Gifford Robert Claiborne

Gifford Robert Claiborne entered the gates of heaven on August 3, 2025 and was likely welcomed with great trumpet blasts and cheering. The second of 7 children and a twin, he was born March 30, 1935, in Auburn, CA to Burneth and Zilpha Claiborne.

Gifford's life was a testament to his unwavering faith and his commitment to the kingdom of God. He sang in a gospel quartet with his brothers, and in 1961 the group welcomed his newly-wedded wife, Wini, on the piano. His calling led him to Christian education and pastoring, where he served with a loving heart. For over 40 years, he worked tirelessly with non-profits, raising millions to support those in need. Yet, it was his gift for connecting with people on a personal level that truly defined him. His signature question, "If God was going to do a miracle in your life today, what would that be? And can I pray for that to happen for you?" left a lasting impact on all who heard it.

He loved spending time with family and friends and he loved his work, continuing to consult with missions organizations until the very end.

Gifford is survived by his beloved wife of almost 65 years, Wini, his children, Timothy Claiborne, Tamara Claiborne, Tracy (Claiborne) Haraksin and her husband George, foster children Nick McKinsey and Carol Blanchard, 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Gifford’s life will be held on Saturday, September 27th at 12 noon at Life Bible Fellowship, 2426 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, CA 91784. Please bring a favorite memory of Gifford to share. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to City Mission Ministries (https://www.citymissionministries.org/), Favor International (https://www.favorintl.org/), or New York School of Urban Ministry (https://nysum.kindful.com).