Clifton Anthony White

Clifton Anthony White (known as Clif, or Tony) was born in Decatur, AL on March 3, 1946 to Orien Willis (Billy) and Gaylia Jones White, and grew up in Ardmore, AL. His grandparents were Odie and Alma Hall Jones, and Haney and Tera White. Tony grew up very close to his uncle, Wayne Jones, who served in the Korean War. Billy White was a truck driver and lead mechanic at Air Products, and his love of stock car racing became a livelong love of Clif’s and his family. Gaylia White was a schoolteacher and Clif was always proud of her going back to school and becoming a role model for so many people in the Ardmore area. Clif had a rich and busy life as a child and teenager in Ardmore, from picking cotton with Odie Jones to working on cars and trucks with his father, to playing piano, to playing football throughout his time at Ardmore High School.

In 1964 Clif graduated and began attending University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he met the love of his life, Jeanette Derden. They were married in 1966. From 1968-1971, he served as a Navy Seabee machinist in San Diego, supporting the Vietnam War through repair and maintenance of Navy equipment, and received a National Defense Service Medal. After discharge, he completed a degree in Economics and a minor in Russian Language from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide! He was a lifelong football fan), and began a career in the banking industry. He and Jeanette moved to Gwinnett County, GA in 1976 when it was barely 10,000 people and he worked for many years for Dean Witter Reynolds in downtown Atlanta, GA, as a bond salesman.

He and Jeanette had three children, Jenny, Julie and John. All of his children have fond memories of beach vacations, trips to Stone Mountain, and spending time outdoors with their dad. In 1988, Clif and Jeanette realized a lifelong dream and opened a gifts and collectibles store, Swan Galleries, in Stone Mountain. They eventually had two locations and were open for more than 20 years. Clif especially enjoyed the Olympics coming to Atlanta in 1996, as he became very involved in the Olympic pin trading and selling that was so popular during that time. He and Jeanette retired in 2009 and cared for Gaylia Jones at their home in Stone Mountain, until her passing in 2012.

Clif always valued family, legacy, and passing down knowledge and inspiration to his children and grandchildren. He lived to see his oldest grandson graduate with his master’s degree and become a certified public accountant, and to see his youngest grandson graduate from high school and become a student at Georgia Tech. He and Jeanette celebrated their sixtieth anniversary with their family in June 2026. He loved his family tremendously, and he treasured his relationship with the Lord. He will be missed so much by us all. He passed away peacefully on September 3, 2026, at the age of 80 and a half years old. We are sure that Nana, Grandaddy, and Great-Grandad welcomed him into Heaven with open arms.

Submitted by Jeanette White, Julie White, John and Holly White, and Jon, Jenny, David and Michael Howard