Charles G. “Ric” Clifford, III, of Kokomo, Mississippi, passed from this life into God’s presence on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the age of 78. He was born in Morton, Mississippi to Helen and Charles G. Clifford, II and has been a resident of Kokomo for the past 20 years. Ric was a man of faith and served his Lord through his membership with Grace Primitive Baptist Church in Brandon. He was the consummate businessman and owned numerous successful businesses throughout his life including an insurance company which specialized in underwriting pre-arranged funeral services. Ric never met a stranger and will be remembered for his kindness and selfless generosity. He was devoted to his family and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. After a cancer diagnosis, Ric sold his businesses, retired and moved to Kokomo. He has the distinction of being the world’s longest living survivor of Pancreatic Cancer at twenty-three years. When it was apparent that he was not going to succumb to his illness, Ric went back to work. He has been employed with Colonial Funeral Home for the past six years assisting families with their pre-arranged funeral needs. He has persevered through the pain of his illness with dignity and grace. When asked how he was doing, Ric’s response was always, “I Am Blessed.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and James Ott; and a brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Margaret Clifford. Ric is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Judy Bracey Clifford; two daughters, Bridget Greer and Haley Danielle Sibley and her husband, Alex; a son, Charles G. “Chad” Clifford, IV; and a grandson, Colson Sibley.
There will be a visitation for Ric at Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, April 18, 2025 from 10:00am until 2:00pm. The funeral service to celebrate his life will follow in the funeral home chapel at 2:00pm. He will be laid to rest in the Darbun Community Cemetery assisted by Chris Bracey, Hagen Bracey, Alex Sibley, Randy Bracey, Dewayne Hamilton, and David Bozeman serving as pallbearers. Jimmy Lindsey and Joe Garner will serve as honorary pallbearers and the funeral will be officiated by Brother David Pyles.
