Donald Bruce "Butch" Clifton

Donald Bruce “Butch” Clifton, most commonly and appropriately referred to as “Coach,” passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, July 14, after a two-week stay in hospice care. He was surrounded by friends and family. Coach was in his 86th year of an exceptional and incredibly accomplished life.

He was born in Albany, Georgia on March 11, 1941, son of the late Charles Bruce and Sallie Mae Clifton, youngest brother of Bo Clifton and Lamar Clifton.

He was a proud and contributing member of the First United Methodist Church, and was often times found teaching at the H.C. Tuck Sunday School Class there. A man of unwavering faith, he loved his time being with his Church community and the Athens First UMC Family immensely. His favorite Bible verse was Isaiah 40:31, and he recited it often.

Coach Clifton will long be remembered for many things, including his love and dedication to his family, his extremely successful insurance and financial services agency—Hartman Clifton, that he Co-Founded with the late and great Bill Hartman—and his enormous contributions to the greater Athens community. His quick wit and high intelligence, both matched with his big smile and always positive attitude and personality, were legendary.

Butch accomplished much in his long life. A Head Basketball Coach with an overall record of 171-70 (including the 1969 State of Georgia AAA Championship at Mark Smith High School in Macon, where he would also win the Coach of the Year Award and become a Finalist for National Coach of the Year). He was UGA Assistant Basketball Coach from 1972-1979 under the legendary John Guthrie, and then the UGA Radio Network Color Analyst with Larry Munson 1979-1988 (Associated Press Radio-TV Award Winner—1988). He was an astute and highly accomplished businessman. He was a sitting Board of Directors Member and Controller for the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame, Bank of America, GSEF, UGA Tee Off Club (Co-Founder), Athens City Club, Athens Country Club, the Touchdown Club of Athens and the UGA Basketball Lettermen’s Club as these were but a few of his interests and roles that he dutifully served and sacrificed his time and immense capabilities towards. A highly sought after motivational speaker, Butch lectured at over 100 Athletic Awards Banquets in his lifetime. He was a member of the Gridiron Society for 41 years.

Coach loved the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, where he resided often with his beloved wife of 60 years, Mary Nelle. He loved playing golf with his 15 best friends multiple times each week at the Athens Country Club. He and Mary visited Sea Island, GA often.

Swimming rigorously was his daily exercise (and as he was a State Champion breaststroke and backstroke swimmer in his youth). And of course, he loved watching basketball, and all the athletic events across all sports of the University of Georgia. A four-year starter as a point guard for the Mercer University Bears (where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1984), he also closely tracked and watched the Mercer Basketball program. Butch was an Officer in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Fraternity while at Mercer.

He is survived by his cherished wife, Mary Nelle; two children: McCall Wilder (Scott) and Andy Clifton (Sarah); and his seven amazing grandchildren: Brosnan Wilder, Mary Scott Wilder, Alexandra Clifton, Camila Clifton, Sophia Clifton, Harvey Clifton and Anders Clifton.

The celebration of his incredible life will be on Wednesday, July 22, at 11:00 a.m., at the Presbyterian Village Auditorium in Athens, GA. The family will receive friends afterwards and host a reception. A private burial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Presbyterian Village Athens Caring Hands Fund—a fund that provides financial support to help meet the needs of the Presbyterian Homes Georgia elderly residents. Checks can be mailed (or delivered to) 1400 Live Oak Lane, Building #100, Athens, GA 30606.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.