Marjorie Elizabeth Prewitt Clifford, 92, of Troy, Missouri formerly of Clarksville, Missouri passed away July 9, 2016 at the Elsberry Health Care Center in Elsberry, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Annada Christian Church in Annada, Missouri with visitation from one o'clock until time of service at two o'clock p.m. Tuesday at the church. The Rev. Joe Miller assisted by The Rev. Robert Norvell will officiate. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Missouri.
Marjorie Elizabeth Prewitt Clifford was born July 21, 1923, to Fredrick Moss Prewitt and Frances Lucinda Mackey Prewitt on the Prewitt Farm near Clarksville, Missouri.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill of 59 years; her parents, three brothers; :Moss Prewitt, Jr., Robert Irvine Prewitt and William Caswell Prewitt IV (Buddy) ; two sisters; Helen Prewitt Mackey and Sarah Frances Prewitt.
Marjorie married William Pryor Clifford on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948 at the Ramsey Creek Baptist Church, where she and her family were members. Bill and Marjorie moved to their home in rural Elsberry where Bill was a farmer and Cattleman.
July 29, 1949 they became the parents of their only child, Natalie Clifford Lilley. As proud and devoted parents, they thought that their daughter was the most precious and most beautiful girl in the world, "as most parents think." Marjorie always put Muffin first and taught her to follow the path that Jesus had prepared for all who believe in him. Church and Sunday School were the highlights of her childhood.
Marjorie was blessed with two grandsons, Nathan and Trevor Lilley, who were the love and pride of her life. While the boys shared a sincere affinity and love for this special "Grandmommy", the men never lost that love and knew that the Lord had blessed them undoubtedly the most wonderful, loving and caring Grandmommy. He had ever made.
Grandmommy became "Granny" beginning in 2008, when Nathan became a "Dada" with the birth with the birth of her great-daughter, Addison Pearl Lilley. In 2009, and in 2013, Granny was rewarded with a great-grandson, Camden Trevor Lilley and a great-granddaughter, Averi Lane Lilley, when Trevor and Rachel Colbeck Lilley became parents. Although past her prime, Granny still enjoyed holding her great-grandchildren, counting their piggies, and giving them rides on her walker. They realized that her needs were simple ones, a kiss on the cheek, as hug, or a short conversation.
Marjorie and "Muffin" were more than mother and daughter. They were inseparable best friends, who loved and learned from each other. Marjorie was a natural teacher who yearned to learn more so that she could teach and share her knowledge with anyone willing to learn. And most were willing to learn from Mrs. Clifford because of her "style" and the love she showed to everyone, students, family, friends and strangers.
Yes, Marjorie was from an era "Gone With The Wind." Hat, gloves, suits and pliers, yes, she could find anything in that big purse. And no, she could never fly on a plane in this world in the 21st century. But she could always find extra gloves for those cold little fingers that got off of the school bus on those wintery mornings at Clopton.
As a young woman, Marjorie attended Christian College (now Columbia College) for two years and graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where her great-great grandfather was one of the founders. She also attended the University of Southern California one summer while visiting her aunt and uncle.
After graduation, Marjorie traveled to visit her uncle Caswell Prewitt in Prewitt, New Mexico. Here she learned to love and appreciate the Navajo culture and people, as well as helping run her uncle's trading post. She saw the need for education and accepted a job teaching at the Navajo School for the winter. But when this word hit Clarksville, "Daddy" said, "Come home". He had gotten her a job in Louisiana teaching third grade. She hastily returned to Pike County.
Marjorie and her "Daddy" were very close, probably because of their shared love for the outdoors and horseback riding. She would rather be driving cattle be driving cattle with her dad than cooking and sewing with her mother and sister, Sarah Frances. Her father, Moss, had a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle. Most years, Marjorie's photo with her champion cow, could be found in magazines as she claimed her championship trophy.
In 1954, Marjorie began teaching fourth graded for the Pike County R-III School District (Clopton) where she taught for 20 years until because of her poor health, she received disability retirement. She was always ahead of her time, in education incorporating her love for poetry, art and nature daily in her teaching. The boys in her classrooms learned to love, learn about and feed the birds, rather than shoot them.
Marjorie was a member of Ramsey Creek Baptist Church from childhood. There she and her family were always faithful teachers and leaders who taught others and learned from others about our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
After her marriage she attended Annada Christian Community Church with her daughter, Natalie and later with her grandsons, Nathan and Trevor Lilley. She taught adult class for over forty years. Saturdays, for her, were spent "studying her Sunday School lesson", as she prepared to teach her flock. The flock thanked her at Christmas with a volume of Interpreters Bible, which she used to aid her teaching and learning of the Bible. She thanked them with a red popcorn ball which she presented as they entered the church on the Sunday before Christmas.
The Christmas Pageant was always HER production. She wrote and directed a group of non-Hollywood actors who were always willing to take their positions, wear their designated costumes and do their best to honor God as they reenacted the Christmas Story as Marjorie read it from the Bible. Reverance and honor were always stressed because this was story of Jesus birth!
Pallbearers are; Dale Miller, Jason Miller, George Ricks, Tyler Ricks, Robert Omohundro and Kevin Howard.