Clifford Gilmore

He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942 to Alphonso and Inez Gilmore. He was lovingly given the name Butch and that’s what family and friends called him. He attended the public schools in Brownsville going forward to study Carpentry at Eli Whitney High School, graduating in 1960. Coming out of school he started working with his Uncle’s Henry Bettis and Johnny Brinson at B and B Woodcraft as a cabinet maker.

During this time Cliff met, courted, and married the love of his life Pearl Brooks in November of 1964. They were excited to start their new life together and couldn’t wait to start a family of their own and their children meant the world to them. Life had many ups and downs, but they weathered them for 62 years as devoted partners.

After leaving the field of cabinetry, Cliff applied and passed the test as a Car Cleaner in 1972, for the New York City Transit Authority. He worked in that position for one year, then applied for the position of Bus Operator and kept that position until he retired in 1992. As a Bus Operator Cliff formed a deep bond with his fellow co-worker retires. Up until this day they are in touch with each other, some friendships have gone beyond 50 years. Very loyal friends.

After retiring Cliff got restless and wanted to travel. He started traveling with Stacy Hines from New York to Florida and many other places. Cliff and his wife Pearl wanted to get away from the cold and snow, and went to Wilmington, NC to help their friends move there and liked what they saw and proceeded to make plans to move there in 1996. Cliff and Pearl made a life in Wilmington, enjoying the resort like town. The travel bug got ahold of them, and they went all over the world, what a blessing. They only stopped when Cliff became seriously ill.

Cliff was preceded in death by his mother, father, brother (Alphonso Gilmore, Jr.), brother (Reginald Gilmore) and is survived by his wife, Pearl Gilmore, daughter, Vivian Lynch (Martin), sons: Dwayne Gilmore (Deborah) and Gerard Terray Gilmore, also his Grandchildren: Joshua Gill, Laura Gilmore, Dwayne Gilmore, Jr., Alexis Gilmore, Cierra Gilmore, Deserae Gilmore, Asha Gilmore, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A visitation will be held at Coble Funeral and Cremation Service at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 1155 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28412, US, on August 1, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location on August 1, 2026, beginning at 1:00 pm.