home games from 1977-1987. His skills were further accentuated during the 1977-1978 NBA Championship Games; the 1983 Baseball World Series Games; and the Democratic and Republican Conventions of 1984. In 1985, Cliff was nominated and won the prestigious Emmy Award for the Washington Redskins Pre-Season Game, which highlighted his expert videography. His camera credits include six hours of camera work in the Presidential Oval Office during President Gerald Ford’s re-election campaign, a BBC Network special by David Frost, interviewing Senator Edward Kennedy, and the 2-hour ABC Network Bicentennial Special Event.
Cliff was the very best husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, or friend anyone could ever have. There aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to describe his personality because Cliff was a “very special person”. Thoughtful, kind, generous, hospitable, sensitive, compassionate, and a gentleman, are just a few of his wonderful qualities. Cliff loved his family and loved organizing and attending family gatherings but most of all, he loved children...everyone’s children, and he loved to play with them, tease them, and make them laugh, especially when he donned his false buck teeth. His great love for children even motivated him to mentor and sponsor the Big Youth Organization (BYO), along with the founder and his friend, Tom Ellis. Whether it was the Lower Eastside, Hollis, Laurelton, Grand Rapids, or Maryland, Cliff made many, many friends and maintained lifelong friendships with them.
Cliff was preceded in death by his sisters Carolyn Herbert and Barbara-Jean Davis, and his brother Kenneth Herbert. Cliff succumbed to a serious health issue early Saturday morning on March 4, 2023. He leaves to mourn his passing, his companion/wife of 51 years, Roberta; his daughter Courtney Herbert (New York); his only grandson, Corey Herron (North Carolina) whom he loved dearly; his step-daughter, Stacie Snead (DC); four younger siblings: Juanita Boone, (New York); Walter Herbert, (Georgia); Theresa Reed/John, (New York); and Glenn Taylor/Kim, (New York); 12 nieces; 8 nephews, his Aunt Mahalia Taylor, a plethora of grand-nieces and grand-nephews, his sister-in-law, Jakki Gee and her husband, Jim; and a host of many, many cousins, as well as, an abundance of friends. Cliff will truly be missed by everyone who knew him.
A celebration of life with catering for Clifford will be held Friday, March 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com for the Herbert, family.
