Yvonne (Russell) Clifton

Funeral service for Helen Yvonne Clifton, 98, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Homer Murray officiating.  Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1:00pm.

Mrs. Clifton passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2026, in Nacogdoches.  She was born on November 2, 1927.

Yvonne was the youngest of eight children born to Peyton & Hattie Russell.  Her father passed away unexpectedly one week after her birth, leaving her mother with eight children to raise just as the country was about to enter the Great Depression followed by World War II.  These events molded what is referred to as “The Greatest Generation”.  Being raised during this period brought on many of the standards that she raised her children on and lived her life by.  Yvonne was a woman of God and a lifelong member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.  She centered her life around her family but always put Christ first.  Her greatest talent was without a doubt, her chicken and dumplings, however, anything she placed on the table was bound to be delicious.  She worked at SFASU Post Office, from where she retired and was also a poultry farmer with her husband, Earl.

Yvonne is survived by her children, David Clifton & wife Linda, Barbra Fenton and Steve Clifton & wife Donna; grandchildren, April Stevenson & husband John, Wednesday Turbeville & husband Jon, Autumn Hamm, Kelli Allen & husband Todd, Jacob Clifton & wife Michelle and Joseph Clifton & wife Susan; 14 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild and sisters-in-law, Sarah Clifton and Barbara Clifton.  She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of over 40 years, Earl Clifton as well as husbands, Rudolph Tallent and Bill Terrell; parents, Peyton & Hattie Russell; sisters, Shirley Wilburn & husband Buster, Maggie Schamloffel & husband Clarence and Iva Lee Hamilton & husband Ross; brothers, Harvey Russell & wife, Ruby, Homer Russell & wife Willie Mae, Herman Russell & wife, Geraldine and Henry Russell & wife Betty Lou; son-in-law, Ray Fenton and grandson-in-law, Mitchell Hamm.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jacob Clifton, Joseph Clifton, Kyle Clifton, Holden Moreland, Braeden Hamm, Gerrick Turbeville, Connor Allen, Garrett Allen and Wyatt Allen.  Honorary pallbearer will be Sunny Clifton.

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