Clifton Allen Champion, 81 years old, husband of Gayle Arnold Champion, of Creedmoor, NC, passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Duke Regional Hospital from complications of heart failure. Clifton was surrounded by Gayle, his wife of fifty-nine years; son Jeffrey Alan Champion; best friends Bobby and Wanda Temple; and sister-in-law Paulette Arnold. His daughter, Amy Katharine Champion, welcomed him to Heaven.
Visitation will be Friday, February 7, 2025, 12:30-2:00 p.m., in the family life center at First Baptist Church of Butner. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Gardens in Creedmoor.
Clifton was born on July 25, 1943, one of fourteen born to Sidney and Helen Champion of Grassy Creek Community, Oxford, NC. He is survived by siblings Faye Jones, Larry, Steve (Denise) and Linda Fox and numerous nieces and nephews. Other than his parents he is pre-deceased by siblings Sidney Jr., Howard, Pauline Newell, Erma Reese, Virginia Taylor, Donald, Burley, Charles, and Betsy Lovings.
He lived his entire life in Granville County, first working in his father's tobacco fields. After he and Gayle married and began raising their family in Creedmoor he worked in maintenance at Athol Manufacturing and General Processors, finishing his career as a maintenance supervisor at Northern Telecom. Cliff's true calling and passion was helping others by using his talents and skills to improve their lives. He worked with friends from Fellowship Church, Butner Baptist Church and the Southern Baptist Men to build countless ramps for wheelchair bound folks in the greater Granville area. He and Gayle also made several mission trips to Honduras and Germany with the Temples to build churches and water systems.
Cliff loved the ramp ministry; to honor him donations to NC Baptists on Mission or Baptist Men in Action at First Baptist Butner would be much appreciated.
The Family of Clifton Champion would like to thank you for your gifts of kindness, food, and prayers during this time in our life.
Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home of Creedmoor. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.